Unfriending
Sep. 12th, 2007 02:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nfotxnGiven I'm old hand at this blog thing I still find it hilarious when people un-friend you based on a single opinion held on a specific day as a reaction to a specific event. As already stated I was feeling pretty poor yesterday and wrote something that was hot-headed and not as evenly keeled as the standard I hold myself to usually.
Kudos to those who complimented me for saying something unsavoury even if they disagreed with it. It does take balls to get it out there because people will tear you apart. In the process we all think along lines we'd rather not. For important topics I find this incredibly valuable. Although it can be accomplished with calm tone, clearer meaning and respectful discussion.
Heck even I disagree with my tone, as I've stated publicly three times now. I just find myself dumbfounded when critical thinking skills are not employed in these situations. These are words on a screen stored on a metal box somewhere none of us are. Everyone has emotions and reactions.
And to those who've decided to work on their "persuasive writing skills" I would say, speaking from experience here, that locking yourself down, restricting access and moving away from others does not accomplish that goal. Not in the least.
To the departed: enjoy your echo chamber gentlemen. My discussions are still edited by me, arbitrated by my respected readers and never screened or deleted. That's real discourse.
Kudos to those who complimented me for saying something unsavoury even if they disagreed with it. It does take balls to get it out there because people will tear you apart. In the process we all think along lines we'd rather not. For important topics I find this incredibly valuable. Although it can be accomplished with calm tone, clearer meaning and respectful discussion.
Heck even I disagree with my tone, as I've stated publicly three times now. I just find myself dumbfounded when critical thinking skills are not employed in these situations. These are words on a screen stored on a metal box somewhere none of us are. Everyone has emotions and reactions.
And to those who've decided to work on their "persuasive writing skills" I would say, speaking from experience here, that locking yourself down, restricting access and moving away from others does not accomplish that goal. Not in the least.
To the departed: enjoy your echo chamber gentlemen. My discussions are still edited by me, arbitrated by my respected readers and never screened or deleted. That's real discourse.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
oops, better stick to just posting youtube clips instead of yer thoughts
Date: 2007-09-12 06:45 pm (UTC)I still can't figure out why you would not friend me on myspace. It took awhile but now I'm finally sleeping better.
Re: oops, better stick to just posting youtube clips instead of yer thoughts
Date: 2007-09-12 06:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 06:47 pm (UTC)I also think your post did get people thinking and discussing in ways which the absence of your post might not have prompted. And kudos, too, for explainer follow-ups.
People also did get a bit fried and heated, but that's kind of to be expected. Though it surprises me to hear there were (multiple?) de-friendings because of it. That sucks.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 07:04 pm (UTC)The meta-discourse cheapens the discourse.
It says either "this matters to me and what I really crave is approval" or "I'm petty and am calling folks out for unfriending me". Neither of which is terribly appealing.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 10:11 pm (UTC)It's funny, but most of these social networking sites are chiefly driven by the desires for approval and connection. LiveJournal is more than a blog, because it has a friends list and the readership largely consists of others in the LiveJournal community. So, the connections have some value, and there is a slight sense of loss when the connection is severed, just like in life. Should people have thicker skin and get a life? Sure. But there's nothing wrong with a little meta-discourse from time to time, because there's a community here with informal customs and rules, which are as interesting as many of the other notable topics people discuss on here.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 11:13 pm (UTC)Lemme put it this way, then. Complaining about being defriended, seems about as tacky as arbitrarily defriending someone.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 11:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-13 12:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 07:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 07:22 pm (UTC)And I know that "LJ friend" isn't exactly the same thing, but still.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 07:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-13 02:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 07:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 08:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 09:11 pm (UTC)I see my invisible stalker is back.
I know how to let go. Do you?
"I KNOW HOW TO LET GO"
Date: 2007-09-12 09:31 pm (UTC)IRONY ALERT: SITUATION CRITICAL. WARP CORE BREACH IN 5... 4... 3...
no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 10:26 pm (UTC)Yet you keep following me around from journal to journal, attacking me anonymously, without the courage to show your face. Never speaking to the facts, but always with caustic sarcasm. (Oh, and I suggest you remove the crazy glue from your caps-lock key. It makes it look like you're shouting, which is hard to do without a face).
In any case, I'm done here. I hope you are as well (but then again, I don't believe in Santa Claus either).
no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 11:27 pm (UTC)RESULT: FAILURE.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 11:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-13 03:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 07:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 07:44 pm (UTC)If I don't like what an author has to say, I'd stop reading them, most likely.
But, I usually enjoy what you bring to the table on LJ. Carry on. :)
no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 07:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 08:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 09:43 pm (UTC)How could someone not want to be the friend of a woofy dude who can craft a sentence like that?
no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 09:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 11:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 09:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 10:06 pm (UTC)We are still learning what this whole "web 2.0" and social networking business is all about. Too often, those on the receiving end of a communication put their own spin on the intention of the sender. I think your post was about what was on your conscious at the time and colored with your emotion. I don't think it was a well thought-out argument to support any of the things you mentioned, yet most of us were trying to respond to it as if it were. You were saying what was on your mind. You are allowed to feel what you feel and none of us have the right to invalidate it.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 10:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-12 10:57 pm (UTC)WORK IT.
Oh - And by the waaaay.....
Date: 2007-09-12 11:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-13 12:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-13 07:14 am (UTC)Your post rubbed me the wrong way a bit but I just shrugged and said "It's Brodie's semi-annual Piss People Off day" and moved on. And um... then I mined it for comedy.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-13 03:09 pm (UTC)