I have been on this blog and others for a little bit now. I have seen this in other people and, I'm ashamed to say, myself.
Always starts the same.
Someone says something. Another person either feels like he can be a dick because he can do it with impunity or because the medium prevents him from comprehending (it is hard to put sarcassim in type). Either way, words are typed. It gets personal. People write long, detailed accounts of why they are right, and why the other person is an idiot. Before long, it degenerates to dirty, personal attacks.
The real question is, why?
It stops being entertaining the 2nd or third time it happens. It kills the topic of discussion. It certainly doesn't change anyone's mind. I tend to think that it is easier to change someone's mind manually, than by reasoned longic. The thought of changing someone's mind with personal attacks is simply studid.
I am not immune to it. I have read posts that made me angry. It makes me angry that it makes me angry.
The truth is, people act completely different when they are just an avatar. Normally, if two people disagree, even violently, they normally ignor each other. That is when everyone knows who you are, where you live, what you do, and knows more about you than what you chose to post about yourself.
I get on this site, and others, because I enjoy it. I like talking about guns and politics. I don't get to do that in most of the other parts of my life.
A post shouldn't make me angry. I feel silly that a few types words from a little picture on a website has the power to make me angry.
Overall, I've just had some personal reflection, and the whole thing should be funny. I just don't like doing stupid things like that. I'll try to not do silly in the future.
Always starts the same.
Someone says something. Another person either feels like he can be a dick because he can do it with impunity or because the medium prevents him from comprehending (it is hard to put sarcassim in type). Either way, words are typed. It gets personal. People write long, detailed accounts of why they are right, and why the other person is an idiot. Before long, it degenerates to dirty, personal attacks.
The real question is, why?
It stops being entertaining the 2nd or third time it happens. It kills the topic of discussion. It certainly doesn't change anyone's mind. I tend to think that it is easier to change someone's mind manually, than by reasoned longic. The thought of changing someone's mind with personal attacks is simply studid.
I am not immune to it. I have read posts that made me angry. It makes me angry that it makes me angry.
The truth is, people act completely different when they are just an avatar. Normally, if two people disagree, even violently, they normally ignor each other. That is when everyone knows who you are, where you live, what you do, and knows more about you than what you chose to post about yourself.
I get on this site, and others, because I enjoy it. I like talking about guns and politics. I don't get to do that in most of the other parts of my life.
A post shouldn't make me angry. I feel silly that a few types words from a little picture on a website has the power to make me angry.
Overall, I've just had some personal reflection, and the whole thing should be funny. I just don't like doing stupid things like that. I'll try to not do silly in the future.
