Brittlivity

[the_gneech]

I get concerned sometimes about the way many people seem to overreact to things. I don't want to name any names, but I have noticed a trend in certain circles to be absolutely devastated with what seems to me to be very little provocation.

For instance, imagine for a moment that Brittle Guy is on a mailing list about the care of newts, and Bigmouthed Moron posts to the Newtcare Mailing List, "Well, everyone should know that Brittle Guy's methods of newt watering will lead quickly to a tank full of dead newts, what a twit!"

Brittle Guy, cut to the quick by Bigmouthed Moron's devastating(?) jibe, responds with, "I thought that this list was about the love we all feel for our newts -- but now I see it for what it is! Ignorance and snobbery, where the cliques of the popular can lord it over those they deem less worthy, no matter how much love those people may have for their newts! I am so disappointed that what was once an open, welcoming community has become so vicious! I am leaving forever, since it's obvious that I am not welcome!"

I dunno, it seems to me that a more proper response is, "Bite me, Bigmouthed Moron, my newts are fine." Always be skeptical, folks ... people who score points by putting other people down, only do so because they can't lift themselves up. If their assessment of self is so shallow that they can only speak in negatives instead of positives, then why in the world should you give any credence to a single thing they have to say? (See also, "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!")

Anyway, just my thoughts on the subject. Don't even get me started on Self-Flaggelist, who posts, "Hi, I love newts but I suck at taking care of them, I'm such a loser..."

-The Gneech

Comments

[shockwave77598.livejournal.com]

You've been peering around #ALF again, haven't you? :)

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Actually, no, but I'm sure it's certainly applicable there. :) -TG

[scixual.livejournal.com]

That's true in MANY communities, online and IRL.

I don't understand them, either.

Link and Link

[xydexx.livejournal.com]

I dunno, it seems to me that a more proper response is, "Bite me, Bigmouthed Moron, my newts are fine."

I don't flame back at the Bigmouthed Morons as often as I should, alas, as I'm of the opinion it leads to a vicious circle and nothing gets accomplished by it.

Don't even get me started on Self-Flaggelist, who posts, "Hi, I love newts but I suck at taking care of them, I'm such a loser..."

See also cargoweasel's entry on Negative Pre-Loading.

Link and Link. -:)

Re: Link and Link

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Now that's cool! I snag!

Thanks! -TG

[wabbitcalif.livejournal.com]

I will flame back at Bigmouth, if I can do so constructively - by reading his diatribes, and forming a logical style assault - otherwise, I leave him well enough alone. I always figure I can do better by my "hit-and-retreat" style of logical responce and leave 'em alone than I could if I get into big, heated discussions/arguments with these people - Like I've seen so many do on the Newsgroup a.l.f.

I agree with you there, buddy.

[level-head.livejournal.com]

Well, look what happened to Gingrich. So bad things can happen...

===|==============/ Level Head