Thought this was interesting

[Anonymous]

The Problem: Abstraction

The word "abstraction", as used here, has a double meaning. In the
first case, it refers to the dictionary definition: "absence of mind
or preoccupation". It also refers to seeing others online as abstract
concepts as opposed to real human beings.

When we're online, we can get so wrapped up in what we're writing that
we forget that we are addressing living, breathing people.

This can come out in several ways. We may speak as if we were
broadcasting ? a one-way communication ? ignoring the input of others.
We may be seduced by the insulation of distance to exhibit what I call
"keyboard bravery": the tendency to speak with more boldness or even
hostility than we would in a face-to-face encounter.

When people are called to task for speaking in a bellicose manner,
they may defend themselves by saying, "I'm just saying what I think",
or "I'm just being honest". Yet they would be well advised to read
their own words back out loud before clicking on the "Send" button.
They may be surprised at how hostile or bombastic they sound.

It is significant that the problem of abstraction comes up less
frequently in online chat rooms. When people are interacting more
directly, they tend to choose their words more carefully.

[groovy1634]

interesting read.....depends on what you are using your im for.....of course it is easy  to be brasin, brash, and down right brutal in im, especially, if you have never met the recieving end of the im...i have told many a stranger to f%$# off within the first 5 minutes of the "conversation", but in the real world and in real encounters, it would take a whole hell of alot for me to to flat out tell someone to f%^& off.... even people who piss me off immensly....on the other hand, im is my perfect long distance telephone...it's free (well, included in cable bill for internet access), plus, it's nice to instntly share pictures of family and friends with my friends that have moved states away....every time you log on to use im, you run the chance of some perverted stranger , or just the village idiot of the net asking to chat.....choose your battles....use your invisible feature , and remember IGNORE comes in real handy.....i don't think i would recommend im for your kids or anything, but it sure beats holding the hot ass phone to my ear, and watching my cell minutes...blah blah blah....whatever

 :silly:

_________________
LEGALIZE IT !!!
[ This Message was edited by: groovy1634 on 2005-02-13 22:13 ]

[`]

maybe i agree w the original post although i do vent and in fact just vented on another forum (an anonymous poster was mean to someone else so i said my piece). in reality, yes, the people on the other end are very real. however, it is useful to speak freely, and it is also useful to remember that other people are just speaking their own mind and it is not necessarily correct to take what they say personally even if they are addressing me -- they are just saying something they need to say. need to vent back at me? go for it. whatever helps you feel better.

[Anonymous]

On 2005-03-21 16:28:00, formerly known as wrote:

"maybe i agree w the original post although i do vent and in fact just vented on another forum (an anonymous poster was mean to someone else so i said my piece).

And all the vile shit he's posted about people is nice?  No way.  If he's gonna dish it out, then he's gonna have to learn how to take it.

The sad thing is that most people, myself included, do NOT want him to be banned or anything else.  We WANT him around.  He just makes it really difficult to keep feeling that way.

[`]

sometimes it seems like a game of hit the hedgehog whenever animals (and/or an anon poster seeming to be animals) posts anything, anything at all.

why don't we turn an eye for an eye on the criminal scum who locked us up and tortured us, and not on each other, if possible, who because of the abuse are quite bent to one degree or another. right? if animals "has to learn to take it", then Richard Schwartz, PhD, modern-day Svengali, should inspire something even more than simple exposure on the internet.

speaking of which: thestraights.com/people/medical-doctors/medical-research.htm    :flame:

[Anonymous]

Frankly, it gets to be a pain in the ass to have to put up with his stupid bullshit. I do agree that ppl tend to over-react to him a little- which does no good anyway, of course...

[Anonymous]

I don't have a problem with him posting whatever he wants to post, but the flooding of the damn quote boxes is just stupid.  WRITE whatever the fuck you want to write, but DON'T make it so other people can't even READ the threads!!!

[Anonymous]

On 2005-03-22 05:53:00, formerly known as wrote:

"sometimes it seems like a game of hit the hedgehog whenever animals (and/or an anon poster seeming to be animals) posts anything, anything at all.

That definitely was not the case here.  He's been posting off and on, but yesterday he started the quote boxes again.  THAT seems to be where people draw the line.  If he'd just stick to the usual trolling I don't think anyone would have a problem.  But see that's the whole point.  He's pissed cause he didn't get his way so he's TRYING to cause a problem.

[Anonymous]

I don't have a problem with him posting whatever he wants to post, but the flooding of the damn quote boxes is just stupid. WRITE whatever the fuck you want to write, but DON'T make it so other people can't even READ the threads!!!

Exactly. That's what I meant by "stupid bullshit." I just ppl would ignore him when he does this though, b/c it does no good....just gives him the incentive to continue doing it..

»Alex

[webcrawler]

On 2005-03-21 16:28:00, formerly known as wrote:

"maybe i agree w the original post although i do vent and in fact just vented on another forum (an anonymous poster was mean to someone else so i said my piece). in reality, yes, the people on the other end are very real. however, it is useful to speak freely, and it is also useful to remember that other people are just speaking their own mind and it is not necessarily correct to take what they say personally even if they are addressing me -- they are just saying something they need to say. need to vent back at me? go for it. whatever helps you feel better."

Hey I forgot I was the orginal poster of this until I scrolled down. :grin: Someone else posted it on the straight alumni and I posted it over here. The meaness does suck and I find it incredible when other's have the audacity to try and put me in check and insulting me by saying stuff to the effect that "I'm still acting like I'm in Straight". There has been plenty of bickering here and I am not the only damn one who has lost my temper around here. I had some old posts sent my way of some other people that were bickering who had the nerve to try and put me down.