Warbler said:
Mrebo said:
it is easy to dispense with all kinds of etiquette.
not for me it isn't. I am not sure where people get the idea that good manners stops at the computer keyboard.
All I'm saying is that it's easy to ignore some rules of etiquette. Some people are more direct no matter the forum. If one wishes to be glib and sarcastic with strangers, that may not be polite but it isn't meant to be taken that seriously either.
Mrebo said:
We're addressing representations of people.
incorrect, we are addressing people. I know you are a real human being with a heart and feelings, and you know the same about me.
Maybe you are exactly the same in the real life as you are on the internet. I'm sure a lot of us are different though. We project a persona. It's not about pretending to be someone else (for the most part). It's that we are able to sit back and think of a thoughtful response or not respond at all (when we may otherwise be a raving lunatic). We are able to throw out the first caustic thought that comes to mind because we think it's witty (when we may otherwise be quite reserved). We can offer advice as if we're a newspaper columnist and not as if we're speaking to a stranger face-to-face. And whatever we post, we can easily go back to watching funny videos, rather than anticipating an immediate and direct reply. And since we're strangers, we don't know any better what the other person is really like.
Sometimes people do cross a line. I've seen that happen against you and others have risen to your defense.
Mrebo said:
But you're right that the ignore function exists for a reason. I have no use for it but my puppet has thick felt.
so I guess you telling me that I am thin skinned? you wouldn't be the first to tell me that.
I'm saying that my puppet has thick felt! When "Voldemort" (he who must not be named) frequented these forums, he threw out personal insults. In real life I would have taken that personally. On here, I got more annoyed with his negative impact on discussion. The fact that he was trying to be clever and actually doesn't know me made it natural to forgo further emotional impact. I had the option of responding to his posts in a measured fashion, designed to reveal his foolishness (not that he needed help). In real life I would have put him on ignore.