I’ve been talking a lot with friends about values and respect these days. I think more so since the local blogosphere has started becoming rather full of politick-ing. Some bloggers don’t like some bloggers. Some bloggers don’t like some companies. Some companies don’t like some bloggers. Tons of em I tell you.
Yet, at the end of it all, I try really hard to step back – to try to learn to accept people for who they are and try to understand why they do what they do. It’s an important step I think. I’ve made a lot of friends whom people generally ‘don’t like’ and whom my best description of them are “acquired tastes”. These people are often those that are ‘weird’, ‘direct’, ’shoots from the mouth before thinking’ and the likes. But if people take some time to engage them, they really have a lot to offer.
I hate labels. I hate people who make snap judgements on others and then refuse to give the subject of their judgement a chance*. I akin it to racists who simply label people and then shut off all logical reasoning as to why different coloured skin people are just as human as them.
People should treat others with respect until given a real reason not to. And real reasons don’t include – “I think that person is stupid.” or “I think that person is weird.” Real reasons to me revolve around integrity. If someone has shown actions that revolve around cheating others, deliberately preying on another person’s weakness or worse – manipulating people, then that person loses a bagload of points in my book. (And of course if I’m the subject of manipulation, then…well…he earns a spot on my hitlist too)
I detest how the community is forming cliques and people are forced to take sides on a wide range of local issues. But maybe we should learn a bit more about respect instead of just hiding behind our blogs or blogging personalities to make quick and emotional judgements on people.
Oh well. Humans are ugly creatures. Or do we become ugly as we grow up?
Whatever. This is just a rant anyway.
* Making snap judgments are natural, but it’s what you do after that that matters.
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I guess this is the law of large numbers in action.
I remember back when I used to play online games in ‘96, ‘97, the community was small, but cosy. Everybody knew each other and sure there were squabblings and little flamewars every now and then, but at the end of the day, people always find a way to make up, and things were all good.
Everybody respected one another, and profanities were pretty much kept to a minimum.
Nowadays, when I play a casual game online, it seems like people nowadays have grown up to be absolute bastards online.
Law of Large Numbers, Anonymonity + Ease of getting online (unlike last time where you have to have some skills to operate a 28.8kbps modem)? Perhaps.
Hmmmm….The net wasn’t ever that cosy. I still remember the early bloodbaths on BBS, IRC, forums…. Just that the local blogosphere took some time in warming up.
I get you man. I detest cliques too and am quite disappointed to see them rapidly and increasingly forming.
True, people do have their own preferences as to who they want to mix around with, and that is their right.
But that doesn’t mean that they should just ignore other people, or not be welcoming to other people or at the very least, be sociable to other people.
For that, I am very disappointed.
its human nature to form cliques.
That’s why I haven’t been blogging much lately… anything I say forces me to take sides, or, if not carefully said, might offend both sides. -_-
So I give up, I’m just reading the community blogs and I’ve stopped blogging for the time being, just to be on the safe side
the more people we open ourselves to, the more vulnerable we become. i guess that’s the paranoia on our parts.
it really is hard to be all-inclusive when everybody has a different opinion on a subject
but i still think civility and decency can be applied even in times of difference.
it’s probably out of convenience that we choose to write off something that we feel less for, but taking the extra effort to educate oneself allows us to be more tolerant, and perhaps actually expand our worldview?
Ok…i wasn’t expecting so many responses because it’s just something that’s been bugging me for a long time.
But yeah, I guess a lot of things are simply a natural progression of growing communities(or simply human nature) but I’m idealistic and I guess I hold on to the hope that people are kind in general and that perhaps this fast paced lifestyle we live in cause us to forget that a smile and a tad bit of acceptance can sometimes make a world of a difference even to the meanest of people…
I guess this is the law of large numbers in action.
I remember back when I used to play online games in ‘96, ‘97, the community was small, but cosy. Everybody knew each other and sure there were squabblings and little flamewars every now and then, but at the end of the day, people always find a way to make up, and things were all good.
Everybody respected one another, and profanities were pretty much kept to a minimum.
Nowadays, when I play a casual game online, it seems like people nowadays have grown up to be absolute bastards online.
Law of Large Numbers, Anonymonity + Ease of getting online (unlike last time where you have to have some skills to operate a 28.8kbps modem)? Perhaps.
Hmmmm….The net wasn’t ever that cosy. I still remember the early bloodbaths on BBS, IRC, forums…. Just that the local blogosphere took some time in warming up.
I get you man. I detest cliques too and am quite disappointed to see them rapidly and increasingly forming.
True, people do have their own preferences as to who they want to mix around with, and that is their right.
But that doesn’t mean that they should just ignore other people, or not be welcoming to other people or at the very least, be sociable to other people.
For that, I am very disappointed.
its human nature to form cliques.
That’s why I haven’t been blogging much lately… anything I say forces me to take sides, or, if not carefully said, might offend both sides. -_-
So I give up, I’m just reading the community blogs and I’ve stopped blogging for the time being, just to be on the safe side
the more people we open ourselves to, the more vulnerable we become. i guess that’s the paranoia on our parts.
it really is hard to be all-inclusive when everybody has a different opinion on a subject
but i still think civility and decency can be applied even in times of difference.
it’s probably out of convenience that we choose to write off something that we feel less for, but taking the extra effort to educate oneself allows us to be more tolerant, and perhaps actually expand our worldview?
Ok…i wasn’t expecting so many responses because it’s just something that’s been bugging me for a long time.
But yeah, I guess a lot of things are simply a natural progression of growing communities(or simply human nature) but I’m idealistic and I guess I hold on to the hope that people are kind in general and that perhaps this fast paced lifestyle we live in cause us to forget that a smile and a tad bit of acceptance can sometimes make a world of a difference even to the meanest of people…
I have to say this issue is actually annoying me as well. I sometimes wonder if it would’ve been better staying as this nameless, faceless Wordpress blogger so that I won’t have to be drawn into these issues and focus on what’s important instead.
I’m guilty as charged.
I have to say this issue is actually annoying me as well. I sometimes wonder if it would’ve been better staying as this nameless, faceless Wordpress blogger so that I won’t have to be drawn into these issues and focus on what’s important instead.
Daryl Tay : About being nameless, i’m not sure man. I used to move my blog every couple of years to maintain anonymity but now I figure it’s high time to accept the fact that the Internet makes one’s life as public and public can be so I’ve decided to just embrace it and struggle through to make it work.
DK : Haha, well you aren’t the only one man. Taking a look at the entire scene, there’s just too much of it. It feels like all the sensitivities might cause things to spiral to oblivion… I think this is going to take the will of an entire community to fix…
I’m guilty as charged.
Daryl Tay : About being nameless, i’m not sure man. I used to move my blog every couple of years to maintain anonymity but now I figure it’s high time to accept the fact that the Internet makes one’s life as public and public can be so I’ve decided to just embrace it and struggle through to make it work.
DK : Haha, well you aren’t the only one man. Taking a look at the entire scene, there’s just too much of it. It feels like all the sensitivities might cause things to spiral to oblivion… I think this is going to take the will of an entire community to fix…
It’s not really that difficult to fix. Just avoid being exclusive. And dun form “alliances” or side someone simply becos’ of friendship.
But it’s hard becos people do dat and are willing to stay in their comfort zone.
This should be tackled over the next cuppa kopi or SMB3!!!
Dhope: Y’know, that’s actually a pretty good suggestion =)
It’s not really that difficult to fix. Just avoid being exclusive. And dun form “alliances” or side someone simply becos’ of friendship.
But it’s hard becos people do dat and are willing to stay in their comfort zone.
This should be tackled over the next cuppa kopi or SMB3!!!
Dhope: Y’know, that’s actually a pretty good suggestion =)
Hmmm I got your point there, sometimes I feel that the blogsphere is becoming more like aggressive?
*Sign*
Missed the days where bloggers can blog peacefully (with respect of coz) without any worries, but now I have to think twice before I blog! o.O
Hmmm I got your point there, sometimes I feel that the blogsphere is becoming more like aggressive?
*Sign*
Missed the days where bloggers can blog peacefully (with respect of coz) without any worries, but now I have to think twice before I blog! o.O
It’s your choice really. If you choose to play the game where you are friends with some people but dislike the rest, then you should prepare to live with it.
It’s your choice really. If you choose to play the game where you are friends with some people but dislike the rest, then you should prepare to live with it.
*hugs Ridz* :p
*hugs Ridz* :p