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The fandom uproar...
Monday, April 5th, 2004 01:54 amI'd like to say I find it amusing. But I'd be lying. I do recognize that when the hate meme started, it was - I'm assuming - intended as a joke. But I would hope that even the people involved can see that it's gone far beyond that now.
You know, that's something that I'll always loathe about the internet. You don't really know most of the people you communicate with, and since you can't see their expressions or hear the tone of their voice, it's extremely difficult to know when someone is joking or not. Which is why - if I ever do tease someone online - I go out of my way to make sure they know I'm just teasing or joking. Although I'd be the first to admit that I'm far from perfect and have made my share of mistakes.
Some people have no trouble letting all that vitriol just roll off their backs. Other people are more sensitive to it, and do take it personally - even if they know, logically, that it wasn't personal. Just because people in the second group have a more difficult time of it doesn't mean there's anything wrong with them. We all react to things differently.
But - at the risk of becoming one of the hated - I have to say that anyone who gets a laugh from posting the kind of messages I saw on the hate meme thread needs to explore why they think it's an amusing, all-in-good-fun activity. Probably with a good therapist. No, I'm not making a joke. Anyone who gets any kind of pleasure out of hurting other people - whether it was intentional or not - has some personal issues that need to be dealt with. The people who are hurt or offended by it are generally not the people with the problem. (Yes, there are exceptions - people can end up playing the 'pity me' card, which has its own psychological causes...)
The whole thing is just sad... and so incredibly immature. Those of you who were hurt or bothered by it in some way... know that not everyone in the fandom is like that.
Those of you who were involved and who know me or have me friended... I'm not mad at anyone, and I won't unfriend anyone because of this. You're welcome to unfriend me if you want - I won't be mad about that either. I'm just sad and disappointed by the whole thing.
You know, that's something that I'll always loathe about the internet. You don't really know most of the people you communicate with, and since you can't see their expressions or hear the tone of their voice, it's extremely difficult to know when someone is joking or not. Which is why - if I ever do tease someone online - I go out of my way to make sure they know I'm just teasing or joking. Although I'd be the first to admit that I'm far from perfect and have made my share of mistakes.
Some people have no trouble letting all that vitriol just roll off their backs. Other people are more sensitive to it, and do take it personally - even if they know, logically, that it wasn't personal. Just because people in the second group have a more difficult time of it doesn't mean there's anything wrong with them. We all react to things differently.
But - at the risk of becoming one of the hated - I have to say that anyone who gets a laugh from posting the kind of messages I saw on the hate meme thread needs to explore why they think it's an amusing, all-in-good-fun activity. Probably with a good therapist. No, I'm not making a joke. Anyone who gets any kind of pleasure out of hurting other people - whether it was intentional or not - has some personal issues that need to be dealt with. The people who are hurt or offended by it are generally not the people with the problem. (Yes, there are exceptions - people can end up playing the 'pity me' card, which has its own psychological causes...)
The whole thing is just sad... and so incredibly immature. Those of you who were hurt or bothered by it in some way... know that not everyone in the fandom is like that.
Those of you who were involved and who know me or have me friended... I'm not mad at anyone, and I won't unfriend anyone because of this. You're welcome to unfriend me if you want - I won't be mad about that either. I'm just sad and disappointed by the whole thing.
