Where Everybody Knows You're Numb

Psych Lit · Guru

RE: Combating hate and anger on the internet

Date: Mon Mar 23 1:48 PM, 2009

The culture of corruption and denial among Republicans in Florida is growing. And, they aren't just smearing President Obama. We learned last week that Florida Republicans are using public funds to promote themselves.

Florida Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum used public funds to hire his campaign consultant to run a statewide ad, promoting himself instead of preventing cyber crimes. I've got to say: it looks more like a campaign ad instead of a genuine public education campaign.

Last week, I asked Bill McCollum's office to hand over all the information about the ad. But, in the thousands of pages of documents they sent over, they excluded any documents relating to why they used his campaign consultant and why the ad looks like a campaign for Bill McCollum.

That's why I need your help. Join me and demand that Bill McCollum come clean:

http://www.fladems.com/page/petition/McCollum

The Attorney General has the duty in Florida to protect our children from predators. It falls on his desk to prevent these crimes from occurring and investigate and prosecute those that have already happened. But, he is using money that could be used to catch and prosecute these criminals, to air a TV ad made by his campaign TV consultants starring - himself.

It's disgusting. We need Bill McCollum to focus on the job at hand, instead of his political future. That's why we need to know why he chose to use our taxpayer money to pay $1.4 million to his campaign consultant to make him a campaign ad.

Ask Bill McCollum to come clean.

As the Republican culture of corruption continues to fester in Tallahassee, I'll need your help to hold people like Bill McCollum accountable.

Sincerely,

Eric Jotkoff
Communications Director
Florida Democratic Party

My Turn · Senior Member

BoxDog wrote:

My Turn wrote:

BoxDog wrote:

Actually the fact is that every time someone is "wrongfully" acused they are innocent. My point is it doesn't matter. It matters how we each own it and whether we go forward, shutdown or actually thrive. By continuing to discuss the "victimization" be it real or not, seems to indicate there is a certain lack of growth spirit. More of a pattern of reaching for blame. Now the post tends to drift a little, without cause, imo. But to my original point, we all see and hear mistruths, total lies, tall tales and libelous bashing. I believe the way we process them is the most important piece of the drama. Be you/me, anyone, the attacked or the attacker. Or the simple victim of a misunderstanding. Like I said, motive.

The issuing of an arrest warrant Tuesday for the man suspected of killing Chandra Levy is cold vindication for former Congressman Gary Condit, whose long political career cratered in the wake of Levy's 2001 disappearance.
The arrest gives Condit an opportunity to re-enter public life, this time as a critic of media sensationalism and past police missteps. It also comes, though, as his financial prospects appear bleak and encumbered by courtroom losses.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/1425/story/687102.html
Condit said. I had always hoped to have the opportunity to tell my side of the story, but too many were not prepared to listen. Now I plan to do so, but I will have no further comments on this story at this time.
http://patdollard.com/2009/02/the-8-yr-old-chandra-levy-cold-case-may-finally-be-solved/

there are times when it does matter....the loss of something important to someone thru no fault of their own, is tragic to that person, whether or not someone else thinks they should care about what was lost or not. yes, everyone moves forward in their life despite what happened...one has to...however, i dont think gary condit is"thriving"....
and there are times when ones personal integrity is important if that is how the person feels. maybe some people dont give a flying blip if someone believes false information about them, but there are others that do care if lies are told about them...their personal integrity....and do feel as condit does in wanting to tell his side of the story....to me, this does not show "a lack of growth spirit." when someone is wrongfully accused and sent to prison for years and years...then proven they were actually innocent...this usually generates a headline or two....why? maybe the person does want vindication...the acknowledgment that they in fact did nothing wrong. it gets back absolutely nothing of what the person lost...but perhaps for them, the vindication and public acknowledgment of one's innocence does lead to personal growth.

I beg to differ on the semantics. I don't really think you've even read the sentence. The very first one, which started out your sentence.

"EVERY single time a person is WRONGFULLY ACCUSED...they are innocent".

If that's contentious then I think the conversation, of sorts, is moot.

From what you've responded with I think the assumption is fair that you believe there are times when a wrongfully accused person, is innocent?

huh??? you were the one who said:

BoxDog wrote:

Actually the fact is that every time someone is "wrongfully" acused they are innocent.

i actually said there are times when one is wrongfully accused and innocent.

and the reverse would also be true, there are times when one is justifiably accused and guilty....

soooooo, yes...i do believe if someone is wrongfully accused, they are, in fact, innocent.

BoxDog · Guru

My Turn wrote:

BoxDog wrote:

Actually the fact is that every time someone is "wrongfully" acused they are innocent. My point is it doesn't matter. It matters how we each own it and whether we go forward, shutdown or actually thrive. By continuing to discuss the "victimization" be it real or not, seems to indicate there is a certain lack of growth spirit. More of a pattern of reaching for blame. Now the post tends to drift a little, without cause, imo. But to my original point, we all see and hear mistruths, total lies, tall tales and libelous bashing. I believe the way we process them is the most important piece of the drama. Be you/me, anyone, the attacked or the attacker. Or the simple victim of a misunderstanding. Like I said, motive.

The issuing of an arrest warrant Tuesday for the man suspected of killing Chandra Levy is cold vindication for former Congressman Gary Condit, whose long political career cratered in the wake of Levy's 2001 disappearance.
The arrest gives Condit an opportunity to re-enter public life, this time as a critic of media sensationalism and past police missteps. It also comes, though, as his financial prospects appear bleak and encumbered by courtroom losses.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/1425/story/687102.html
Condit said. I had always hoped to have the opportunity to tell my side of the story, but too many were not prepared to listen. Now I plan to do so, but I will have no further comments on this story at this time.
http://patdollard.com/2009/02/the-8-yr-old-chandra-levy-cold-case-may-finally-be-solved/

there are times when it does matter....the loss of something important to someone thru no fault of their own, is tragic to that person, whether or not someone else thinks they should care about what was lost or not. yes, everyone moves forward in their life despite what happened...one has to...however, i dont think gary condit is"thriving"....
and there are times when ones personal integrity is important if that is how the person feels. maybe some people dont give a flying blip if someone believes false information about them, but there are others that do care if lies are told about them...their personal integrity....and do feel as condit does in wanting to tell his side of the story....to me, this does not show "a lack of growth spirit." when someone is wrongfully accused and sent to prison for years and years...then proven they were actually innocent...this usually generates a headline or two....why? maybe the person does want vindication...the acknowledgment that they in fact did nothing wrong. it gets back absolutely nothing of what the person lost...but perhaps for them, the vindication and public acknowledgment of one's innocence does lead to personal growth.

I beg to differ on the semantics. I don't really think you've even read the sentence. The very first one, which started out your sentence.

"EVERY single time a person is WRONGFULLY ACCUSED...they are innocent".

If that's contentious then I think the conversation, of sorts, is moot.

From what you've responded with I think the assumption is fair that you believe there are times when a wrongfully accused person, is innocent?

My Turn · Senior Member

BoxDog wrote:

Actually the fact is that every time someone is "wrongfully" acused they are innocent. My point is it doesn't matter. It matters how we each own it and whether we go forward, shutdown or actually thrive. By continuing to discuss the "victimization" be it real or not, seems to indicate there is a certain lack of growth spirit. More of a pattern of reaching for blame. Now the post tends to drift a little, without cause, imo. But to my original point, we all see and hear mistruths, total lies, tall tales and libelous bashing. I believe the way we process them is the most important piece of the drama. Be you/me, anyone, the attacked or the attacker. Or the simple victim of a misunderstanding. Like I said, motive.

The issuing of an arrest warrant Tuesday for the man suspected of killing Chandra Levy is cold vindication for former Congressman Gary Condit, whose long political career cratered in the wake of Levy's 2001 disappearance.

The arrest gives Condit an opportunity to re-enter public life, this time as a critic of media sensationalism and past police missteps. It also comes, though, as his financial prospects appear bleak and encumbered by courtroom losses.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/1425/story/687102.html

Condit said. I had always hoped to have the opportunity to tell my side of the story, but too many were not prepared to listen. Now I plan to do so, but I will have no further comments on this story at this time.

http://patdollard.com/2009/02/the-8-yr-old-chandra-levy-cold-case-may-finally-be-solved/

there are times when it does matter....the loss of something important to someone thru no fault of their own, is tragic to that person, whether or not someone else thinks they should care about what was lost or not. yes, everyone moves forward in their life despite what happened...one has to...however, i dont think gary condit is"thriving"....

and there are times when ones personal integrity is important if that is how the person feels. maybe some people dont give a flying blip if someone believes false information about them, but there are others that do care if lies are told about them...their personal integrity....and do feel as condit does in wanting to tell his side of the story....to me, this does not show "a lack of growth spirit." when someone is wrongfully accused and sent to prison for years and years...then proven they were actually innocent...this usually generates a headline or two....why? maybe the person does want vindication...the acknowledgment that they in fact did nothing wrong. it gets back absolutely nothing of what the person lost...but perhaps for them, the vindication and public acknowledgment of one's innocence does lead to personal growth.

Psych Lit · Guru

BoxDog · Guru

My Turn wrote:

BoxDog wrote:

still sucks tho that i had to be the one to pay the price....

It could be an excersize in a life of self prophesized victimization, or a huge step in personal growth. It's your call, as it is with each of us.

nope, not buying the self prophesized victimization on this one....it is a fact, that there are times when one is wrongfully accused and innocent. and yet the innocent pays the price.

Actually the fact is that every time someone is "wrongfully" acused they are innocent. My point is it doesn't matter. It matters how we each own it and whether we go forward, shutdown or actually thrive. By continuing to discuss the "victimization" be it real or not, seems to indicate there is a certain lack of growth spirit. More of a pattern of reaching for blame. Now the post tends to drift a little, without cause, imo. But to my original point, we all see and hear mistruths, total lies, tall tales and libelous bashing. I believe the way we process them is the most important piece of the drama. Be you/me, anyone, the attacked or the attacker. Or the simple victim of a misunderstanding. Like I said, motive.

My Turn · Senior Member

BoxDog wrote:

still sucks tho that i had to be the one to pay the price....

It could be an excersize in a life of self prophesized victimization, or a huge step in personal growth. It's your call, as it is with each of us.

nope, not buying the self prophesized victimization on this one....it is a fact, that there are times when one is wrongfully accused and innocent. and yet the innocent pays the price.

Nightowlhoot3 · Guru

nesea wrote:

Nightowlhoot3 wrote:

(3) FRIENDS THINK ur dumb

-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 at 11:14, 2009-03-11

that's an ad ?!?!?!
I thought there was another secret meeting ....

Maybe there waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas, and maybe there waaaaaaaaaasn't.....

bwaaaaa ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....

BoxDog · Guru

My Turn wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My Turn wrote:

i know for me, i am very very careful about what i say and to whom i say it now.....sad that it has to be that way......

But it doesn't have to be that way. I think most of us have witnessed a lifetime of wtf's in the last few years. Bottom line is it doesn't matter to whom you say what. We either brush ourselves off and trust again or not.
you are right....and i am trying.....its hard tho....a little something inside me died that day....
What we trust to share with anyone about anything may innocently, ignorantly, accidentally or maliciously morph into an entirely different story.
again, you are right....i saw that first hand.

I think its more important to know the motive for what what we say. Far more important than the way it's interpreted, that's easily clarfied if misunderstood.
yes it "should" be easily clarified...however, the person who got the differing version of what was said, should be open to and willing to allow the misquoted person to clarify....
Too, when others speak of us, it comes down to the motive or intention for the discussions that go on regarding us, when we're not involved in them.

hmmmm, never really thought of it this way...but that makes sense...what was the motive of the other party for saying i said one thing when it was actually the complete reverse...??? or perhaps there was no motive...now that i think of it from things i have learned about this person since, it was could have been more a case of this particular person being "under the influence" of more than just alcohol and to give the benefit of doubt perhaps this person was too messed up to recall the conversation the way it actually happened....i would hate to think that it was intentionally twisted to harm me and what i had.....
still sucks tho that i had to be the one to pay the price....

It could be an excersize in a life of self prophesized victimization, or a huge step in personal growth. It's your call, as it is with each of us.

My Turn · Senior Member

Anonymous wrote:

My Turn wrote:

i know for me, i am very very careful about what i say and to whom i say it now.....sad that it has to be that way......

But it doesn't have to be that way. I think most of us have witnessed a lifetime of wtf's in the last few years. Bottom line is it doesn't matter to whom you say what. We either brush ourselves off and trust again or not.

you are right....and i am trying.....its hard tho....a little something inside me died that day....

What we trust to share with anyone about anything may innocently, ignorantly, accidentally or maliciously morph into an entirely different story.

again, you are right....i saw that first hand.

I think its more important to know the motive for what what we say. Far more important than the way it's interpreted, that's easily clarfied if misunderstood.

yes it "should" be easily clarified...however, the person who got the differing version of what was said, should be open to and willing to allow the misquoted person to clarify....

Too, when others speak of us, it comes down to the motive or intention for the discussions that go on regarding us, when we're not involved in them.

hmmmm, never really thought of it this way...but that makes sense...what was the motive of the other party for saying i said one thing when it was actually the complete reverse...??? or perhaps there was no motive...now that i think of it from things i have learned about this person since, it was could have been more a case of this particular person being "under the influence" of more than just alcohol and to give the benefit of doubt perhaps this person was too messed up to recall the conversation the way it actually happened....i would hate to think that it was intentionally twisted to harm me and what i had.....

still sucks tho that i had to be the one to pay the price....

nesea · Senior Member

Nightowlhoot3 wrote:

(3) FRIENDS THINK ur dumb

-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 at 11:14, 2009-03-11

that's an ad ?!?!?!

I thought there was another secret meeting .... biggrin

Date: Thu Mar 12 12:54 PM, 2009

bd

Date: Thu Mar 12 12:38 PM, 2009

My Turn wrote:

i know for me, i am very very careful about what i say and to whom i say it now.....sad that it has to be that way......

But it doesn't have to be that way. I think most of us have witnessed a lifetime of wtf's in the last few years. Bottom line is it doesn't matter to whom you say what. We either brush ourselves off and trust again or not. What we trust to share with anyone about anything may innocently, ignorantly, accidentally or maliciously morph into an entirely different story. I think its more important to know the motive for what what we say. Far more important than the way it's interpreted, that's easily clarfied if misunderstood. Malice? No, not at all. Too, when others speak of us, it comes down to the motive or intention for the discussions that go on regarding us, when we're not involved in them.

"when I left home at eighteen to join the lesbian circus..."

My Turn · Senior Member

Psych Lit wrote:

it reminded me how dangerous and how terrible gossip and spreading false stories can be. the mans life was ruined by speculation that he had done something which hes now been proven to have not done. how many others have had lives and reputations ruined by this sort of malicious crud

ugh! i hate that gossip crap and spreading false stories....i mean nothing as serious as what happened to this guy and having his life and career ruined....but the last time a false statement was told about me....it cost me something very very important to me...something i never, ever wanted to lose.....sucks big time...and really there is nothing the false-ly accused person can do about it....even if they are proven innocent, the damage is already done and any repairs are completely out of their hands and in the hands of those that believed the misstatement or lie to begin with....very sad when a price has to be paid for not even doing what one is accused of..... i know for me, i am very very careful about what i say and to whom i say it now.....sad that it has to be that way......

My Turn · Senior Member

lol...i just scrolled up to look at the banner ads and there are none there...just a message that says "Server busy".....guess for the most part i am oblivious, cause i never noticed them up there....i mean i know they are there...just never pay attention to them. couldnt tell you what any of the ads has ever been for or what any of them say.....

Nightowlhoot3 · Guru

Psych Lit wrote:

did they respond?

They did. I should mention that unlike my previous experience in re: message boards, with other providers (ahem) over the last couple of years or so, the good folks at Sparklit have always replied to my queries, in a timely and helpful manner.
(Honestly -- it's like culture shock, after what I went through for years and years elsewhere.) Here's what they said:

---------------------------------------

Hi, Nightowl:

Unfortunately, we absolutely must have ads rotate otherwise we would be
unable to provide a free forum hosting service.

Cheers,
Sparklit Support

----------------------------------------

I suspect I might have better worded my initial contact with them about this specific issue, but at least what I did want to say was "registered."

"Offensive" (a word I actually used) is, of course, a relative thing, and the degree of this particular offense is really pretty minimal, I suppose, in light of what else is out there. Maybe a subliminal impact was made which may somehow subtly color future ad acceptance choices. <shrug> Pretty doubtful, but you never know. A part of what concerned me was that we're becoming increasingly unable to even recognize antagonistic, and potentially hurtful words on the internet any more, so immune we've become to its usage.

Psych Lit · Guru

BoxDog wrote:

I

We've all seen the snarky gossipy columns which draw one in by suggesting they have "dirt on" a celeb, or simply want to show you an embarrassing picture of them, and ... I don't know ... it just all coalesced for me yesterday, when I saw that thing on OUR page, and thought: "Do we really want that kind of antagonistic stuff on our page?"
i was thinking about a similar thing this week. i was reading the whatever happened to gary condit columns with regard to the catching of the real killer of chandra levy. it reminded me how dangerous and how terrible gossip and spreading false stories can be. the mans life was ruined by speculation that he had done something which hes now been proven to have not done. how many others have had lives and reputations ruined by this sort of malicious crud

Wherein lies the benefit to the soul, the spirit to promote "hate?" To encourage one to move to a place of focusing upon that? When did "hate" lose its "bad rap" in favor of ability to draw one in? When did insults become more popular, and widespread than compliments? Has that enlarged us as individuals, as a nation, or as parts of the interenet at all?
im thinking its all part of the hold their attention all day all night all the time info channels where we all get to pick people that we can follow relentlessly all the while ignoring the real problems that exist in our real worlds.

well? Because it was just something I felt, at the moment, I needed to do! We all have to start somewhere, I guess, and start anew, perhaps, whenever the opportunity presents its self.
did they respond?

I think about craigslist Ben.
I realize now, he "changed" me.
Thanks, Ben.

If you find yourself doing something to alter the direction of this antagonistic trend, no matter how small, I encourage you to share it with the rest of us on this thread. I know I, for one, would sure like to hear about it ....

fwiw

IR smilin'

At first I didn't see the message and then I did, and now mine says "2 Betsys want their underwear and lucky socks back". I mean really? How DO they know these things. Cripes, could you just imagine those crazy little yellow "smileys" screaming out THE BETSYs WANT THEIR UNDIES BACK!

Hell, maybe I am "dumb". But it sure as hell won't be the internet that has me carving little razor cuts in my ankles rocking to and fro in the corner. I've been through worse. It's a real tragedy about the young people involved. They don't "know", I didn't know. I was already past 40 when I had my initiation.

BoxDog · Guru

Nightowlhoot3 wrote:

Nightowlhoot3 wrote:

I don't know if you've noticed, but because we're not a "gold" account message board, we have ad banners which run across the top of our page. If you scan up right now, you'll see it.

First, I'm compelled to say I'm deeply indebted to whomever decided to get rid of those HUGELY IRRITATING "talking" smiley things that would go off every time your mouse accidentally approached them -- it was counterproductive to opening Sparklit boards, really, at least for me, that irritating "WHAAAAAAT???" "SAY SOMETHING" voice barking at me from out of nowhere ...

ANYWAY, we've a new crop of ads now, and the most recent (which you may, or may not see at some point soon) will tell you that X number of YOUR FRIENDS think "UR dumb."

What a measured, insightful, and eloquent observation THAT is, hey?

I first saw "our" ad yesterday, shortly after I'd glimpsed the headline which read: "Teen kills self after nude photos released on internet" and I'd been reminded of the young woman who took her life because of an internet hoax perpetuated by another young woman AND HER MOTHER.

(And PS: A woman was arrested outside a circle K here yesterday for HOLDING DOWN a young woman --girl -- so that her daughter could beat her up, for stealing her boyfriend. She's been booked on aggravated assault, and some other charge.)

We've all seen the snarky gossipy columns which draw one in by suggesting they have "dirt on" a celeb, or simply want to show you an embarrassing picture of them, and ... I don't know ... it just all coalesced for me yesterday, when I saw that thing on OUR page, and thought: "Do we really want that kind of antagonistic stuff on our page?"

Wherein lies the benefit to the soul, the spirit to promote "hate?" To encourage one to move to a place of focusing upon that? When did "hate" lose its "bad rap" in favor of ability to draw one in? When did insults become more popular, and widespread than compliments? Has that enlarged us as individuals, as a nation, or as parts of the interenet at all?

Sure, I know that "They think UR DUMB" thing is just a drop in the bucket, and really, not soooooooooooooooo terribly bad, but have we, as a society sublty been taught that the only way to garner attention is to act BADLY? To say "mean" things about other people? It does seem to be somewhat of an internet phenomenon -- not so much so on TV, for instance, and one I don't particularly like.

Yesterday, I shot an email to the (very cool!) Sparklit folks, and noted that yeah, I know if we want to get the ads taken away, we can upgrade, but I can't afford that extra expenditure right now, so I can easily live with the advertising, but I sure would appreciate it if they didn't saddle us with negative and possibly hurtful stuff like that.

I don't fear any of us are going to go hang ourselves upon reading 3 of our friends think "UR DUMB" but that's not the point, really. The point is ... "it begins at home" and we, as a group of one or a thousand, or a few billion need, I think, to begin, with more urgency, stepping away from the negative, and antagonistic stuff swirling about us seemingly all the time now. We've become somewhat immune to it anymore, so widespread is its usage. I've heard from some that the same ad is on facebook as well. Must be a successful ad campaign. I don't know that my small request will have any impact upon those who administrate the Sparklit Activeboard forums, but I thought I'd give it a shot, anyway, because ... well? Because it was just something I felt, at the moment, I needed to do! We all have to start somewhere, I guess, and start anew, perhaps, whenever the opportunity presents its self.

I think about craigslist Ben.
I realize now, he "changed" me.
Thanks, Ben.

If you find yourself doing something to alter the direction of this antagonistic trend, no matter how small, I encourage you to share it with the rest of us on this thread. I know I, for one, would sure like to hear about it ....

fwiw

IR smilin'

At first I didn't see the message and then I did, and now mine says "2 Betsys want their underwear and lucky socks back". I mean really? How DO they know these things. Cripes, could you just imagine those crazy little yellow "smileys" screaming out THE BETSYs WANT THEIR UNDIES BACK!

Hell, maybe I am "dumb". But it sure as hell won't be the internet that has me carving little razor cuts in my ankles rocking to and fro in the corner. I've been through worse. It's a real tragedy about the young people involved. They don't "know", I didn't know. I was already past 40 when I had my initiation.

MyCat8it · Senior Member

Nightowlhoot3 wrote:

I don't know if you've noticed, but because we're not a "gold" account message board, we have ad banners which run across the top of our page. If you scan up right now, you'll see it.

First, I'm compelled to say I'm deeply indebted to whomever decided to get rid of those HUGELY IRRITATING "talking" smiley things that would go off every time your mouse accidentally approached them -- it was counterproductive to opening Sparklit boards, really, at least for me, that irritating "WHAAAAAAT???" "SAY SOMETHING" voice barking at me from out of nowhere ...

OMG...Amen to that! Those smileys used to drive me nuts!

Psych Lit · Guru

Nightowlhoot3 wrote:

(3) FRIENDS THINK ur DUMB
theyve apparently listened. however now im seeing an ad for one of those 80% interest credit card companies. mebbe muh friends really do think im dumb. lol

"If any one "point the finger" (slander) at a sister of a god or the wife of any one, and can not prove it, this man shall be taken before the judges and his brow shall be marked. (by cutting the skin, or perhaps hair.)"

-- the Code of Hammurabi, circa 1760 BC

-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 at 11:14, 2009-03-11

Nightowlhoot3 · Guru

(3) FRIENDS THINK ur DUMB

"If any one "point the finger" (slander) at a sister of a god or the wife of any one, and can not prove it, this man shall be taken before the judges and his brow shall be marked. (by cutting the skin, or perhaps hair.)"

-- the Code of Hammurabi, circa 1760 BC

wink

-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 at 11:14, 2009-03-11

Nightowlhoot3 · Guru

Nightowlhoot3 wrote:

I don't know if you've noticed, but because we're not a "gold" account message board, we have ad banners which run across the top of our page. If you scan up right now, you'll see it.

First, I'm compelled to say I'm deeply indebted to whomever decided to get rid of those HUGELY IRRITATING "talking" smiley things that would go off every time your mouse accidentally approached them -- it was counterproductive to opening Sparklit boards, really, at least for me, that irritating "WHAAAAAAT???" "SAY SOMETHING" voice barking at me from out of nowhere ...

ANYWAY, we've a new crop of ads now, and the most recent (which you may, or may not see at some point soon) will tell you that X number of YOUR FRIENDS think "UR dumb."

What a measured, insightful, and eloquent observation THAT is, hey?

I first saw "our" ad yesterday, shortly after I'd glimpsed the headline which read: "Teen kills self after nude photos released on internet" and I'd been reminded of the young woman who took her life because of an internet hoax perpetuated by another young woman AND HER MOTHER.

(And PS: A woman was arrested outside a circle K here yesterday for HOLDING DOWN a young woman --girl -- so that her daughter could beat her up, for stealing her boyfriend. She's been booked on aggravated assault, and some other charge.)

We've all seen the snarky gossipy columns which draw one in by suggesting they have "dirt on" a celeb, or simply want to show you an embarrassing picture of them, and ... I don't know ... it just all coalesced for me yesterday, when I saw that thing on OUR page, and thought: "Do we really want that kind of antagonistic stuff on our page?"

Wherein lies the benefit to the soul, the spirit to promote "hate?" To encourage one to move to a place of focusing upon that? When did "hate" lose its "bad rap" in favor of ability to draw one in? When did insults become more popular, and widespread than compliments? Has that enlarged us as individuals, as a nation, or as parts of the interenet at all?

Sure, I know that "They think UR DUMB" thing is just a drop in the bucket, and really, not soooooooooooooooo terribly bad, but have we, as a society sublty been taught that the only way to garner attention is to act BADLY? To say "mean" things about other people? It does seem to be somewhat of an internet phenomenon -- not so much so on TV, for instance, and one I don't particularly like.

Yesterday, I shot an email to the (very cool!) Sparklit folks, and noted that yeah, I know if we want to get the ads taken away, we can upgrade, but I can't afford that extra expenditure right now, so I can easily live with the advertising, but I sure would appreciate it if they didn't saddle us with negative and possibly hurtful stuff like that.

I don't fear any of us are going to go hang ourselves upon reading 3 of our friends think "UR DUMB" but that's not the point, really. The point is ... "it begins at home" and we, as a group of one or a thousand, or a few billion need, I think, to begin, with more urgency, stepping away from the negative, and antagonistic stuff swirling about us seemingly all the time now. We've become somewhat immune to it anymore, so widespread is its usage. I've heard from some that the same ad is on facebook as well. Must be a successful ad campaign. I don't know that my small request will have any impact upon those who administrate the Sparklit Activeboard forums, but I thought I'd give it a shot, anyway, because ... well? Because it was just something I felt, at the moment, I needed to do! We all have to start somewhere, I guess, and start anew, perhaps, whenever the opportunity presents its self.

I think about craigslist Ben.
I realize now, he "changed" me.
Thanks, Ben.

If you find yourself doing something to alter the direction of this antagonistic trend, no matter how small, I encourage you to share it with the rest of us on this thread. I know I, for one, would sure like to hear about it ....

fwiw

IR smilin'

Nightowlhoot3 · Guru

See next post.
( for some reason, my "edit" created a second post.)

-- Edited by Nightowlhoot3 at 10:22, 2009-03-11