orble. creative un-community?
June 13th 2007 19:38
make blogs not war
however in recent times i have been seeing a rising trend in orblers slandering other orblers. i am all for online debate on various subjects, and encourage people to discuss anything i say with me. more often than not this happens and i feel everyone has their chance to say what they feel and express it however they wish. i love when that happens. but from touring around other sites within the orble community, i am starting to see bloggers really stick it to other bloggers. this makes me sad.
as far as i know, no one has bagged me for any of my movements within the community, and to be honest i wouldn't really care if they do. but i hate to see it when writers are bagging other writers that are writing about whatever they want to write about. sure enough the nazi scare that happened a few weeks ago was a bit weird, but i think that sorted itself out in the end anyway. i think.
my point is that blogs are a domain that are open to free speech from anyone and no one has the right to say who or what is wrong in this realm. if you don't like it, just don't go back to the site - simple as that. reading negative things in this place just makes me not want to be part of it, and that would be a shame as i really enjoy contributing to it. by all means be critical but by no means be the law. use this place as an advantage for networking and not to make yourself a hate target. thus ends my rant. blog in peace....
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Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
That being said, it is a shame to see fighting or 'talking behind one's back' breaking out here. I think, by and large, that people are able to disagree on topics here and remain civil. Inevitably, though, there are exceptions to this. I have witnessed a couple myself. I don't see it as being a very widespread problem, nor do I anticipate it being so anytime soon. If it ever does get to the point where Orble devolves into the blogging equivalent of junior high school, I'll pack it in here.
Comment by David
To me, Orble is atypical of any virtual community and atypical of any real community.
The word community is a weird one. While in reality it just describes a whole bunch of people inhabiting the same space, it does tend to denote 'community spirit' of the warm, fuzzy, we're all accepting of others, and tolerant kind. That type of community spirit is almost non-existent in the modernised western world (in both the virtual and real worlds).
For a person to threaten to leave leave Orble and find some idealistic community spirit elsewhere? That person will only find a similar 'community spirit' existing elsewhere.
I have always taken the approach, I'll visit the Blogs I like and engage with the people on these Blogs. The ones I don't like? I don't visit.
This type of virtual behaviour happens in a real community in real time, in real life. I don't go and visit people who hate my guts in real life. I go and visit my friends.
If the people who hate my guts come around to my house? Or I happen to be unlucky enough to bump into them on the stret. I'll be civil and say hello, but I don't want to spend my time with them, because they're the type of people always looking to start an argument or shove their opinion down my throat due to their own prejudices and personal dislike of me. That's life. People are judgemental. If they just want to pick an argument and shove their opinion down my throat? I'll tell them to piss off. They're time wasters.
In real life? My house is 'my' house. I have the right to invite whom I want into my house and reject those I don't want inside my house. Which works in the real world, but not so well in the virtual world, because people don't have to knock on the door to gain access. They can just waltz right in and sprout their garbage, and just leave it there, like a pile of vomit of faeces, retreat in a cowardly fashion, and leave me to clean it up. Wow. They're really going to make me like them by exhibiting that sort of virtual behaviour.
And in the virtual world? Guess what? If you try to remove them civilly? Civility is a language they don't understand. Common courtesy and good manners are foreign concepts to them. They keep coming back. Why? It's in their nature to do so. There are only two camps in this life. Those who like goodness and those who prefer evil.
Serial Blog antagonists are what I refer to as the Nasties of the virtual world. They only understand their own language. So I speak to them in their own language. I keep telling them to piss off. (Orble is tame compared to some virtual sites. On other sites? I can use their real language. And I do).
And I rarely visit their blogs. On the odd occasion, I visit their Blogs after a particularly nasty personal attack on one of their Posts, but even those visits are few and far between. It upsets them more if I ignore them.
But then? What happens? Being ignored frustrates them even more. They just sit around for hours or days weeks, stewing over being outwitted, just waiting to do it all over again.
When that doesn't work. They act like kindy kids and complain to management. And send all their private messages around, with one intention. Remove this pest who doesn't agree with me?
They make me sick these people. They bang on about tolerance. I've tolerated them for close to a year, and all they can come up with is that I'm intolerant?
If they think they can remove me from my own house just because I happen to hold a different opinion to them? They should think again. Or think for the first time?
The bottom line? This is what a community is. There's nice people in a community and nasty people in a community. It's not going to change.
You either want to live in a community or you don't. I'll stay for one reason. To socialise with the few good people who make it worthwhile. (And have our own private laughs at the expense of the Nasties).
As to the Nasties? Well, it's just a question of dealing with their childishness every time it occurs. They're not going to go away. They haven't converted everyone to their own way of thinking yet. It's their lifetime ambition.
I'd rather engage with people with brains and hearts, rather than the Nasties. But the Nasties are there. I can't prevent them visiting my blog. It's just a question of dealing with them when they're in a particularly childish and nasty mood. Nowadays? I spend a few seconds on their comments, only because I have a habit of responding to comments. But that might change. I might start hitting the delete button soon.
In the real world? They would hide if they saw me coming, because they're cowards by nature.
Over and above all that? They're ignorant. They don't want a debate. They want an argument.
If I wanted to live like that? I'd get married again.
David ...
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
If we all got along, just think how dull it would be here..
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
one would think hey? I don`t think people quite realise what that white X is for in the top of their computer screens.
There is a huge difference between debating something and trying to change everyone else's opinions to your own. Why you would want to do that in the first place is beyond me.
Like you say there is good variety on here, a lot of information that expands one`s thinking and skills and it is sad that it would be destroyed.
ash
Comment by Lily
Ars Poetica
~Lily
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
so that's my fault?
Peace, brother!
katyzzz
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
I think Ash makes a great point. I'm all for debate about topics. But people who want you to have the same opinions as they do.....well they irritate me no end. I also can't stand it when you get calls from people for the banning of stuff - whether it's swearing, adult content etc. If you don't like those things, then stay the hell away from those blogs. Don't be a hypocrite and keep visiting them so you can complain.
There are over 2000 people on Orble.......and I'm pretty sure you'll have over 2000 points of view to go along with it. And that's cool. Hell, that's great.
Pesonally, I think people take stuff WAAAAYYYYY too seriously. At the end of the day, this is fun. Who is making serious money out of Orble? Probably nobody.....so lets just relax and chill.
Kylie
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
There's no denying it.
However, Orble is rather serene compared to other, more popular communities. I used to write on one, but left because it turned into a troll feeding frenzy.
Comment by Brenton
Dr Spin
Tales From The Other Side
Blip Blog
Gadget Museum
Your position as fence sitter has appalled me. See if i come back to your rotten blog you vile swine.
All in attempted humor mind. Good post.
Comment by Damo
I agree in principle with what you are saying.
The NAZI website post were a problem that I am glad to be rid of. I took an agressive attitude to my posting when they were here because otherwise they would encourage others to follow.
Normally I don't care what people believe because next week they could believe the opposite. I don't care if people disgree with me because in several decades no one is going to remember who Damo is. The Only things really irk me one is obvious Bigotry and blind Egotism.
People have opinions and we all know that but for some it is not acase of disagreeing they must see the other persons ego crushed. As if what we say in a blog is going to be handed over to UN to take action.
I think Orble did the right thing by moving some posts to the writers forum as they are dirty linen. Sponsors and advertisers that provide revenue streams to Blogg site don't see Flame Wars as a marketing plus. In that regard I think Orble have been reasonable and patient.
Communities are never perfect but they we don't have to use the worst example of a community as the example to follow.
Mostly I have been spared any prolonged personal attacks because I stick to my subject and let the Flamers die out. Too many more important issue in the world than worrying about who loves on Orble.
Comment by Carbon8or
Climate Red
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
Now every time I see sledgers online I think of him and how sad he was......people who can't offer constructive commentary and can only sledge do it for one reason only - they aren't smart enough to come up with original thoughts themselves so they bag all people who do.
I have a rule where I try not to bite because I remember how much pleasure he got out of it when people would argue with him...it would make his day to upset some poor blogger who had a perfectly good idea.
Unfortunately it is the nature of the online beast that people will take snipes, but remember if you have written something they attack then it is a compliment they are probably jealous. blogousy.
Personally I try very hard to give positive comments or attempt humour, if someone wants to have a go I try not to bite...can't say it always works especially if Beer is involved.
Happy blogging...never let the quisslings get you down
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
... mmm, blogsnobbery and blogsnikery, go together...it seems... like ebony and ivory... and can produce some dreadfully discordant sounds...
My take... a bit like Lily...and completely agree with Damo and Ash, David and Cib.
I grew up alone in a room, where I was put so as not to seen or heard... I always dreamed of finding a secret group of friends I could communicate with to drown out the hatred and whinging within the real community... now completely isolated from society I find orble..a blessing and a writing community too... brilliant... but oops, at least it's entertaining and as so many have said... not much different to a real community at all... so what's normal, really...?
Me?
I'm only inteolerant to a few things; like racial bogotry, snobery, gangs, laziness ooh and vendicitiveness; racial fanatics, religious fanatics and fanatic fanatics ...*lol* oh, and polluters, wasters and freeloaders...amongst a few...
Lilla ...
Comment by jon
Orble News
Urban Hint
Blog Adviser
Jon's Bookmarks
Debate Battle
Orblepedia
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Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
I can't change how other people behave, however I can bitch about them to my hearts content. Take that away from me and, well, lets just say bad things happen when good people fail to act or speak or type as the case may be.
Comment by Brenton
Dr Spin
Tales From The Other Side
Blip Blog
Gadget Museum
And for everyone watching its funny at first but then just gets irritating.
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
winston,
no it isn't a wide spread problem, you are right.
david,
yeah sometimes i wish my blog had a doorbell. i like your analogy of real vs. virtual communities my thinking of when i join an online community is that i am there to help those involved (if i can)and not hinder.i really like it when it comes back the other way too. thanks for putting it in perspective though.
d. armenta,
yeah life can be a bit boring without a bit of scandal!!
ash,
people are funny little critters eh? sometimes curiosity and bad manners all wrapped up into one bundle.
lily,
we shouldn't necessarily refrain i don't think, but more so retort in taste.
katzzz,
i don't think you and hate go together in the same sentence do they? funny how words get turned around though isn't it?
kyliew,
censorship. that's whole new debate. i think life would be a hell of a lot more fun if people did just 'ave a larf more often.
cib,
yes orble is very tame compared to others. i really don't want to see it go down the same road however.
brenton,
damn. for the first time in my life i thought i was taking a stance. but at least you got my point.
damo,
as you don't completely agree with what i say, i have to disregard your comment entirely. but seriously, you are correct in saying let the flamers die out. probably a good tactic for all of us to use.
p.s. does the fact that this has been moved to writer's forum mean it is now 'dirty linen'?
carbon8or,
i think your work comrade is the person i was talking about in the first place. i think that is the worst kind of slander when it is done anonymously. please if you are going to take the piss at least do it with a face.
lilla,
ahmed,
did you work with carbon8or?
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks