[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by Genteel Death

It's only on forums(online relationships-wise) that you see people getting really worked up and anxious about what others think of them. Personally I don't care one way or another if some stranger thinks I am this or that. I mean, what's the point? I suppose insults on a forum become either something you ignore or turn into a platform to take the mickey out of your bully whichever way you can. I occasionally post on a forum about politics where people have awful but often insightful arguments that would make the bitchiness and sarcasm on here look tame and friendly in comparison.

not just online, some people are more approval-seeking than others. it's evolutionary psychology: acceptance by the group means survival and power. so even though these are only symbolic interactions, they carry a psychological weight, especially when people can't detach representations for real effects (i.e., being "banned" is not like getting left behind by the tribe for the wolves to eat).

since this is a kind of "community" rather than a random place, the bitchiness and sarcasm can have their repercussions and grow into stupid feuds, grudge matches, etc., over the years, which can make things unpleasant.

nevertheless, i'm all for insulting people when they have it coming. shit, it's probably the only thing i'm good at, in here. so, i contradict myself, but only a little, yes?

anyway, enjoy your thread. it's gotten funny, at this point.