On 15 Jan 2006 10:18:14 -0800, "Flyingmonk" wrote:

Just wondering... Is it just me or has anyone else thought that some
of the thugs in here are actually wimps in real life and the wimps in
here are the first to punch someone's lights out in real life? I'm
thinking that since people prone to violence actually are nicer in here
because they have time to think about it before responding where as in
real life, they'd just react. The naggers, the big mouths and the
bitchers (thugs) in here are that way because they have the safety of
distance.

What are your thoughts?

The Monk

I think that to some, posting a message on newsnet is not the same
thing as face to face interaction. There was one guy in
rec.aviation.homebuilt who turned into a crazed bully after initially
posting some pretty neat stuff. Once he turned, he was relentlessly
caustic and attacked his victims without mercy. His excuse was that
"it's not real, it's just a newsgroup". Yes, he literally stated
that.

My take? newsgroups communication is still communication regardless
the anonimity. I treat each post as if I was speaking to an
individual face to face. You never know when you might actually meet
someone you are posting to.

I also have a rule that I adopted: never post something angry without
letting it sit for a while and then re-reading it. Inevitably the
re-reading causes either extensive revisions, or deletion of the
entire message.

Corky Scott