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I started participating in the forums, because traveling around the US doesn't offer as much social exchange as I'd thought, and I miss to conversations. (I am not a phone person.) I have to admit, on the whole it has been a positive experience, but some interactions have left me seriously wondering what's going on with some people.
I grew up understanding that exchanging viewpoints is a healthy situation that assists us to better understand one another, and view the world from other's perspectives. In a number of threads I've posted, I've received reactions to my posts that have been "over the top" in my view.
What is the defensiveness, or the aggression about? Why the need to vilify someone because they don't share your views? We are each of us only one in nearly seven billion people, and we need to understand our opinions are ours, but not everyone's.
Often there are things missing in the written word, especially when dealing with strangers. Some people aren't able to express themselves with the best choice of words, and while they may have meant to express one sentiment, it comes across hostile or rude. In person, you have the mannerisms, facial expressions, and voice inflection to judge a person's reaction or mood. On the internet, you are limited to the written interpretation. Either that, or some people take advantage of the anonymous nature of the internet and use that to be rude and obnoxious, while in person they'd probably not have the courage to speak to someone like that face to face. Internet forums can bring out the best in some, the worst in others. You have to take the good with the bad and not take any of it too personally.
Yeah, there has been plenty of mudslinging on the CD "great debates" forum, I've noticed a certain tone these days from the 30 to 45 year old age range. I attribute the rudeness to the Jerry Springer mentality, it's considered to be ok to call someone a moron or a retard, or *******, wingnut, etc. These are terms that probably come up in this age groups one on one conversations. All in all, it follows the radio bluster types and seems to be a growing form of rudeness.
I started participating in the forums, because traveling around the US doesn't offer as much social exchange as I'd thought, and I miss to conversations. (I am not a phone person.) I have to admit, on the whole it has been a positive experience, but some interactions have left me seriously wondering what's going on with some people.
I grew up understanding that exchanging viewpoints is a healthy situation that assists us to better understand one another, and view the world from other's perspectives. In a number of threads I've posted, I've received reactions to my posts that have been "over the top" in my view.
What is the defensiveness, or the aggression about? Why the need to vilify someone because they don't share your views? We are each of us only one in nearly seven billion people, and we need to understand our opinions are ours, but not everyone's.
Okay, so that's MY opinion. What's yours?
Just like in real life, there are a wide range of people out there. Some of the forums are A LOT better than the others. Political is the worst...when they start wandering into the Financial section and spouting political stupidity I generally will pound them verbally...just like I would do in real life.
Remember, even the mentally unstable guy that lives in the apartment building down the street can log on and post his "thoughts".
And there's a lot of socially developmental limitations people carry due to the lack of interation between people nowadays. They can't handle someone whose opinion differs. It's the popular opinion that someone who doesn't agree is a hater or judgemental or some other shame on you term for a person to justify their agenda.
Some people are just morons. Some think they know everything. Some have nothing better to do than sit at a computer all day judging and ridiculing others. Some have the communication skills God gave a badger. Don't reduce yourself to their level. Be better then them. Utilize the ignore button in your head and on the screen!
I can be quite blunt about confronting opinions that I find objectionable for whatever reason, and have crossed swords with many posters over this. Some people interpret an attack on their opinions as a personal attack, and start screaming bloody murder accordingly. Here is my idea: I don't believe we should debate about each other, but "opinions" are fair game. Opinions that are uninformed, irrational, biased or intellectually dishonest don't deserve "respect" simply because they exist. (On another forum, I maintained a list of the ten stupidest things people say all the time; "I'm entitled to my opinion" topped that list.) So as far as opinions go, I believe in calling it as I see it.
Objecting to a negative characterization of one's opinion, however, is a common tactic used by demagogues to avoid addressing the issues at hand. In other words, if your adversary utterly demolishes your argument, you can always try to save face by complaining about the manner in which it was done. Many people buy it, and many -- myself included -- don't.
I can be quite blunt about confronting opinions that I find objectionable for whatever reason, and have crossed swords with many posters over this. Some people interpret an attack on their opinions as a personal attack, and start screaming bloody murder accordingly. Here is my idea: I don't believe we should debate about each other, but "opinions" are fair game. Opinions that are uninformed, irrational, biased or intellectually dishonest don't deserve "respect" simply because they exist. (On another forum, I maintained a list of the ten stupidest things people say all the time; "I'm entitled to my opinion" topped that list.) So as far as opinions go, I believe in calling it as I see it.
Objecting to a negative characterization of one's opinion, however, is a common tactic used by demagogues to avoid addressing the issues at hand. In other words, if your adversary utterly demolishes your argument, you can always try to save face by complaining about the manner in which it was done. Many people buy it, and many -- myself included -- don't.
1. "I have the right to an opinion."
2. "You have a right to your opinion."
3. "You have to respect other people's opinions."
4. "The right to free speech doesn't mean you can offend other people."
5. "You can't criticize something that's cultural."
6. "You can't legislate morality."
7. "There is a reason why [people in the Middle East hate us]/[Aileen Wuornos killed all those men]/[the chicken crossed the road]."
8. "The Constitution provides that everyone has inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
9. Pretty much any statement based on a driving / boating metaphor.
10. Pretty much any statement grounded in "evolutionary psychology".
I started participating in the forums, because traveling around the US doesn't offer as much social exchange as I'd thought, and I miss to conversations. (I am not a phone person.) I have to admit, on the whole it has been a positive experience, but some interactions have left me seriously wondering what's going on with some people.
I grew up understanding that exchanging viewpoints is a healthy situation that assists us to better understand one another, and view the world from other's perspectives. In a number of threads I've posted, I've received reactions to my posts that have been "over the top" in my view.
What is the defensiveness, or the aggression about? Why the need to vilify someone because they don't share your views? We are each of us only one in nearly seven billion people, and we need to understand our opinions are ours, but not everyone's.
Okay, so that's MY opinion. What's yours?
I quite agree. Which is why I rarely post anything on any of the forums I frequent. I got jumped on one too many times and decided that it really wasn't worth it. And it's really disheartening to see how may bigots and morons there are out there.
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