2010-04-04, 06:06 PM
First off, I think you might want to put the first paragraph in anonymous quotes. Had me going there at first when I read it thinking "wtp is this thread about?"
Second, answering your questions:
I think like most people there are always a plethora of ideas running through my mind, but the beauty of internet forums/blogs is that comments are made on a post-by-post basis, and thus the very process of hashing out a response (for competent, intelligent people like those on SP, at least) allows one a chance to eloquently state what they feel with the chance to revise and rephrase. This is all as compared to instantaneous communication, as seen in the form of real life interpersonal discussion, speeches, and to a lesser degree internet instant messaging programs like MSN and IRCs (these still allow a chance to edit and rephrase, but, especially in a place like a large chat room, responses need to be made quickly in order to fit the order and flow of conversation).
With regards to criticism, I've learned to care less. Many of you probably dislike many things I've said and done before, but I believe that should be the case if people truly express their opinions. In most cases, you shouldn't like everything about a person. It's taken a long time for me personally to come to the point of apathy towards other comments (though I still get upset here and there), and I've definitely had numerous occasions on several forums where it's me in a thread v. everyone else, but again, that's natural (see: 12 Angry Men). In all honesty laziness probably prevents me from posting most of the time, as I usually have a lot to say (as indicated by this wall-of-text), and it's rather random when I'm feeling up to responding.
As I said above, I personally show a lot of self-moderation, as do most, and a lot of times I just post whenever I feel like it, so I usually don't have times where I feel happy that I didn't say something but rather times when I regret saying something the way I did. We all learn from cases like those, of course, so in the sense that they're still good to have I don't regret my half-decade+ of foruming at all.
Let me put it this way: in my 5-7 years of active foruming, Southperry is the only board I continue to visit because of the high level of intellectual, competent, logical, and mature discussion and debate that occur here. It's a wonderful place to get the first, most in-depth news from any version of Maple around the globe, participate in discussion on almost any issue with a diverse pool of users ranging in age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, etc., and a place to just have fun. For example, I personally love the Funhouse as the place where I find cool and random news/internet things, and often find myself sharing neat things posted there with real life friends on Facebook. In the end, the site is well kept with a strong and visible administration (Paul and everyone actually post and contribute to discussions) that aptly monitors and allows a liberal amount of discussion, and, again, is a place with a fantastic user base that contributes daily to the knowledge and development of all who visit.
Finally, my personal code of ethics? Don't be annoying, arrogant, or narcissistic, though since "annoyance" is defined differently to everyone that's probably the most difficult to monitor. In general keeping posts concise and free of excess verbiage/audio/visual media is key.
Second, answering your questions:
Swerve Wrote:Are there a plethora of ideas running through your mind and the fear of being heavily criticized prevents you from posting your opinions?
I think like most people there are always a plethora of ideas running through my mind, but the beauty of internet forums/blogs is that comments are made on a post-by-post basis, and thus the very process of hashing out a response (for competent, intelligent people like those on SP, at least) allows one a chance to eloquently state what they feel with the chance to revise and rephrase. This is all as compared to instantaneous communication, as seen in the form of real life interpersonal discussion, speeches, and to a lesser degree internet instant messaging programs like MSN and IRCs (these still allow a chance to edit and rephrase, but, especially in a place like a large chat room, responses need to be made quickly in order to fit the order and flow of conversation).
With regards to criticism, I've learned to care less. Many of you probably dislike many things I've said and done before, but I believe that should be the case if people truly express their opinions. In most cases, you shouldn't like everything about a person. It's taken a long time for me personally to come to the point of apathy towards other comments (though I still get upset here and there), and I've definitely had numerous occasions on several forums where it's me in a thread v. everyone else, but again, that's natural (see: 12 Angry Men). In all honesty laziness probably prevents me from posting most of the time, as I usually have a lot to say (as indicated by this wall-of-text), and it's rather random when I'm feeling up to responding.
Swerve Wrote:Are you showing more self-moderation and are you happy that you didn't post what you were originally planning to write down?
As I said above, I personally show a lot of self-moderation, as do most, and a lot of times I just post whenever I feel like it, so I usually don't have times where I feel happy that I didn't say something but rather times when I regret saying something the way I did. We all learn from cases like those, of course, so in the sense that they're still good to have I don't regret my half-decade+ of foruming at all.
Swerve Wrote:In general how do you view Southperry and what is your personal code of ethics when it comes to posting your opinions?
Let me put it this way: in my 5-7 years of active foruming, Southperry is the only board I continue to visit because of the high level of intellectual, competent, logical, and mature discussion and debate that occur here. It's a wonderful place to get the first, most in-depth news from any version of Maple around the globe, participate in discussion on almost any issue with a diverse pool of users ranging in age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, etc., and a place to just have fun. For example, I personally love the Funhouse as the place where I find cool and random news/internet things, and often find myself sharing neat things posted there with real life friends on Facebook. In the end, the site is well kept with a strong and visible administration (Paul and everyone actually post and contribute to discussions) that aptly monitors and allows a liberal amount of discussion, and, again, is a place with a fantastic user base that contributes daily to the knowledge and development of all who visit.
Finally, my personal code of ethics? Don't be annoying, arrogant, or narcissistic, though since "annoyance" is defined differently to everyone that's probably the most difficult to monitor. In general keeping posts concise and free of excess verbiage/audio/visual media is key.