The fandom uproar...

[jenepherre]

I'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.

Comments

[paddies.livejournal.com]

and then there is a language barrier...

Tell me about it... :-)

Sometimes I just hate that I can't speak a better English...grrr

[elisabet-moisio.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I just hate that I can't speak a better English...grrr

I know... but I think you're doing great anyway... but I know that because English is not our first language we tend to pay more attention to it... and I know it's ridiculous to get upset because I don't speak/write good English - but for me it's hard to ignore my own mistakes which I can see sometimes clearly - after I read it somewhere.. and I can't even edit that!!...but then there are mistakes which I make but I don't know how to correct them...=( but I just hope that people who come across with me could just bear with me... I'm trying my best anyway...

btw... I didn't post this one for pity purposes... =D just making my statement as a foreigner who speaks weird language... =)

[paddies.livejournal.com]

- but for me it's hard to ignore my own mistakes which I can see sometimes clearly - after I read it somewhere.. and I can't even edit that!!...but then there are mistakes which I make but I don't know how to correct them...=( but I just hope that people who come across with me could just bear with me... I'm trying my best anyway...

It's exactly the same for me. :-)

btw... I didn't post this one for pity purposes... =D just making my statement as a foreigner who speaks weird language... =)

I know :-)

*Sorry for the spam Jen...*

[elisabet-moisio.livejournal.com]

Thanks Gio for your inputs. =)

Oh and Jen, sorry for the spam! btw.. I like you spinning Eeyore...we Finns call him Ihaa...=D

[jenepherre.livejournal.com]

See comment just posted in reply to Gio's language comment here. Same goes for you. I never notice anything wrong. It's those chicks who like to abbreviate all the words by spelling them somewhat phonetically using numbers and stuff that drive me nuts.

Really?

[jenepherre.livejournal.com]

I have to tell you - I've never noticed any errors with your English. In fact, I had to go to your user page to remind myself that you're from another country.

As someone who speaks Americanized English as an only language, I admire anyone who even attempts to learn it as a second language. Isn't English supposed to be one of the more difficult languages to learn? Because it's so inconsistent? Reminds me of the part in My Fair Lady...

One common language I'm afraid we'll never get.
Oh, why can't the English learn to set
A good example to people whose English is painful to your ears?
The Scotch and the Irish leave you close to tears.
There even are places where English completely disappears.
In America, they haven't used it for years!
Why can't the English teach their children how to speak?

...But use proper English you're regarded as a freak.
Why can't the English learn to speak?

Her English is too good, he said,
Which clearly indicates that she is foreign.
Whereas others are instructed in their native language
English people aren't.

So actually, you and Elizabet probably speak English better than us unsophisticated, uneducated Americans... LOL

Re: Really?

[elisabet-moisio.livejournal.com]

Haha... well you know we weren't trying to fish any compliments here... but thanks Jen!! =)

My English teacher says that actually people in North Scotland speak better English or shall we say more beautiful English than people who speak 'Oxford English'. But he's a Scotch after all.. so he can say whatever he wants. =D And the Irish... uh huh... I don't understand them at all... even when they are using English it sounds so weird that's it not English anymore.. =) heh.. but I love to listen them still.. =) I just wish I could understand them too.. =)

Re: Really?

[paddies.livejournal.com]

I have to tell you - I've never noticed any errors with your English. In fact, I had to go to your user page to remind myself that you're from another country.

You're too nice, I make mistakes all the time...

As someone who speaks Americanized English as an only language, I admire anyone who even attempts to learn it as a second language.

Actually it's my 3th language... I studied French in school, but since I love to travel around the world I had to learn English too...
I don't have a strong grammar base (the one you usually get in school), I just wanted to understand people and communicate with them, the understanding part it's pretty much covered, but I'm still working on the speaking/writing part... ;-)

Isn't English supposed to be one of the more difficult languages to learn?

Not really, French is easier to understand (from an Italian pov), but if you want to really know it it's waaaay more complicated than English...

So actually, you and Elizabet probably speak English better than us unsophisticated, uneducated Americans... LOL

I wish. :-)

Re: Really?

[elisabet-moisio.livejournal.com]

My second mother-tongue is Swedish... so it's the other official language in Finland but I'm not good at it... and actually I have studied English since I was nine...=) and still... yes - I make mistakes - =D and oh.. then I have studied German and French too... and still I think learning to speak English is much easier than learning for example German. But - dear Jen and Gio... I know you must be exhausted because of my talking so I shut up now... =)