Manoy of us who came in here and were repulsed by this place didn't really understand it. perhaps we were too old.
Having wrestled with my own conscience trying to come to grips with this version of virtual reality I have formulated my own insightful thesis that seeks to explain the excesses of this and other forums. Here it is reproduced for your "enjoyment"
Many users spend a lot of time on the internet...some of that playing violent war and shoot 'em games. During those games they can actually talk to each other and say things like "Die You Motha"
Now it is important to realize that it isn't the player saying "Die You Motha" and shooting small children in the street, it is the character the player has created.
Now let's create a mythical person as an example. We'll call him John Doe. John lives in Durbin where he works as an under-assistant accountant at a small accounting firm. John is divorced and not to happy with his life. He wants to be a Rock Star. So he spends all of his time playing "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" where he is the lead guitarist of hugely successful virtual band called "Disorderly Conduct"
It is important to remember again that it isn't John fronting this imaginary band it's his Character "Ironrod Chickmagnet" who is fronting the band.
John shows up here and on hundreds of other chat rooms across cyber space and calls himself the "Trollinator" Now, the Trollinator is free to say the most outlandish things, things that John would never think about saying in real life. After all, John is a mild-mannered under-assistant account in real life who spends most of his free time living a virtual existence.
Again, it is important to realize that it isn't John making the abusive comments, it is his character, or "avatar" , the "Trollinator" making those comments. The "Trollinator" can say and do things that John could never say or do in real life.
Don't believe me? I'll give you a frightening real-life examples from this site...but you'll have to PM me. I'm not sure I can say it here.
So, a handful of people show up and just be themselves. No one believes these people are real. Everyone else is acting out a fantasy...these newcomers must be as well.
And that is it in a nutshell. The internet allows you be anything you dream of being. You can be a black pimp, a rock star, an internet tough guy, or a Chess Grandmaster. You can even change your gender if you like.
ANYTHING that is, but yourself.
The internet is a social medium different than normal ones.
I don't act the same whether I'm in a wedding, a funeral or a business meeting. I also don't act the same when I'm in an internet forum or in real life. In your post, there is the veiled accusation that this is hypocritical. Quite the contrary, it's just the expression of a varied social life.
So I don't really care much about your projections of my social life outside of the internet. I consider myself a quite sociable person, I go out to bars, clubs, concerts, house parties and so on. Even if I wasn't, I don't see what would be wrong with that.
Now crawl back to your private forums and your illusion of superiority.
The Man In The Glass
Anonymous
When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.
For it isn’t your father or mother or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass.
The fellow whose verdict counts most in you life
Is the one staring back from the glass.
You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum
And think you’re a wonderful guy.
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.
He’s the fellow to please-never mind all the rest,
For he’s with you clear to the end.
And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend.
You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass.
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.
Originally posted by PalynkaApparently I must have hit a nerve.
The internet is a social medium different than normal ones.
I don't act the same whether I'm in a wedding, a funeral or a business meeting. I also don't act the same when I'm in an internet forum or in real life. In your post, there is the veiled accusation that this is hypocritical. Quite the contrary, it's just the expression of a varied social life. ...[text shortened]... ng with that.
Now crawl back to your private forums and your illusion of superiority.
Didn't mean this as an indictment of your life style...just an observation.
Originally posted by Red NightDear Mr. Vernon,
Manoy of us who came in here and were repulsed by this place didn't really understand it. perhaps we were too old.
Having wrestled with my own conscience trying to come to grips with this version of virtual reality I have formulated my own insightful thesis that seeks to explain the excesses of this and other forums. Here it is reproduced for your ...[text shortened]... e your gender if you like.
ANYTHING that is, but yourself.
We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. But we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us...in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is...
...a brain...
...and an athlete...
...and a basket case...
...a princess...
...and a criminal...
Does that answer your question?
Sincerely Yours,
The Breakfast Club.
Originally posted by Red NightAnd what is myself? If I judge myself as being one thing, another person may judge me as being the complete opposite. Some people in the 'real world' think I'm laid back, others think that I'm an arse. What is the difference in a forum? Is it how you project yourself and how you actively seek to portray yourself in a certain light? Surely you do that in real life too depending on the circumstance.
ANYTHING that is, but yourself.
Hey, what do I know, I'm just a newbie
Originally posted by rbmorrisZing.......!
Dear Mr. Vernon,
We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. But we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us...in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is... ...[text shortened]... nd a criminal...
Does that answer your question?
Sincerely Yours,
The Breakfast Club.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DL7tz03v8wc
"If happy times are too few and far between
It's a pity dear, we can't erase the things we've seen
So disappear, vanish if you wish
Just go before you're swallowed up by bitterness
And the truth is you can't hide from the truth
And the truth hurts because the truth is all there is"
Originally posted by rbmorrisScrews fall out all the time, the world is an imperfect place.
Dear Mr. Vernon,
We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. But we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us...in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is... ...[text shortened]... nd a criminal...
Does that answer your question?
Sincerely Yours,
The Breakfast Club.
Originally posted by Red NightYou can even try and pretend to be a Class A OTB player who hasn't played "in several years" but magically doesn't appear on the USCF ratings list (maintained since the 80s).
Manoy of us who came in here and were repulsed by this place didn't really understand it. perhaps we were too old.
Having wrestled with my own conscience trying to come to grips with this version of virtual reality I have formulated my own insightful thesis that seeks to explain the excesses of this and other forums. Here it is reproduced for your ...[text shortened]... e your gender if you like.
ANYTHING that is, but yourself.