InFlammable
November 12th 2008 07:05
First of all I would like to mention that the WRITERS FORUM is where posts about Orble and Orble Writers go. I am quite frankly sick of seeing the most popular list clogged with revenge posts and I dont give a shit who it is anymore - the posts are poorly disguised as actual content and they only mean something to the targets or to the shooters. A new blogger or a person searching an article would be totally lost.
Second, all human beings do not think the same. We are here to share our opposing views, to explore them, even fight about them. I like fights and arguments - they are passionate and you really get to the dirt of what people are feeling.
But none of the orblers actually know each other that well. We read a few lines of text and thats it, we've made judgements that are irreversable. A person has become a hatemonger, a bigot, a racist, sexist, anti religion, a murderer...A terrorist?
Think of it as if each and every last one of us was at The Dolphin, at an Orble do. Would you really walk up to a real person and say, hey, cos you just told a joke that had an irishman and an asian in it, you're a filthy racist? Would you really say, hey, you believe in protecting womens rights, that makes you a muderer? If someone said, I think the Bible is a historical source, would you accuse them of deconstructing religion?
If you would, if you really would walk up to a real live breathing person and say that, based on five minutes of conversation, not knowing them, their life, their experiences, or what has led them to feel that way, no matter how you colour it, you are a horrible human being.
I have opposing views with so many people on this site. Winston and I once had a colourful discussion that went on for literal days. It never escalated into an argument even though we had trouble communicating and understanding each others point of view. I know, the anonymity of the internet makes you feel invincible, its not a person youre arguing with, no, not at all, its the idea, the concept. Unable to see (or imagine too well) the actual HUMAN BEING attached to the idea, you can attack and paint them as whatever you like. Well, Im just writing this little post to remind you all, we are all real people hitting the keys. Every last one of you. The fact that the great space of internet lies between you should make it easier to agree to disagree, or find common ground, not harder. If ideas cannot reconcile themselves HERE, without true personal judgements in between, then the fact is the two sides are not clearly seeing each other.
That is clearly happening now. Have you heard that old adage, that if you fight too hard, you become exactly what you were fighting against? Think about it now.
Aside from all that, this is all I want to say. Bring your war here. Keep it out of the most popular list, off the public page. I would like to attract more readers to Orble than Orble writers. So rather than straining your brain trying to think of a way to cleverly disguise a personal revenge attack or open insult as a 'post' just bring it here. Jons got enough work to do, and if he moved all the posts here that deserve to be here then I dont think there would be a most popular list at all.
Awhile ago we had an event I personally call the Orble Exoduss. It was because of wars like this - the climate on Orble now is exactly what it was then. We lost some of our best writers, some of whom I still miss. Then, as now, I refused to take sides. I could only watch helplessly as much loved blogs disappeared. This always has been and continues to be an above average site with truly talented writers, and by all means, debate, argue, find your common ground or decide that there isnt any, but if its going to degrade into personal attacks (which are utterly useless, not even knowing the person) or revenge post after revenge post designed strictly to inflame a person or persons in particular...Please bring it....HERE.
I fully admit my guilt in the matter. I have posted to try and anger people and disguised it as content. Thats why Im here. A reminder to myself, as well as everyone else.
Second, all human beings do not think the same. We are here to share our opposing views, to explore them, even fight about them. I like fights and arguments - they are passionate and you really get to the dirt of what people are feeling.
But none of the orblers actually know each other that well. We read a few lines of text and thats it, we've made judgements that are irreversable. A person has become a hatemonger, a bigot, a racist, sexist, anti religion, a murderer...A terrorist?
Think of it as if each and every last one of us was at The Dolphin, at an Orble do. Would you really walk up to a real person and say, hey, cos you just told a joke that had an irishman and an asian in it, you're a filthy racist? Would you really say, hey, you believe in protecting womens rights, that makes you a muderer? If someone said, I think the Bible is a historical source, would you accuse them of deconstructing religion?
If you would, if you really would walk up to a real live breathing person and say that, based on five minutes of conversation, not knowing them, their life, their experiences, or what has led them to feel that way, no matter how you colour it, you are a horrible human being.
I have opposing views with so many people on this site. Winston and I once had a colourful discussion that went on for literal days. It never escalated into an argument even though we had trouble communicating and understanding each others point of view. I know, the anonymity of the internet makes you feel invincible, its not a person youre arguing with, no, not at all, its the idea, the concept. Unable to see (or imagine too well) the actual HUMAN BEING attached to the idea, you can attack and paint them as whatever you like. Well, Im just writing this little post to remind you all, we are all real people hitting the keys. Every last one of you. The fact that the great space of internet lies between you should make it easier to agree to disagree, or find common ground, not harder. If ideas cannot reconcile themselves HERE, without true personal judgements in between, then the fact is the two sides are not clearly seeing each other.
That is clearly happening now. Have you heard that old adage, that if you fight too hard, you become exactly what you were fighting against? Think about it now.
Aside from all that, this is all I want to say. Bring your war here. Keep it out of the most popular list, off the public page. I would like to attract more readers to Orble than Orble writers. So rather than straining your brain trying to think of a way to cleverly disguise a personal revenge attack or open insult as a 'post' just bring it here. Jons got enough work to do, and if he moved all the posts here that deserve to be here then I dont think there would be a most popular list at all.
Awhile ago we had an event I personally call the Orble Exoduss. It was because of wars like this - the climate on Orble now is exactly what it was then. We lost some of our best writers, some of whom I still miss. Then, as now, I refused to take sides. I could only watch helplessly as much loved blogs disappeared. This always has been and continues to be an above average site with truly talented writers, and by all means, debate, argue, find your common ground or decide that there isnt any, but if its going to degrade into personal attacks (which are utterly useless, not even knowing the person) or revenge post after revenge post designed strictly to inflame a person or persons in particular...Please bring it....HERE.
I fully admit my guilt in the matter. I have posted to try and anger people and disguised it as content. Thats why Im here. A reminder to myself, as well as everyone else.
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Comment by Jim Stillman
Political Certainty
If I mess up, I urge anyone to sent me a personal message telling me so!
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
The war seems to have boiled down...Thank God!
I loved your comments on Nevar's recent post, and I think its great that we bloggers are starting to actually discuss rather than sling. I just thought we needed a reminder that the writers forum exists - it doesnt get enough work!
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
I think one reason that it happens is that posting Orble-related articles usually gathers a lot of comments, pushing it on the popular page.
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
two points though:
1) it took me over 3 days to get my last post on the Writers Forum verified, perhaps people would be more likely to use it if it was monitored more frequently
2) leaving comments on posts which are clearly designed to slander others only encourages them to persist with it, we all know attention-seekers use controversial headings, images and content to bolster their readership, if you suspect a post is aimed at another writer you can easily protest by refusing to vote for them
Comment by Cheryl J
Rhythmatism
Zentertainment
Budget Centsability
We do need to attract more readers - that is what we write for so, someone will actually read it. If squabbles break out, as they invariably will, then they should be taken from the front page and brought here. That is one of the most sensible ideas I've heard in ages. This is a forum, a place for us to vent, ask questions and address each other so let's use it. Let's allow posts to fill the front page that are about issues or pieces of writing etc not arguments, it will drive readers unfamiliar with Orble away, please don't let that happen.
It would be good if we could have the forum monitored more closely so that forum posts could be published more quickly. Jon cannot be in 100 places at once so perhaps there could be some sort of volunteering from long term members, of Jon's choosing like Cibbuano etc to scan the forum to see when things are awaiting verification and have the authority to publish them.
I don't know if that would be an idea would be workable but three days does seem like a long time to wait for publication especially if you are asking technical questions.
Regardless, I'm behind you 100 per cent. Keep it off the home page and bring it here. Let us all have an opportunity to build a readership for our writing not a small clique for our bitching.
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
True. But it shouldnt be that way. I remember a time when anything about Orble was moved here instantly.
Morgan,
I agree 100% I must admit its been a LONG time since I used the Forum and when I posted this, and got 'your post is awaiting verification' I was stunned. They used to just come up...Im sure they did! And I used to actively stay out of wars, its only recently I got sucked in. This post is my penance.
Cheryl,
yep, its True fact..People have left as a result of bitching groups. It always happens, its unavoidable, but a war used to move from the front page to here so fast your head would spin. The amount of - This Post Has been Moved to the writers forum - used to be huge. I think its escalated to a new level though.
But I like what you say, all good ideas!