James Farrelly wrote: > On Oct 2, 2007, at 11:15 AM, Matt Broze wrote: > >> The devil inside may be something that only comes out when he >> sits all alone with a keyboard in front of him. This may be more >> common than >> I realize. > > Before the internet was what we know as the internet today scientists > were using it to share info. Someone noticed how impolite the > communications could be and did a study. They concluded that with as > little as a year of on line communications people become more rude. I > certainly see this in some of the forums I visit. Interestingly > Paddlewise, the Kayak forum and the Qajaq forum seem to keep people > in check. I wonder if it in part is the use of real names vs a nom de > plume and the forum rules actually being enforced. That could be. However, I have noticed, in this listserv, and a couple of other online forums (West Coast Paddlers; FoldingKayaks.com, Folbot Forum) that most of the graybeards seem _less_ inclined to engage in flame wars than folks who shoter histories. I know early on here, I would pop off if I felt insulted. It seems (to me, anyway), that I am much more relaxed about abuse than in the past and rarely react in kind or raise the ante to another level. A county mountie told me once how he "adjusts" his attitude when he makes traffic stop: he starts in at about 5 on the scale; if the person comes back with a mild response (a 4 or a 3, for example), he ramps down to their level, or lower; if the potential offender goes to a 7 or a 9 in their first response, he meets that level or exceeds it. That seemed like a good approach to me, and I have tried to extend it to Paddlewise, etc. I think "rising to the bait" reflects a degree of personal insecurity more than anything else. And, this little lesson on relating has certainly been worth what you paid for it! Ommmmmmmmmmm! -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Oct 02 2007 - 11:39:29 PDT
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