What is going on? (how much, houses, to buy)

[tahiti]

Is it the weather? Too much rain?

In the 2.5 yrs I've been on this board, I've never seen so much anger, angst, and ugliness towards fellow posters. Anyone with a differing opinion or a different political viewpoint is roasted, toasted and spit out. The worst offenders in my opinion are those with homes, jobs and families...those who don't seem to have the typical recession worries.

Is it the anonymity of the board, it's easy to put someone down behind the safety of a keyboard?

Even some normally rational posters are baring the claws.

I just sit here and wonder if this anger was channeled in a positive way how much could be accomplished.

What's the deal?

[elflord1973]

Originally Posted by tahiti

Is it the weather? Too much rain?

In the 2.5 yrs I've been on this board, I've never seen so much anger, angst, and ugliness towards fellow posters. Anyone with a differing opinion or a different political viewpoint is roasted, toasted and spit out. The worst offenders in my opinion are those with homes, jobs and families...those who don't seem to have the typical recession worries.

Is it the anonymity of the board, it's easy to put someone down behind the safety of a keyboard?

Even some normally rational posters are baring the claws.

I just sit here and wonder if this anger was channeled in a positive way how much could be accomplished.

What's the deal?

Anonymity doesn't explain it -- because it isn't new. The board was anonymous 2.5yrs ago.

So my nomination is the economic downturn.

Many people who own homes are under water.

Many people who don't own homes yet are still priced out of the market because houses still haven't gone back to normal price levels. This means that many people see the doors to a middle class lifestyle slamming shut in their faces.

I suspect some come here specifically to vent.

The downturn not only leads to some spirited debate about what the causes of the problem are, and who is or isn't responsible (and who should or shouldn't bare the consequences). It also feeds tribalism, scapegoating, misdirected anger, and other pathologies.

[GiantRutgersfan]

I think people are starting to get fed up with it. Regular people can not afford to live in NJ anymore.

My brother makes $60,000 a year and cant get approved for more then $200,000 to buy a home with. Where is he supposed to find a house to live in? He works in Bergen County.

Things are really bad for the middle class. I think people were distracted by the presidental election campaigns and its aftermath up until a couple months ago, thinking the new prez would bring the "hope and change" he campaigned on. But now it is becoming apparent that he is not the "savior"...

Things have been AWFUL for responsible middle class citizens in NJ for a decade. And they are showing no signs of improvement. And the middle aged folks who bought there houses from 78-95 are now getting older, might have taken out money against their home, and are angry as well

[diorgirl]

Originally Posted by tahiti

I just sit here and wonder if this anger was channeled in a positive way how much could be accomplished.

What's the deal?

What you see happening on this board is a classic example of basic human dynamics. As people are feeling more pressure in their daily lives -- particularly when they feel that their basic human needs and those of their families are threatened -- they need to find "safe" places to vent all the emotions they are feeling.

The anonymity of these postings provides the opportunity to vent against others who do not know you and who cannot hold you accountable or retaliate in a meaningful way (unlike members of your family or your friends).

On a more positive side, for those who have lost positions of authority due to the recession, the threads in these forums provide an opportunity to demonstrate their expertise -- and to be of value to others "in the same boat."

It sounds trite, but times of enormous stress often bring out the best in people and the worst in people. You can see the full range of that behavior in the postings here. Perhaps if you look a bit more, you will see how many posters are helping others, as well as venting.

[doc1]

Originally Posted by tahiti

Is it the weather? Too much rain?

In the 2.5 yrs I've been on this board, I've never seen so much anger, angst, and ugliness towards fellow posters. Anyone with a differing opinion or a different political viewpoint is roasted, toasted and spit out. The worst offenders in my opinion are those with homes, jobs and families...those who don't seem to have the typical recession worries.

Is it the anonymity of the board, it's easy to put someone down behind the safety of a keyboard?

Even some normally rational posters are baring the claws.

I just sit here and wonder if this anger was channeled in a positive way how much could be accomplished.

What's the deal?

This is kid's stuff over here. Check out the POC Forum.

[stevemorse]

I have been on the pet board more than anything, its safe!

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by tahiti

Is it the weather? Too much rain?

In the 2.5 yrs I've been on this board, I've never seen so much anger, angst, and ugliness towards fellow posters. Anyone with a differing opinion or a different political viewpoint is roasted, toasted and spit out. The worst offenders in my opinion are those with homes, jobs and families...those who don't seem to have the typical recession worries.

Is it the anonymity of the board, it's easy to put someone down behind the safety of a keyboard?

Even some normally rational posters are baring the claws.

I just sit here and wonder if this anger was channeled in a positive way how much could be accomplished.

What's the deal?

It's not just in here T... it's out in the "real" world as well. I've noticed the ugliness... the anger.. the hostility everywhere I go now.
The meaness in here is why I don't post as often as I use to. A simple silly response triggers some really mean comments. I use to come in here to relax and enjoy myself. Seems the world is experiencing some serious PMS

[Robhu]

Venting in an offensive way on a forum is safe. All you are going to get is someone telling you to go to he!!. There will be no physical confrontations or shoot outs unless someone is stupid enough to give exact location info.
Fortunately, those aggressive posters do not out number the decent ones.
There are folks who are bitter about something and have no way of dealing with life other than to make themselves feel more important by attacking others to try to compensate for their own low self esteem and failures.
Times are hard even for some good folks and sometimes stress can bring out depressive, aggressive thoughts that would not in normal circumstances be displayed. These kind of people will find a way to get back to being themselves again eventualy because they wont give up.
Others who are bitter about everything in life, no matter what, will never change and should be ignored.

[tallguylehigh]

Personally I think this animosity has been brewing for a while now, and a lot of it has to do with the seemingly daily threads on the market going up/down. There are two obvious camps in this discussion and there are key players in each of these camps. The discussions are intense and I think the animosity between these two camps spills over to the point where whatever person A says, person B thinks is wrong.

This is why I suggested a couple of weeks ago that we create a dedicated "Housing Market" section where people can go in there and vent yet possibly compartmentalize the discussion to only that particular area.

[tahiti]

Originally Posted by diorgirl

What you see happening on this board is a classic example of basic human dynamics. As people are feeling more pressure in their daily lives -- particularly when they feel that their basic human needs and those of their families are threatened -- they need to find "safe" places to vent all the emotions they are feeling.
The anonymity of these postings provides the opportunity to vent against others who do not know you and who cannot hold you accountable or retaliate in a meaningful way (unlike members of your family or your friends).

On a more positive side, for those who have lost positions of authority due to the recession, the threads in these forums provide an opportunity to demonstrate their expertise -- and to be of value to others "in the same boat."

It sounds trite, but times of enormous stress often bring out the best in people and the worst in people. You can see the full range of that behavior in the postings here. Perhaps if you look a bit more, you will see how many posters are helping others, as well as venting.

Of course there are people who are helping, I'm not denying that. The overall "tone" of this board has changed though...and pretty dramatically, and longtime posters who don't *appear* to be in any financial distress (or otherwise, but I realize we don't know what really goes on behind closed doors) are going for the jugular.

I think it feeds on itself - some people are frustrated, they vent, other people read and get angry so they vent, and on and on until you have a generally miserable board that used to be a really pleasant and fun place. Pack mentality.