You've gotta do what you've gotta do. I just know, for me, it's not a place to go. I don't need that kinda crap in my life.
I get what you're saying about knowing there are people there that you know (that you possibly trust) but the investigative process is undoubtedly unreliable. You'll never know for sure, and couldn't it possibly stir mistrust with everyone you do associate with? I mean, you'll know it's not me saying anything since I've ~flounced *g* but you know, there's always the chance that's it's someone you know being a complete douchebag.
As for those that are liked--they are just as likely to get put on the shit list should they do something that someone perceives as worthy of criticism, or if, you know, someone gets bored and just makes something up.
*shakes head* It just depresses me to even think about it.
I had no idea that there were anon communities either. I guess in some ways I can see the appeal....the complete lack of ownership of an opinion. It's sort of like the internet in general. It's somewhat anonymous. You only let people see what you want to see. I can see how it can be bad, ugly, and cruel, but I can see the appeal. I know there have been times when I have held my tongue (both in rl and on here), because I don't want to voice something that may be unpopular.
I thinkthis also shows how easily things are made up online.
Indeed. Indeed. I have no problem with people voicing opinions but seriously. The first post was about how I was the most annoying person in fandom. Do any of these people actually know me? Probably not. Are they making huge assumptions based on what they "maybe know of me"? Definetly. Are the things they're saying truthful? Does it matter.
But I keep going back. Boredom? Maybe... I'm not sure.
I can see the appeal too -- I mean I was reading it every day for a lot of days, so there was something about it that pulled me in. For me, though, I don't want to encourage that part of my psyche. I have enough to contend with as it is.
I've also held my tongue in certain situations -- not necessarily because it was unpopular, but because somethings don't need to be said. I think the human experience should be about learning to control yourself, and realizing that mean negative things don't always have to come out.
FWIW, Cathy, you've always been one of those people on my f-list that I've found to be so nice and kind. The idea that you'd ever have a mean thought is just foreign to me--not because I don't know you're human, but just because you strike me as a very kind individual.
Like you, I had no idea about these comms. I remember one being set up for PB back in the day, and not really understanding what to do. Then again, LJ cuts were challenging too.
Anonymity gives people the chance to be someone they might not be in real life, imo. We can use the screen, yep, but with the 'validation' of a user name, there's some personality behind what we are trying to say. I attempt to be up front as well. It doesn't work sometimes, but hey, that's life.
Add to the screen the added bonus of being totally anon, then you're able to be as feral as you want. It's almost like the Unbrave New World of bullying, isn't it. Bullies need the support of a crowd, and if they can remain faceless, all the better.
Very interesting, but certainly not inspiring, and I'm sorry your mate went through that. Yuk.
Oh, Rosie, I do so remember when the LJ CUT and the LINK were so hard for me to navigate. LOL, thanks for the reminder.
For me, the internet has always been about finding people that I can be myself with -- honestly, so I didn't drive the non-fangirl people in my life totally bonkers. I definitely used the anonymity factor in my first forays into writing fanfic, because the freedom of not knowing the people who are reading your stuff takes away the judgment in some ways. But ultimately, that led me to make friends with my readers, and so even that sense of safety eventually evaporated on some level.
Needless to say, I don't have any place among the anons, it's just not for me. I never bullied in "real life" and I have no desire to do it in cyber life.
I vaguely remember that pb anon thing now too, because whoever did it friended me and they are still on my f-list even though I never friended it back. So annoying that I can't get rid of it.
I remember the PB anon meme (it spectaculary failed at meme-hating, by the way). Back then, I had no idea what it was about, and still now, those things leave me a bit perplexed.
I never bullied in "real life" and I have no desire to do it in cyber life.
It's probably why I don't get it. Unleash on someone just for the fun or to hurt baffles me. And at the risk of sounding self-entitled or vindictive, if I have something nice to say, or on the contrary can't stand someone to the point I'm unpleasant with them, I'd want them to know.
FWIW, if the PB anon-LJ thing really bothers you, you should be able to prevent it from showing up on your profile by banning the user here.
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I get what you're saying about knowing there are people there that you know (that you possibly trust) but the investigative process is undoubtedly unreliable. You'll never know for sure, and couldn't it possibly stir mistrust with everyone you do associate with? I mean, you'll know it's not me saying anything since I've ~flounced *g* but you know, there's always the chance that's it's someone you know being a complete douchebag.
As for those that are liked--they are just as likely to get put on the shit list should they do something that someone perceives as worthy of criticism, or if, you know, someone gets bored and just makes something up.
*shakes head* It just depresses me to even think about it.
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I thinkthis also shows how easily things are made up online.
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But I keep going back. Boredom? Maybe... I'm not sure.
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I've also held my tongue in certain situations -- not necessarily because it was unpopular, but because somethings don't need to be said. I think the human experience should be about learning to control yourself, and realizing that mean negative things don't always have to come out.
FWIW, Cathy, you've always been one of those people on my f-list that I've found to be so nice and kind. The idea that you'd ever have a mean thought is just foreign to me--not because I don't know you're human, but just because you strike me as a very kind individual.
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*hugs*
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(The comment has been removed)
I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't know about stuff like that. I was completely *boggled* upon first inspection.
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Anonymity gives people the chance to be someone they might not be in real life, imo. We can use the screen, yep, but with the 'validation' of a user name, there's some personality behind what we are trying to say. I attempt to be up front as well. It doesn't work sometimes, but hey, that's life.
Add to the screen the added bonus of being totally anon, then you're able to be as feral as you want. It's almost like the Unbrave New World of bullying, isn't it. Bullies need the support of a crowd, and if they can remain faceless, all the better.
Very interesting, but certainly not inspiring, and I'm sorry your mate went through that. Yuk.
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For me, the internet has always been about finding people that I can be myself with -- honestly, so I didn't drive the non-fangirl people in my life totally bonkers. I definitely used the anonymity factor in my first forays into writing fanfic, because the freedom of not knowing the people who are reading your stuff takes away the judgment in some ways. But ultimately, that led me to make friends with my readers, and so even that sense of safety eventually evaporated on some level.
Needless to say, I don't have any place among the anons, it's just not for me. I never bullied in "real life" and I have no desire to do it in cyber life.
I vaguely remember that pb anon thing now too, because whoever did it friended me and they are still on my f-list even though I never friended it back. So annoying that I can't get rid of it.
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I remember the PB anon meme (it spectaculary failed at meme-hating, by the way). Back then, I had no idea what it was about, and still now, those things leave me a bit perplexed.
I never bullied in "real life" and I have no desire to do it in cyber life.
It's probably why I don't get it. Unleash on someone just for the fun or to hurt baffles me. And at the risk of sounding self-entitled or vindictive, if I have something nice to say, or on the contrary can't stand someone to the point I'm unpleasant with them, I'd want them to know.
FWIW, if the PB anon-LJ thing really bothers you, you should be able to prevent it from showing up on your profile by banning the user here.
[relurks]
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I never knew that!
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