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Masta_Don
Joined: 17 Aug 2006
Location: Hyehwa-dong, Seoul
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 Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:58 pm Post subject: You and the Internet: A Lecture on Responsibility |
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Due to recent events my frustration with this site has reached the point that I feel this is needed. Understand that it's not directed at everyone and at no one in particular.
The internet began years ago as a haven for miscreants, nerds, and other social outcasts. While, in recent years, there has been a surge in popularity among Middle America (please understand this is a cultural formality. Include who you'd like into that group, American or otherwise), it still is the stomping grounds for those that don't feel included above ground. It's merely a meshwork of tubes linking the pitiful to the more pitiful. A code of ethics has been worked out amongst these individuals, to protect themselves from outsiders, those who wouldn't invite them into their lives until they found out these dorks have a cool new toy - the Internet.
This, these grounds, are their turf and to try and bring some semblance of mainstream morality is laughable. There are no people here, only ideas, and ideas aren't constrained by morality. Like Mardi Gras or Halloween, here we are, wrapped up in a costume of our own design, enabling us to devolve, become base, as a form of therapy. The true nature of each person is hidden from view, each of us running our own little Oz. This is the way of the Internet.
Thousands and thousands of users, not people, converging together on a digital platform to reassure one another that they are not the only ones huddled in their mother's basement. This is the way of the Internet.
But where am I going with all this? You, people of Dave's, have broken the code of conduct that has been established. Where humor is to be found you unleash scorn. Where mundanity exists, you find fascinating information. Where mockery lies in wait, you find sympathy. This is not the way of the Internet.
Perhaps it's time for an example.
| Internet wrote: |
What is Christopher Paul Neil's favorite ice cream flavor?
Pedstachio
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Now I know that this isn't a very good joke but it's typical Internet fare. As I see it there are three ways to react. One, bad joke, groan. Two, hey, that's kinda funny. Three, this is horrible and atrocious especially in light of what's been going on here - how could you - you're reported! One and Two are completely normal and understandable. Three is where we are running into problems here.
Three is the irresponsible answer. Remember, the Internet is an international conglomeration of nerds. Those who have been made fun of, picked on, they're here to let off some steam, exorcise their demons. A joke, such as the one above, is a manifestation of that sentiment.
Now Three would be fine if there were only one response like that. In fact, it could be a meta-troll and that would be incredibly Internet. Then that post would bait others and it'd all fall downhill, like it's supposed to. But here we are inundated with these kind of replies, leading me to believe that they aren't all trolling. And then Three also brings the hammer down by tattling to the mods about such a post. Nevermind that people constantly, constantly, break tables, have no content first posts (Current Events forum), and play Internet Tough Guy. No, those things aren't worthy of moderating, but black humor, oh god, please, think of Dave, that grinning ghoul at the top. He needs all the help he can to keep this shitpile afloat. Right?!? The shitskipper is doing fine, I assure you. But instead of focusing on the aesthetic value of these forums, like good little mods would, they focus on content. Argh, content, so subjective. Well thanks for keeping us far out of the loop of...uh, everyone else, guys.
Oh, but we're professionals, right, as I hear constantly. Unfortunately there is only one professional online and that's a nerd. Since I doubt any of you have neckbeards or down Mountain Dew by the two liter, much less have a level 60 Dark Elf on WoW or know the release date of the next obscure Japanese RPG, then you aren't rightfully a professional of any kind, here, on the Internet. So relax and let it go.
And if you don't understand the above, I'm certain of one of two things. Either you are older than 30, not to say that people over 30 can't understand the Internet but they'd have to work on it, play catch up, or you didn't have a computer until university. |
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Czarjorge
Joined: 01 May 2007
Location: I now have the same moustache, and it is glorious.
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:01 am Post subject: |
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"Hurrah to you, sir. Well said, well said," entones the noble British gentleman. |
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peemil
Joined: 09 Feb 2003
Location: Koowoompa
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:12 am Post subject: |
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| Don't feed the trolls. Even the downright uppity ones. |
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Czarjorge
Joined: 01 May 2007
Location: I now have the same moustache, and it is glorious.
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:21 am Post subject: |
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Last edited by Czarjorge on Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:28 am; edited 3 times in total |
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skinhead
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:25 am Post subject: |
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| peemil wrote: |
| Don't feed the trolls. Even the downright uppity ones. |
Who asked you, pissfart? |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:57 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Three is the irresponsible answer. |
It's the up-tight, silly answer, but irresponsible? I think you need to go back to the dictionary for a review of the meaning of that word. |
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waltjocketty
Joined: 09 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:18 am Post subject: Re: You and the Internet: A Lecture on Responsibility |
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| Masta_Don wrote: |
| and that would be incredibly Internet. |
you are a master with the English language, my friend. Indeed, this phrase will age well. |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:45 am Post subject: |
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So in other words, Crusaders and crossing guards should steer clear of the Internet. Couldn't agree more.
| Quote: |
| level 60 Dark Elf on WoW |
noob. |
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Masta_Don
Joined: 17 Aug 2006
Location: Hyehwa-dong, Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:28 am Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Three is the irresponsible answer. |
It's the up-tight, silly answer, but irresponsible? I think you need to go back to the dictionary for a review of the meaning of that word. |
Perhaps I should have said culturally irresponsible.
Let's put it this way. If I walk into a class of 6th graders in America during their D.A.R.E. class and started talking about how marijuana is not addictive and impossible to overdose on, how the government relies on that money to satisfy the bloated budgets of our police forces, and how the laws came into effect on untrue allegations, I would suspect some, a majority even, would call me irresponsible.
The Internet is pretty much the opposite of that situation.
| Qinella wrote: |
| Quote: |
| level 60 Dark Elf on WoW |
noob. |
Please don't blow my cred. |
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rockstarsmooth
Joined: 01 Aug 2006
Location: anyang, baybee!
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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spot on.
this deserves a bump.
rss 
 right now i'm listening to: peaches - set it off |
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Imbroglio
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: Behind the wheel of a large automobile
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 10:59 pm Post subject: |
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| rockstarsmooth wrote: |
spot on.
this deserves a bump.
rss |
Thank you Mam, may I have another? |
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Czarjorge
Joined: 01 May 2007
Location: I now have the same moustache, and it is glorious.
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| Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 11:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Would it be 'internetitiude' or 'internetoscity'? |
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bacasper
Joined: 26 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 7:03 am Post subject: |
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| OP, I am over 30 and admit that I do not completely understand your post but on some gut level it feels right. |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 9:22 am Post subject: |
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| Czarjorge wrote: |
| Would it be 'internetitiude' or 'internetoscity'? |
The guy in your avatar once responded to an audience member who said he works on PCs by saying, "You work with a PC? What's a PC?"
Jeez, what an idiot, huh? |
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Czarjorge
Joined: 01 May 2007
Location: I now have the same moustache, and it is glorious.
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| Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 1:02 pm Post subject: |
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----------------------------
<=={ Yep, I'm a total moron.}
-----------------------------
yeah, that's a weak word bubble, but, hey, you work with what you got. |
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