Getting involved?

i try not to feed trolls.

We often make ourselves more vulnerable online. (Well, that is not an all inclusive we, I suppose.)

I tend to go through posting phases, for example: I will post lots and through out a lot of my thoughts and sillyness and ideas, because I am feeling like it's ok to ask for feedback and responses and interaction. Sometimes I don't have the energy to spare for opening myself up for reactions and commentary from whomever happens to respond. You can tell that I am coming around when I start picking on Marvin. :)

Many people are online because they are craving interaction and lack the capacity (for whatever reason) to have regular time with many people. There are those who are housebound, have health issues that limit their mobility or their ability to get out to socialize, etc. Some people are so shy that they really just need an environment in which they can be as visible and present as feels comfortable, and no more.

Online relationships become more important if they are your social link, and there is nothing wrong with that. I think it's healthy, in fact, when it works. We get to know a lot about each other, relatively quickly, and we (again with the 'we') offer support and positive feedback a lot more freely than would be ok in day to day life.

The trouble is that there aren't really any rules that you can depend on not to be broken. Sure, attacking people or whathave you may not be allowed, but you can't prevent it, you can only react to it. That's the risk of playing with words while essentially blindfolded.

You can't always see people coming at you, wildly swinging the 2x4 of their own issues. I may be doodling along, playfully posting and interacting with someone, and somehow something I say may trigger something sensitive for them without any harm intended. Or maybe I meant to upset them because I am mad at the world today and I 'need' to beat some(one) (thing) up to feel some release. Maybe I am just an ass and I like that about myself. Maybe I never learned how to play nice, and this is like a big playground where I am learning to be social at everyone else's expense...etc.)

Maybe I ramble too much.

My point is, for some people online communities are virtual and remain just virtual, and that's cool. You can leave when it gets messy and no one will think twice about it.

For others, though, there are real emotions invested, and that's what makes it tricky. It can be hard to determine how much of your need for human interaction/ validation/ friendship should be fed by taking the gamble that the people you are online with right now are going to play nice.




Ok, I am going to post this and run; I will reread it later and realize how little sense I've made. lol

I've practiced my share of "woundology" and think everyone does to a certain extent. I know what youre saying though. The bs factor can be raised to epic proportions so easily on here. ( And in RL ) The less drama the better. Sometimes it seems it just can't be avoided. lol Trust me, I do overlook alot of shit in RL and on here. I make a mental note. Sometimes silence really is the best response as well.

Somehow I missed that one. Did they have a section on Vivaldi? :)