More adventures with Facebook

[mplsvala]

On one of LauraJean's posts there was a lively disagreement about the liberal bias of media and global warming. One woman seemed a typical dittohead and being unable to support her position with facts or reason, she had descended to vitrol and insults by the time I happened upon it. I snapped and responded with: "Heather, you sound nuts and your

Comments

[buttonlass]

Wow. I hate the pig problem. I want them to learn and get better instead of annoying me.:)

[mplsvala]

The problem is that they don't want to learn anything. Science is crap to them, they already have all the proper answers. They just want to beat you into submission. And that doesn't work on me.

[mplsvala]

And thanks for the words of support. They are appreciated.

[dreamshark]

This sort of thing is a useful application of Transactional Analysis (a perfectly reasonable psych theory that got a bad name in the 90's due to too much trendiness). Here's my shot at an annoying psychological analysis. Skip the rest of this comment if you don't like that sort of thing.

Heather is trying desperately to engage you in a Child-Child transaction ("Stupidhead!" "Yeah, well, you too!" "Yeah, well"...).
I'd guess that she does this a lot, just from the little snippet you have provided here. You knew better than to get drawn into it, but eventually couldn't help yourself. Hey, we've all got an inner child - it happens to everybody. It even feels good for a few minutes (and the inner child is all about feeling good for a few minutes).

Unfortunately, people who are trying to play Child-Child games LOVE this. It was her entire goal in provoking you. I'm afraid you lost this round of the game. Bummer.

According to Eric Berne (Games People Play), the only way to win this type of game is to keep coming back with an Adult

[mplsvala]

I remember TA. I believe in having an eclectic toolbox, so sure use if it works in the circumstances.

Actually, I quoted the entirety of our interaction, not just snippets. That's all there was. But, yeah, I bet she does do this alot. But I'm not so sure I lost the game. I amused myself emormously and she disengaged rather than hanging around and being a pain continuously. The problem is that too many people with her opinion set are seriously bent. Perhaps to the extent of mental illness. Engaging with these nuts should be avoided when possible because you never know when one of them will snap.

Thanks. That's what got me. I was just so amused with myself I had to actually say it. I don't even make top three in my family when it comes to killer humor. I can't afford to pass up opportunities like that.

[mizzlaurajean]

See the problem is I'm whoring myself on facebook friending random people who might care I'm running for office.
I did try and target it to relevant groups the Whittier Alliance Community page and the Phillips West page and the Community page for keeping up with the Xcel's Hiawatha project. But I don't have time to check out each person and make sure they are not crazy.
On the bright side it didn't take long to lose her. And we are all happy she's gone though it's a traumatizing reminder that "they" are out there.
So any future crazy just remember it's someone I picked up on the street. So far the vast majority seem lefty too.

[mplsvala]

You are doing a great job. I'm sorry I have done so little. Our new next door neighbors put in a skateboard ramp and they have lots of parties, so I'm grateful to them for bringing me people to talk to. They're all young, although old enough to vote. I'm not sure how many of them will actually go to the polls but they seem receptive. Maybe they're just glad I'm not there to complain about the noise. Other than that I've just been pulling over and talking to acquaintances out my car window. But that's how I have most of my conversations with my neighbors. I don't walk much anymore.

Do you know how many people voted in our last off-year election? Just how many people are we trying to drag in?