07-08-2004, 04:06 AM
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#28 (permalink)
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Psycho
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Quote:
Originally posted by castex
It's funny, this concept of cyber face, and the perils of losing it. People, when slighted, act defensively. In real life, in the street, in bars and clubs and living rooms, one is much more likely to turn the other cheek, to let it go. When physical wellbeing or social standing are at stake people tend to behave with grace and discretion. When the odds are in one's favour - if, say, the person in question is backed up by 20 or so friends wielding clubs, darts, cues and glasses - backing-down seems to entail needless swallowing of pride and therefore the stakes are raised and raised some more.
The internet and forums such as this are similar in that there is little element of menace or compromise of social standing to keep thugs in check, and thuggery becomes attractive when there's nothing to lose but the esteem of a handful of internerds on the other side of the world. Consequently it is very often better to just not get involved.
Incidentally, I say forums such as this, but this is certainly one of the better milieu in terms of controlling errant egos. I actually believe this to be a healthy, functioning community; a very rare commodity in this particular medium.
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Aptly put. I agree 100%.
__________________
The sad thing is... as you get older you come to realize that you don't so much pilot your life, as you just try to hold on, in a screaming, defiant ball of white-knuckle anxious fury 
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