What have you done lately...

@fmf said
Speak for yourself. I don't concur with this kind of silly talk. Just say what you feel; don't try to incorporate me into what it makes you want to do.

I think it's a normal response to an on-line bully to have feelings of reprisal.

In the real world I wouldn't tolerate it.

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Romans 12:18

@secondson said
You appear to be waffling. Above you said it was "mostly boring", and now you're saying it's "fascinating".

Yes. I'm getting the two aspects a bit mixed up. It's kind of fascinating that people would so debase themselves online that they are making threats of violence. The actual threats of violence are "mostly boring" though. In a sense, the tough-guy & threats thing is an element of the Walter Mitty/Billy Liar thing: they have constructed a world to inhabit in which they back up their stances and frictions with ominous allusions to their physical prowess. It's fascinating that they do this, I suppose. More interesting though are the elements of the alter ego that get cultivated.

@secondson said
I think it's a normal response to an on-line bully to have feelings of reprisal.

No, I don't. I think it's just pathetic. I think someone who makes threats of violence has basically pulled their trousers down to their ankles.

@secondson said
I think it's a normal response to an on-line bully to have feelings of reprisal.

In the real world I wouldn't tolerate it.

Why? What would you do?

@fmf said
It's about the construction of a kind of alter ego who purports to have had all manner of experiences.

That is interesting.

Do you believe there are posters here that exhibit those symptoms of online disinhibition syndrome in that way?

@fmf said
Yes. I'm getting the two aspects a bit mixed up. It's kind of fascinating that people would so debase themselves online that they are making threats of violence. The actual threats of violence are "mostly boring" though. In a sense, the tough-guy & threats thing is an element of the Walter Mitty/Billy Liar thing: they have constructed a world to inhabit in which they back up thei ...[text shortened]... y do this, I suppose. More interesting though are the elements of the alter ego that get cultivated.

I see.

@fmf said
No, I don't. I think it's just pathetic. I think someone who makes threats of violence has basically pulled their trousers down to their ankles.

True, online. But in reality it's a different animal.

@fmf said
Why? What would you do?

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you(me), live peaceably with all men.

"If possible" I'd turn the other cheek.

@secondson said
That is interesting.

Do you believe there are posters here that exhibit those symptoms of online disinhibition syndrome in that way?

There are hundreds and hundreds of thousands of alleged U.S. Marine Corps sergeants out there, or so it would seem! Or at least, that can be extrapolated from a sample.

I was a member of a tight-knit online community years back that talked about music released by a certain label. One member ~ using his real name, oddly enough ~ started a long drawn out running commentary on his impending death from brain cancer. The group indulged him and worried for him. One day, me and this other guy bumped into him by accident in Tokyo. The whole story had been an attention-seeking figment of his imagination. He disappeared from the message board as of that day.

@secondson said
"If possible" I'd turn the other cheek.

How is that 'not tolerating it'?

@secondson said
True, online. But in reality it's a different animal.

In reality, I don't come across many people who pull their trousers down to their ankles.

@secondson said
Do you believe there are posters here that exhibit those symptoms of online disinhibition syndrome in that way?

Here at RHP? Yes, over the years I think there have been a few.

@fmf said
There are hundreds and hundreds of thousands of alleged U.S. Marine Corps sergeants out there, or so it would seem! Or at least, that can be extrapolated from a sample.

I was a member of a tight-knit online community years back that talked about music released by a certain label. One member ~ using his real name, oddly enough ~ started a long drawn out running commentary on h ...[text shortened]... attention-seeking figment of his imagination. He disappeared from the message board as of that day.

There are hundreds and hundreds of thousands of alleged all kinds, even billions of people exhibiting alter egos.

Nothing new there.

@fmf said
How is that 'not tolerating it'?

Confrontation. Easy to do on line.
But in real life situations one must judge the circumstances and act accordingly.

@secondson said
Confrontation. Easy to do on line.
But in real life situations one must judge the circumstances and act accordingly.

What does "act accordingly" mean?