Wars of Words
Monday, October 22, 2001 by Larry Kuperman | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Is it just me, or are people all over the world deliberately choosing the most provocative, inflammatory words possible? Have these choices somehow been effected by the events of September 11th?
The recent post calling Frogboy a Nazi, for example. No one really believes that His Wartiness is really a Nazi. This word was chosen purely out of anger and to inflame others. My initial reaction was that calling someone a Nazi for censoring a post trivialized the events of WWII. It made me angry! I wanted to vent my anger by writing a post that flamed the original poster. I am now glad that I didn't.
Several virii were recently sent my way, perhaps as early holiday presents. I wrote a post that compared people who send virii to Bin Laden's forces. In my own defense, Microsoft referred to people who send out virii as cyber-terrorists. But wait a minute. If my machine had been infected, I would have lost files and been inconvenienced. Hardly comparable to destroying the World Trade Center. But I was angry when I wrote it. At least one person that read my post was angered by my hyperbole. And so the cycle continues.
I hope that nobody reading this gets angry. Really I do.
I think that the problem is that we, all of us on Wincustomize and elsewhere, have a lot of anger and no place to put it. So, in a classic case of positive feedback, we circulate this anger among ourselves.
I am new (well fairly new) to the skinning community. I make friends here everyday. People here make me laugh sometimes, make me smile sometimes and make me go "Ohhh!" a lot with the beauty that they create. This is a special place in a special time. We need a place to check our anger before fully entering Wincustomize. T-Man, can you build a link for this?
Peace, love and skins.
The recent post calling Frogboy a Nazi, for example. No one really believes that His Wartiness is really a Nazi. This word was chosen purely out of anger and to inflame others. My initial reaction was that calling someone a Nazi for censoring a post trivialized the events of WWII. It made me angry! I wanted to vent my anger by writing a post that flamed the original poster. I am now glad that I didn't.
Several virii were recently sent my way, perhaps as early holiday presents. I wrote a post that compared people who send virii to Bin Laden's forces. In my own defense, Microsoft referred to people who send out virii as cyber-terrorists. But wait a minute. If my machine had been infected, I would have lost files and been inconvenienced. Hardly comparable to destroying the World Trade Center. But I was angry when I wrote it. At least one person that read my post was angered by my hyperbole. And so the cycle continues.
I hope that nobody reading this gets angry. Really I do.
I think that the problem is that we, all of us on Wincustomize and elsewhere, have a lot of anger and no place to put it. So, in a classic case of positive feedback, we circulate this anger among ourselves.
I am new (well fairly new) to the skinning community. I make friends here everyday. People here make me laugh sometimes, make me smile sometimes and make me go "Ohhh!" a lot with the beauty that they create. This is a special place in a special time. We need a place to check our anger before fully entering Wincustomize. T-Man, can you build a link for this?
Peace, love and skins.
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paxx
Reply #2 Monday, October 22, 2001 10:13 PM
Reply #2 Monday, October 22, 2001 10:13 PM
I salute you Larry! One of the most sensible posts I've read in a long time! Peace, my friend!
Scarebear
Reply #7 Tuesday, October 23, 2001 12:52 AM
Reply #7 Tuesday, October 23, 2001 12:52 AM
You were SO close there Jerry 
But paxx got in the way 
But paxx got in the way 
Scarebear
Reply #8 Tuesday, October 23, 2001 12:56 AM
Reply #8 Tuesday, October 23, 2001 12:56 AM
I just noticed the link in the partners section here too. Thanks for that
craeonics
Reply #9 Tuesday, October 23, 2001 10:17 AM
Reply #9 Tuesday, October 23, 2001 10:17 AM
I've said this a zillion times already: people take these things _way_ too serious (and personal).
craeonics goes off to stare at the small flame at SkinBase
craeonics goes off to stare at the small flame at SkinBase
kimk546
Reply #10 Tuesday, October 23, 2001 10:27 AM
Reply #10 Tuesday, October 23, 2001 10:27 AM
I think I'm one of the people that takes this stuff way too seriously.
It's intimidating to newcomers.
At the same time it's obvious that there's a lot of smart people hanging out here who have a lot to offer.
It's intimidating to newcomers.
At the same time it's obvious that there's a lot of smart people hanging out here who have a lot to offer.
BoXXi
Reply #11 Tuesday, October 23, 2001 12:38 PM
Reply #11 Tuesday, October 23, 2001 12:38 PM
LittleBe: Don't worry about it, it usually blows over. Normal service will be resumed shortly. Stick around.........
Normal, BoXXI? What is that? 
kimk546
Reply #13 Tuesday, October 23, 2001 2:22 PM
Reply #13 Tuesday, October 23, 2001 2:22 PM
Thanks BoXXi. I don't have far to go though - I work at Stardock.
"This too shall pass."
"This too shall pass."
JavaBrain
Reply #14 Tuesday, October 23, 2001 3:12 PM
Reply #14 Tuesday, October 23, 2001 3:12 PM
Normal? When has the skin community ever been normal? Or do you mean normal for the skin community? 
XX
Reply #15 Tuesday, October 23, 2001 3:19 PM
Reply #15 Tuesday, October 23, 2001 3:19 PM
usually when person flames they goes for sharpest sword ( strongest words )
feline
Reply #18 Wednesday, October 24, 2001 10:55 AM
Reply #18 Wednesday, October 24, 2001 10:55 AM
normal? wouldnt that require cloning me enmass? then as all the clones spread out, normality travels with then
misterME
Reply #19 Wednesday, October 24, 2001 12:57 PM
Reply #19 Wednesday, October 24, 2001 12:57 PM
feline? *You* normal? God I hope there's a sarcastic expression on your face as you write that! ( )
Hehe. Anyway, I agree with you Larry. Tensions seem to be higher than ever. I think it's a natrual response. Many of us had gotten to a point where we cared little about anything that really mattered, instead focusing our energies on trivial things. After 9/11, many people (including people here) called their priorities into question, and started taking certain things a lot more seriously.
And I agree that we should all check our baggage at the door. Or at least not channel it into personal quips at others here. This is supposed to be an enjoyable and expressive pastime, and WC a place for people who find it so to come and share, socialize, etc.
By the way, if you're looking for a place to vent, there are *numerous* bash-fest boards on Yahoo-Groups where getting crap off of your chest seems to be the sole purpose. FYI
)Hehe. Anyway, I agree with you Larry. Tensions seem to be higher than ever. I think it's a natrual response. Many of us had gotten to a point where we cared little about anything that really mattered, instead focusing our energies on trivial things. After 9/11, many people (including people here) called their priorities into question, and started taking certain things a lot more seriously.
And I agree that we should all check our baggage at the door. Or at least not channel it into personal quips at others here. This is supposed to be an enjoyable and expressive pastime, and WC a place for people who find it so to come and share, socialize, etc.
By the way, if you're looking for a place to vent, there are *numerous* bash-fest boards on Yahoo-Groups where getting crap off of your chest seems to be the sole purpose. FYI
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Reply #1 Monday, October 22, 2001 9:50 PM
Peace, love and skins. " - Larry Kuperman
If only I could my dear friend I would. Many more knowledgable men before me have tried. I think the answer needs to come from a higher power. People really need to start looking deep into them selves and ask themselves what really matters in life. If they look hard enough they will find their answer.
Just give peace a chance!