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TheCow
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Forum mentality
#7899647 - 01/18/08 10:54 PM (16 years, 14 days ago) |
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Has anyone considered the effect that forums have on peoples mental health? The ability to jump into any situation, be whoever you want, whatever viewpoint you want, and jump immediately out with no consequences? The fact that most kids today are raised on bulletin boards and flaming, yet in real life they have to be nice? I don't know about anyone else but I think it has made me crazier. And by crazier I mean notably more insane then I figure I would have been otherwise. I mean you can jump onto any forum, seriously fuck someones emotional state up, and then log off and go to your job as a pastor. What are the social ramifications of this do you think? Is there anything or am I reading into it? I honestly feel that when a sociologist looks at this exact time period many years from now this fact might come up.
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skiihigh
underground



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Re: Forum mentality [Re: TheCow]
#7899669 - 01/18/08 10:59 PM (16 years, 14 days ago) |
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...interesting
-------------------- When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. -Jimi Hendrix ALL OF MY POSTS ARE FICTIONAL Most Outrageous Thread Ive Ever Hijacked---http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/9613658/an/0/page/0
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TheCow
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Re: Forum mentality [Re: skiihigh]
#7899676 - 01/18/08 11:00 PM (16 years, 14 days ago) |
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I have planned on writing a whole synopsis of my experience in the forums and how I think it relates to society in general. I doubt anyone would be interested though, but I view it is as something most people overlook for some reason.
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BlueCoyote
Beyond



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Re: Forum mentality [Re: TheCow]
#7899885 - 01/18/08 11:56 PM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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If one does too much of this, like 'role-playing', one becomes untrustworthy here and in real life. So for me, forums are a good way to train my detection skills
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Diploid
Cuban



Registered: 01/09/03
Posts: 19,274
Loc: Rabbit Hole
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Re: Forum mentality [Re: TheCow]
#7899994 - 01/19/08 12:47 AM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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What I've noticed is that young people today are more and more desensitized to violence, what with all the snuff videos available all over the place showing graphic actual suicides (some transmitted live on web cams as they happen), atrocities and murder by assorted military thugs, and even Muslim decapitation with dull knives.
I find these things horribly disturbing but kids today eat them up like cartoons 20 years ago.
I wonder what this is doing to us as a people sometimes...
-------------------- Republican Values: 1) You can't get married to your spouse who is the same sex as you. 2) You can't have an abortion no matter how much you don't want a child. 3) You can't have a certain plant in your possession or you'll get locked up with a rapist and a murderer. 4) We need a smaller, less-intrusive government.
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igwna
The Cap'n


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Re: Forum mentality [Re: Diploid]
#7900000 - 01/19/08 12:49 AM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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yeah i've seen some FUCKED up children.. my very own nephew LOVES gore.. its creepy.
-------------------- I don't believe in cops, bosses, or politicians. Some call that anarchism. I call it having a fucking heart that beats.
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Dr_Bloothumb
WTFWJD



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Re: Forum mentality [Re: igwna]
#7900027 - 01/19/08 01:18 AM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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I remember very well many graphic scenes viewed by me in my youth. These DID change me, as did the ability to post my thoughts instantly without remorse. But what really intrigues me is what could possibly tickle the neurons of my own son, who is even now in his infancy. What i find shocking today could very well be commonplace for him when he's my age. I'm fine with this i suppose because of my curiosity. I really would just like to know more and more.
That being said, accountability is one thing, while context is quite another. If you think someone is taking advantage of the forum, perhaps you should reevaluate where you think you are.
-------------------- Guinness- It's what's for dinner!
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



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Re: Forum mentality [Re: TheCow]
#7900719 - 01/19/08 08:09 AM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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you can jump onto any forum, seriously fuck someones emotional state up,
You give yourself credit for much more power over others than you actually have.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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TheCow
Stranger

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Re: Forum mentality [Re: Icelander]
#7901374 - 01/19/08 12:03 PM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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Quote:
Icelander said: you can jump onto any forum, seriously fuck someones emotional state up,
You give yourself credit for much more power over others than you actually have.
No actually I think you are a cynic. I wasn't specifically referring to this forum, although weve all witnessed various meltdowns on here also. There are other forums where people are extremely sensitive, maybe suicide help forums? How about victims of child rape. There are a number of forums where a determined individual could fuck with someone. Hell Ive pretended to be a Nazi at certain forums, and Im jewish
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MushroomTrip
Dr. Teasy Thighs



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Re: Forum mentality [Re: TheCow]
#7901412 - 01/19/08 12:16 PM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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Tis is all human nature. Internet doesn't invent new human components or psychologies, it is merely an adjuvant in revealing what's already there. It's also something to notice, but that's all there is. Human nature expressing itself and the phase that it's going through.
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   All this time I've loved you And never known your face All this time I've missed you And searched this human race Here is true peace Here my heart knows calm Safe in your soul Bathed in your sighs
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EternalCowabunga
Being of Great Significance



Registered: 04/04/05
Posts: 7,152
Loc: Time and Space
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WE are not getting crazier, as long as we practice truth honesty loyalty and humility
you are not insane TheCow
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MushroomTrip
Dr. Teasy Thighs



Registered: 12/02/05
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How do you know that if we don't practice those we'll go insane? What's insane exactly? What about those who practice humility and loyalty out of delusion?
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   All this time I've loved you And never known your face All this time I've missed you And searched this human race Here is true peace Here my heart knows calm Safe in your soul Bathed in your sighs
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AnastomosisJihad
Hominid



Registered: 01/01/08
Posts: 700
Loc: Ohio
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The challenge is to integrate one's real life on the internet with other aspects of one's real life.
-------------------- come together
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TheCow
Stranger

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I think an interesting premise for a book, is a government conspiracy to take over forums where a particular person posts at. In this way they could get a perfect mental picture of the guy, or I think slowly influence his way of thought.
Then extend this out to huge numbers of people with automated replies. Where different people would visit the same forum, but all the posts would be different. Theyd have no idea that they were being spied upon and subtlety influenced. Actually that sounds kind of dumb now that Ive written it, but Ive got other ideas, oh yes...
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Diploid
Cuban



Registered: 01/09/03
Posts: 19,274
Loc: Rabbit Hole
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Re: Forum mentality [Re: TheCow]
#7901717 - 01/19/08 01:20 PM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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Oooh... great idea for a book, but I think you'll have a limited audience.
A lot of people buy stuff on Ebay and send email, but I think only young people (and a small fraction of progressive oldies) make the internet central to their lives or spend much time making friends and talking online. You'd have a limited audience.
My parents, for example, can barely send email and browse Ebay. Forget about them ever joining a discussion board. There's no chance of that. I've tried to get them interested but they just shrug.
Or am I out of touch with current internet demographics? Maybe I just have dense parents? Could be...
-------------------- Republican Values: 1) You can't get married to your spouse who is the same sex as you. 2) You can't have an abortion no matter how much you don't want a child. 3) You can't have a certain plant in your possession or you'll get locked up with a rapist and a murderer. 4) We need a smaller, less-intrusive government.
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Re: Forum mentality [Re: TheCow]
#7901802 - 01/19/08 01:40 PM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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Quote:
TheCow said:
Quote:
Icelander said: you can jump onto any forum, seriously fuck someones emotional state up,
You give yourself credit for much more power over others than you actually have.
No actually I think you are a cynic. I wasn't specifically referring to this forum, although weve all witnessed various meltdowns on here also. There are other forums where people are extremely sensitive, maybe suicide help forums? How about victims of child rape. There are a number of forums where a determined individual could fuck with someone. Hell Ive pretended to be a Nazi at certain forums, and Im jewish
A cynic? What's that got to do with what I said?
You can't make anyone feel any way or anything my friend. They choose to do it themselves. If it were otherwise we would all feel exactly the same about everything everyone did and that just ain't so.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Veritas

Registered: 04/15/05
Posts: 11,089
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Re: Forum mentality [Re: Diploid]
#7901829 - 01/19/08 01:46 PM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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Quote:
Diploid said: My parents, for example, can barely send email and browse Ebay. Forget about them ever joining a discussion board. There's no chance of that. I've tried to get them interested but they just shrug.
Or am I out of touch with current internet demographics? Maybe I just have dense parents? Could be...
My mother (67 y.o.) was a moderator on an internet bulletin board a few years back. She still can't change the clock on her VCR, though. (And still has a VCR & not a DVD player. )
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EternalCowabunga
Being of Great Significance



Registered: 04/04/05
Posts: 7,152
Loc: Time and Space
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Re: Forum mentality [Re: Icelander]
#7901844 - 01/19/08 01:49 PM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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Quote:
Icelander said:
Quote:
TheCow said:
Quote:
Icelander said: you can jump onto any forum, seriously fuck someones emotional state up,
You give yourself credit for much more power over others than you actually have.
No actually I think you are a cynic. I wasn't specifically referring to this forum, although weve all witnessed various meltdowns on here also. There are other forums where people are extremely sensitive, maybe suicide help forums? How about victims of child rape. There are a number of forums where a determined individual could fuck with someone. Hell Ive pretended to be a Nazi at certain forums, and Im jewish
A cynic? What's that got to do with what I said?
You can't make anyone feel any way or anything my friend. They choose to do it themselves. If it were otherwise we would all feel exactly the same about everything everyone did and that just ain't so.
That's true, but don't you have any compassion for the weak minded? I know you are empathetic and thoughtful enough to know when you are pushing someone's buttons who can't stand up to you.
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officerfox
Stranger



Registered: 06/12/06
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Loc: Florida, USA
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Re: Forum mentality [Re: TheCow]
#7901871 - 01/19/08 01:54 PM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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Then you're weak.
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EternalCowabunga
Being of Great Significance



Registered: 04/04/05
Posts: 7,152
Loc: Time and Space
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Who is weak?
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officerfox
Stranger



Registered: 06/12/06
Posts: 469
Loc: Florida, USA
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Look at the [RE: TheCow] ...
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EternalCowabunga
Being of Great Significance



Registered: 04/04/05
Posts: 7,152
Loc: Time and Space
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Excuse me if I'm being thickheaded, but what are you referring to by [RE: TheCow]? The first post? The third post?
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officerfox
Stranger



Registered: 06/12/06
Posts: 469
Loc: Florida, USA
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The original post.
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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That's true, but don't you have any compassion for the weak minded?
No, at least not in the way you might think. Most are weakminded because they intend it.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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EternalCowabunga
Being of Great Significance



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Posts: 7,152
Loc: Time and Space
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Re: Forum mentality [Re: Icelander]
#7901974 - 01/19/08 02:21 PM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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So you mean to say that we are always exactly aware of what we are doing, even if we aren't admitting it? I agree with that (even if you choose not to make a choice, you still have made a choice)
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



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No I'm not saying that. I'm saying that most folk are emotionally lazy (this includes myself). If someone comes on here spouting and I shoot them down there is no harm done to them. In fact there is a potential for awakening and if they felt so bad as to choose to kill themself rather that endure the embarrassment of being seen as wrong or silly then that's good for the gene pool. So it's win/win.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Diploid
Cuban



Registered: 01/09/03
Posts: 19,274
Loc: Rabbit Hole
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Re: Forum mentality [Re: Icelander]
#7902210 - 01/19/08 03:31 PM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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there is a potential for awakening and if they felt so bad as to choose to kill themself rather that endure the embarrassment of being seen as wrong or silly then that's good for the gene pool. So it's win/win.
I couldn't agree more.
-------------------- Republican Values: 1) You can't get married to your spouse who is the same sex as you. 2) You can't have an abortion no matter how much you don't want a child. 3) You can't have a certain plant in your possession or you'll get locked up with a rapist and a murderer. 4) We need a smaller, less-intrusive government.
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TheCow
Stranger

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Re: Forum mentality [Re: Diploid]
#7902323 - 01/19/08 04:12 PM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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I'm not so convinced that people's emotional states, i.e someone being overly emotional is necessarily bad for the gene pool or even has much of a correlation to genes.
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Diploid
Cuban



Registered: 01/09/03
Posts: 19,274
Loc: Rabbit Hole
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Re: Forum mentality [Re: TheCow]
#7902348 - 01/19/08 04:21 PM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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Overly emotional people make decisions based on emotions instead of facts or reasoned thought. If that only affected them, well alright. Unfortunately, it also affects me.
Overly emotional people are why marijuana is illegal even though it's demonstrably far less harmful than alcohol. The decision to keep it criminalized is a direct result of emotion trumping logic.
-------------------- Republican Values: 1) You can't get married to your spouse who is the same sex as you. 2) You can't have an abortion no matter how much you don't want a child. 3) You can't have a certain plant in your possession or you'll get locked up with a rapist and a murderer. 4) We need a smaller, less-intrusive government.
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TheCow
Stranger

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Re: Forum mentality [Re: Diploid]
#7904014 - 01/19/08 11:12 PM (16 years, 13 days ago) |
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However you are relating different things. Someone getting worked up and becoming suicidal is not the same as someone having faith in the intrinsic wrongness of something. You are purposely trying to claim that emotion governs everything, and so therefore anything that is bad is emotional. The reasons marijuana is illegal are far more complicated than a group of emotional people who are banded together. They run much deeper and I am surprised you would offer up such a simplistic answer. Your original contention was that emotional people are inherently emotional due to their genes, therefore suicides are not bad because it gets rid of those genes. I was skeptical if that was true, and still am quite skeptical. Most suicidal people I know group up in extremely fucked up households, and their parents are violent. Is this violence emotional to you? If so, I think you need to clarify what it is you mean by emotion as clearly it encompasses far more than I think it does.
My only point earlier was that we have the possibility to fuck with emotional people on a forum. I made no moral call in relation to them, just that it was possible. As far as it being good that they kill themselves, I'm not sure what to tell you.
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OrgoneConclusion
Blue Fish Group



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Posts: 45,414
Loc: Under the C
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Re: Forum mentality [Re: TheCow]
#7904153 - 01/20/08 12:00 AM (16 years, 12 days ago) |
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If the people who wanted marijuana to be illegal had valid reasons, then they would not need to constantly use emotionally charged words to work up the populace such as:
garden = lab or factory
sales = trafficking
retailer = dealer
pipe = drug paraphernalia
successful businessman = drug kingpin
and so on.
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TheCow
Stranger

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You seem to be confusing propaganda with suicidal emotional tendencies, its alright though, I won't hold it against you
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OrgoneConclusion
Blue Fish Group



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Re: Forum mentality [Re: TheCow]
#7904164 - 01/20/08 12:06 AM (16 years, 12 days ago) |
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You focking mocked me. 
*Shmoopy dials Suicide Prevention Hotline*
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Middleman

Registered: 07/11/99
Posts: 8,399
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Quote:
OrgoneConclusion said: If the people who wanted marijuana to be illegal had valid reasons, then they would not need to constantly use emotionally charged words to work up the populace such as:
garden = lab or factory
sales = trafficking
retailer = dealer
pipe = drug paraphernalia
successful businessman = drug kingpin
and so on.
And Cannabis = Mari Juana (a girl in cuba that conjured associations with "dirty mexicans")
It was about $. The paper companies could make more $ from trees than hemp, it really had nothing to do with the drug.
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WordlessNature
kÅ¡atrīya



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Re: Forum mentality [Re: Middleman]
#7904476 - 01/20/08 02:00 AM (16 years, 12 days ago) |
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I would be most interested in seeing any data on cases of suicide in direct relationship with communication via online forums... I'm not sure whether it has happened or not, although I'm quite convinced that it's a possibility.
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Asante
Mage


Registered: 02/06/02
Posts: 86,795
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Re: Forum mentality [Re: TheCow]
#7904764 - 01/20/08 05:44 AM (16 years, 12 days ago) |
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Quote:
you can jump onto any forum, seriously fuck someones emotional state up, and then log off
There are many people who simply won't do that. But yes, for those who do the Internet is a kind of Asshole Academy.
There are two sides to the story: for the number of people who use the web to act out as an asshole, there is a group of people who get disenchanted towards humanity because of this.
Being an Internet bitch truly makes the world a slightly less wonderful place to be, because it brings negativity in peoples minds that would not have come out otherwise. The thought that "its just the internet" and that no harm comes of it is erroneous. The more seconds of your life you spend acting like an asshole, and the more people you do this towards, the more of a real life asshole you have become.
Real or Virtual is illusory. It is ALL the real world. You are using real words and real psychological tactics to elicit real emotions in others.
Quote:
The fact that most kids today are raised on bulletin boards and flaming, yet in real life they have to be nice?
For many kids "being nice" comes natural. In fact most children come into this world being nice people, until bad experiences distort their personality. Getting flamed and ridiculed on forums and being subjected to harassment and shock pics which would traumatize people if the events depicted would happen to them in real life certainly are bad influences.
A hateful internet bitch is a psychological victimizer just like a schoolyard bully or workplace tormentor.
Quote:
What are the social ramifications of this do you think?
Because the internet takes away inhibitions in many, there is more victimizing behavior in the world and thus more victims. The world is worse off, more people are being hurt than would have been otherwise, and more people are learning to behave as assholes.
Because of exposure to socially inappropriate behavior and shock pics, people are psychologically numbed and more indifferent to incoming stimuli. They desensitize to stimuli and get less connected to their feelings, they care less and need stronger stimuli to get a reaction. This inevitably carries over to the offline world.
Loved the rating by the way
-------------------- Omnicyclion.org higher knowledge starts here
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MushroomTrip
Dr. Teasy Thighs



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Re: Forum mentality [Re: Asante]
#7904798 - 01/20/08 06:21 AM (16 years, 12 days ago) |
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Quote:
Being an Internet bitch truly makes the world a slightly less wonderful place to be, because it brings negativity in peoples minds that would not have come out otherwise.
Quote:
Because the internet takes away inhibitions in many, there is more victimizing behavior in the world and thus more victims. The world is worse off, more people are being hurt than would have been otherwise, and more people are learning to behave as assholes.
Is it all because of the internet? Because you kind of make it sound so. And then what would be the difference between those who say "it's because of drugs that we have so many addicts/rapes/murders" or "it's because of the internet..."
It's not because of the internet, it's because of people who are unable to control themselves and their emotions, and each of these experiences can also be used in helping one understand better who they are and how to grow. I think it's good to outline this matter because we need to redirect this bad image from "what internet does" back where it belongs, to what some people do/are.
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   All this time I've loved you And never known your face All this time I've missed you And searched this human race Here is true peace Here my heart knows calm Safe in your soul Bathed in your sighs
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Asante
Mage


Registered: 02/06/02
Posts: 86,795
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Quote:
It's not because of the internet, it's because of people who are unable to control themselves and their emotions, and each of these experiences can also be used in helping one understand better who they are and how to grow. I think it's good to outline this matter because we need to redirect this bad image from "what internet does" back where it belongs, to what some people do/are.
My thoughts exactly. The Internet provides opportunity to be an asshole. Opportunity doesn't do a thing in itself, it is entirely passive. Responsibility lies with the users of the web, members, mods and admins alike.
Don't take freedom of expression away, turn against those who abuse it.
-------------------- Omnicyclion.org higher knowledge starts here
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TheCow
Stranger

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Re: Forum mentality [Re: Asante]
#7905252 - 01/20/08 10:27 AM (16 years, 12 days ago) |
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Quote:
Wiccan_Seeker said: Loved the rating by the way
haha,
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