Group think
One of the things I find disturbing about blog comments at times is the pig pile aspect of them. People pile on with "me too" sentiments and become outraged at dissenting viewpoints. Then they become piranha attacks and each one takes a bite out of the person who dared stand up and say something different.
Or if you try to do something different it sets off ripples in the blog pond. Take for instance becoming an "invitation only" blog. I've already seen comments popping up on the blogosphere about a certain "favorite blog" that has dared to limit access. There are hurt feelings. I wonder how long it will take before those hurt feelings are replaced with anger.
All of this because we try to express ourselves and protect ourselves. We are either too exclusive or too inclusive. We are too liberal or too conservative. We are too opinionated or too wishy washy.
Yesterday I wrote a post about whacked out crack heads. I half expected someone to tell me it wasn't very sensitive to call someone with a substance abuse problem a whacked out crackhead. That would have happened if I had dared write that in my work world. And I would have had to respond with an apology and say I did not intend it as a negative term, but a descriptive term. I am becoming more draconian in my blog world. If someone had said the term was offensive I would have thanked them for their comment and then suggest they go fuck themselves.
I'm tired of offending people unintentionally. I'd rather just be honest and offend them intentionally.
I'm beginning to view this blog as my pressure valve place. I can come here and scream. I can spout like a tourette's victim on speed. And it doesn't matter. There is something very comforting about that.
Or if you try to do something different it sets off ripples in the blog pond. Take for instance becoming an "invitation only" blog. I've already seen comments popping up on the blogosphere about a certain "favorite blog" that has dared to limit access. There are hurt feelings. I wonder how long it will take before those hurt feelings are replaced with anger.
All of this because we try to express ourselves and protect ourselves. We are either too exclusive or too inclusive. We are too liberal or too conservative. We are too opinionated or too wishy washy.
Yesterday I wrote a post about whacked out crack heads. I half expected someone to tell me it wasn't very sensitive to call someone with a substance abuse problem a whacked out crackhead. That would have happened if I had dared write that in my work world. And I would have had to respond with an apology and say I did not intend it as a negative term, but a descriptive term. I am becoming more draconian in my blog world. If someone had said the term was offensive I would have thanked them for their comment and then suggest they go fuck themselves.
I'm tired of offending people unintentionally. I'd rather just be honest and offend them intentionally.
I'm beginning to view this blog as my pressure valve place. I can come here and scream. I can spout like a tourette's victim on speed. And it doesn't matter. There is something very comforting about that.
4 Comments:
You knew you would make me VERY VERY curious. I think I found the post you were talking about. I left the following comment:
"Sorry for the "invitation only". THE Michael attacked me personally in a post of his claiming that I discount people merely because I met them through the internet. He also claimed that I call anyone that doesn't live up to my standard a "loser". My standards apparently are for a man to be a "sugar daddy who drives a convertible and has perfect teeth". His comments broke my heart. I thought readers knew me better than that. I thought that people understood my sense of humor. I don't mean to be exculusive or push people away. I'm just not strong enough to handle the negativity anymore. I don't handle character attacks well. I know that both of you (and others) read his blog and I don't intend to create a rift in this little community. I don't fit in. I just need to pull away. I want to post freely without fear of someone making fun of me on their blog. I hope you understand. It was nothing personal. I still plan to post artwork in an open forum and hope to hell he (or someone like-minded) doesn't trash it. you can find it at www.shandisart.blogspot.com Thanks for your compliments ladies. You have no idea how much I appreciate them and YOU."
I had left a comment on Michael's blog chastising him for his actions, but he deleted it. Well, he can't delete the comment I left on "kindness". Someone might just learn a thing or two about the old goat.
I didn't realize you'd responded to the goat spanker. And what a friggin hypocrite and coward for him to have deleted it.
Well good for you for setting the record straight. And you are right, he can't delete this one. This should be interesting to see how this ripples through blogdom.
Well, Kindness actually sent me a very "kind" email :-) I've invited her to read my blog now. You just never know who's a goat loyalist and who's sane.
Thanks for clueing me in on that one. I didn't intend to hurt any feelings.
That's nice. Kindness is a good person.
I think it is easy for people to get sucked in by goat man until he turns on you.
At the very least you are seeing how many people you really affect with your blog.
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