Words of Wisdom from Joe Rosales
There are times, here in LJ-land, when I wish to respond to someone's incredibly obnoxious commentary. I've seen two examples of it already within half an hour here on my Friend-list (never mind who); the fact that it was done in that phony polite passive-aggressive weasel voice is just worse.
But then I just have to remind myself of the wise words of a gentleman named Joe Rosales, listed here in his essay 'Net Drunks' http://www.joerosales.com/netdrunk.htm
Some of you may want to read this, though most everyone here already knows it, whether by reading Joe's words or something similar or just plain having that rarest of all qualities, common sense.
I especially enjoy two oh-so-very true coments he makes:
The truth is, the relative anonymity and impunity of the internet give individuals a freedom that they would normally not enjoy in a regular social setting, where they would suffer for overstepping the conventional bounds of acceptable behavior by getting punched in the stomach like they did in high school.
And:
It's not possible to reason with a mean newsgroup troll, any more than it's possible to reason with a mean drunk. They feel invulnerable and powerful, and extremely intelligent too - all the best feelings they can get from such electronic intoxication. When they argue with people they feel important and paid attention to, and right because someone is yelling at them. The reason hardly matters - let's remember, their whiskey-talk logic all makes perfect sense to them. The only consolation in all this is that on the net nobody can get a bottle in their guts, which generally saves on the endless police interviews bar fights generate.
Truer words were never spoken.
But then I just have to remind myself of the wise words of a gentleman named Joe Rosales, listed here in his essay 'Net Drunks' http://www.joerosales.com/netdrunk.htm
Some of you may want to read this, though most everyone here already knows it, whether by reading Joe's words or something similar or just plain having that rarest of all qualities, common sense.
I especially enjoy two oh-so-very true coments he makes:
The truth is, the relative anonymity and impunity of the internet give individuals a freedom that they would normally not enjoy in a regular social setting, where they would suffer for overstepping the conventional bounds of acceptable behavior by getting punched in the stomach like they did in high school.
And:
It's not possible to reason with a mean newsgroup troll, any more than it's possible to reason with a mean drunk. They feel invulnerable and powerful, and extremely intelligent too - all the best feelings they can get from such electronic intoxication. When they argue with people they feel important and paid attention to, and right because someone is yelling at them. The reason hardly matters - let's remember, their whiskey-talk logic all makes perfect sense to them. The only consolation in all this is that on the net nobody can get a bottle in their guts, which generally saves on the endless police interviews bar fights generate.
Truer words were never spoken.