When Innocent Posts Go Bad...

[debbiedoo]

I agree, I have seen the threads, it is like some can not have an opinion

 

[U2_rocks!]

...AND, he was by far not the only one saying it. I was left with a "WTH??" feeling.

Me too, and for the same reason .... he wasn't the only one! Why jump all over him? Some of the others who chose Sea World DO have young kids!

I do understand that people wanted to make it known that Universal had more things for young kids than others may have thought, but there's no need to attack anyone to do that. And then to laugh at them on another thread! I dunno ..... that always leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[Aisling]

Me too, and for the same reason .... he wasn't the only one! Why jump all over him? Some of the others who chose Sea World DO have young kids!

To the OP, I know it's hard, but just try to LAUGH when you get responses like that. Imagine if you had to talk to people like those in PERSON? Imagine their sweaty little fingers typing as fast as they can with their blood pressure rising, just because they disagree with your views on a theme park!!

 

[debbiedoo]

And then to laugh at them on another thread! I dunno ..... that always leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth.

Exactly -- same here

I was in a situation a long time ago here that wanted to make me leave the boards, did not want to post for awhile, had that ugly feeling, I know how the OP feels, but I have found the CB board to be a great place though

I do venture over the the dining area from time to time or the DVC area, but try to stay out of the theme parks threads.

 

[mrsltg]

Ok, now I've read the threads. Holy cow!

You know what? I HATED Universal when I went. I couldn't wait to return to the hotel after each of the two miserable, wasted days I spent there. When it was time to leave I was ready to throw a party! I guess I'm *wrong* though... Oh, and I have two small kids who would be bored to tears at Universal. If I wanted to spend a day watching them play on a playground I could walk them down the block....

 

[disneygals]

I'm going to swim against the current here and offer this advice: DO take it personally and DON'T take it with a grain of salt! Internalize it. Let it burn inside you.

This is great advice. I'm going to apply it to every aspect of my life.

 

[drag n' fly]

Take it with a grain of salt...this is most likely the only outlet those rude people have to justify their miserable existence...by acknowledging them is just fuel for those idiots.

A little harsh but true non the less

 

[Stew_Mouse]

So, in conclusion, I pose this question...Have you ever let a seemingly innocent post get under your skin for days because of peoples' responses to it? Do you feel you have to be, for lack of a better word, "intimately" involved with something in order to comment on it, or do you post even if you're "removed" from the situation for whatever reason?

I haven't posted much, but I know I would let others' responses get under my skin, so you're not alone on that one, OP. One thing I do know for sure is that I think long and hard about posting anything, especially if I am somewhat removed from the situation, because I have been a lurker for awhile, and I know that things can be taken the wrong way, and I don't want that to happen! That was a good point somebody made before about tone on message boards, it's hard to know how you sound to others sometimes!

Sorry this happened to you!

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I breezed through the first thread, and read the first couple of posts on the other thread. I may have missed something on the first thread, but it appeared to me that the OP of this thread came back to rehash his opinion. Not that anyone else didn't do the same thing, but at some point, stating one's opinion turns into arguing against someone else's opinion. And that's just MY opinion.

Posting the 2nd thread was iffy. I see that type of thing all the time here on the DIS and altho I may find them they don't really phase me much after being here 8+ years (different name before "MaryAnnDVC"), but maybe because I'm not the one they're talking about. I was once BOMBARDED with hosility one time, many years ago, when someone posted "a great Disney deal" that made me and I said something like "Really? That doesn't sound right." And OMG, I got the Internet equivalent of the death penalty by the DIS jury.

 

[RyMickey]

OP here. Folks, let me say that I'm honestly not looking for a pity party here. That wasn't the point of the post. Honestly, I didn't want the other threads to be posted here because I saw no point in it - thought it would cause those threads to be pushed back to the top (something I didn't think needed to happen). I'm not getting all emotional about it. It's not gonna stop me from posting on the boards. It wasn't a bad situation. I kinda just needed to rant about the whole thing. I was simply turning my thoughts into a question..."When innocent posts go bad"...trying to find some humor in the situation.

Nevertheless, thanks to the majority of you who said some nice things about the whole thing...I never thought I'd wake up and have four pages to go through!

 

[deekaypee]

There are, unfortunately, lots of posters on the Dis who think that being childless invalidates your opinion on many topics. I am kind of shocked that you aren't allowed to have an opinion on which park might be more enjoyable for kids, though. So silly.

I read the threads, too. Posters moved from offering opinions and counterarguments to ad hom attacks and straw-man arguments, among others.

Unfortunately, some people participate in those kinds of logial fallacies when they can't counter the ideas or opinions. I don't know why, maybe they feel it gives them more credibility? Anyway, it never really does anything except alienate people, and I'd think that's the last thing we want to do on the DIS.

To the OP: This does happen on the DIS, as it does on other boards, and more than we perhaps like to think. It happens if you're willing to take a stance on something--it doesn't matter if it's politics, religions, taking kids out of school to go to Disney....or if you prefer spinach over iceberg lettuce. I almost think it's the nature of the forum.

Just remember, their responses aren't about you; they're about them. Responses like that are about how they feel the need to defend their ideas (territory, values, expertise, whatever). Or they're about the need to validate their positions. Or they're about the posters feeling threatened by counter-arguments. Or they're about feeling vulnerable because their positions are in the minority and so they respond aggressively. Or whatever.

What's important for you to know is that you can't control how people respond to your posts. Or even, to some extent, your initial reactions. What you can do is control your reactions. In many threads I read posts that say, "Don't feed the trolls." Although we might need a specific name for such posters--the "ad hoccers"?--I would say similar advice applies.

ETA: For those who are interested, I looked for a term for such posts on this site: http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/

 

[VEGA]

I so agree with TheMayor.

They're some miserable closed minded people out their who seems to want others to join them in their constant hell. Although if I were you, I wouldn't join the open membership because you're be doing yourself great injustice.

 

[RyMickey]

What's important for you to know is that you can't control how people respond to your posts. Or even, to some extent, your initial reactions. What you can do is control your reactions. In many threads I read posts that say, "Don't feed the trolls." Although we might need a specific name for such posters--the "ad hoccers"?--I would say similar advice applies.

ETA: For those who are interested, I looked for a term for such posts on this site: http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/

Just wanted to say that I haven't been able to look through everything at that link yet, but what I've seen is kinda funny...

And, I think that "controlling the actions" thing is true. It's funny that there's this instinctive need to respond to opposition (whether it be here on a discussion board or, say, in a fistfight) which then just creates more countering on the critic's part (I would say attacker's part, but I honestly don't feel like I was "attacked" on either of these threads I posted on...I've seen attacked here on these boards and I was not attacked in any way). Anyway, it's gotta have something to do with psychology....but I slept through that college class most of the time, so what do I know?

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

I too am taken back by the tone of some responses. I agree 100% that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and truthfully, wouldn't it be boring if opinions didn't vary. However, the opinions are often presented in a very forceful, rude way.. I think that is what offends me sometimes. The opinions are not offensive but the way in which they are presented are. I don't think anyone should attack someone else ... plus, that's not a very effective way to sway others to your side.

Try to take mean responses with a grain of salt.. I know sometimes it's hard too.

 

[oxfordcircus]

Just adding oxfordcircus to my "buddy" list....

What is a buddy list?

 

[debbiedoo]

What is a buddy list?

you can add buddy's to your profile

 

[lindalinda]

I decided to quote myself in a manner more dis-worthy

People disagreed with you. Get used to it. You can post your opinion, but why would you question others then countering it with their experiences?

Does everyone feel better now? Seriously, my "get used to it" was meant as a "this stuff happens on a internet board" comment. Those threads were from 2 weeks ago, already buried in the lost pages of neverland.

 

[CathrynRose]

So, in conclusion, I pose this question...Have you ever let a seemingly innocent post get under your skin for days because of peoples' responses to it?
Once again, sorry for the rant...it kinda felt better just to type it all out as crazy as that may seem!

Be grateful theyre not ripping on your looks, or your family, or other "personal" things, aside from your opinion.... those are always a good time waiting to happen!!!

Keep in mind, many many many people on the internet, especially those with big mouths, have little more in their life EXCEPT FOR the internet.

Dont get mad... feel bad for them.

 

[Sleeping~Beauty]

At TwoP a number of years ago, there were a lot of funny links to the "character" internet people. It's so true, too.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

You are all wrong and rude. Get used to it here in the happiest place on the internet!

I really like the mental imagery of innocent posts going bad, kinda like girls gone wild, kinda like...well...soooooo many posts I've read here on the boards.

Totally with you OP. Here's the good news: I think most people develop a thicker internet skin over time. This may bother you less and less.