Why are some people here so thin skinned?

[Grog]

Have you ever noticed that someone can start an innocent sounding thread, usually a simple vent, something like "I just bought a new widget last night and the quality wasn't up to par". That statement is usually followed by some other widget owner telling them that they obviously aren't using the widget right and insinuating that they don't have the brains to do so, or someone else whose DH/DW/SO works in a widget factory and jumps in with "How dare you talk about widgets that way!" Then if the OP mentions that they bought the economy widget, someone who owns the deluxe widget always has to come in and defend why they own the deluxe widget, instead of the cheaper version.

Just curious as to why people feel the need to jump on the OP in cases like this. Why can't they just be allowed to vent about their widget, and then get on with their day. Their opinion is not going to force the price of widgets to go up, or the widget plant to close, so why?

Edited to add... this was not based on any thread, real or otherwise. Just happens so much here that I finally had to ask.

 

[Pin Wizard]

How true!

 

[Pam]

I dunno - been wondering that myself.

Heck - I've been to Disneyland twice and WDW once - four years ago - and don't know if we'll ever go back .... talk about walking on hot coals on this board.....

And now I am upset that you obviously own a widget and love it - and here I went out and bought a fridget and thought it was the best thing in town......

 

[Chattyaholic]

It's a simple fact that people just like to share their experiences with widgets too!

No, really, I think because it's a "community" board. If a person chooses to start a thread they have to be prepared for all kinds of responses. If they're too "thin skinned" to accept that, then maybe they shouldn't have started the thread. JMHO.

 

[CEDmom]

You do know of course that the super deluxe widget is the only way to go .

 

[Planogirl]

As long as you don't criticize the Disney widgets or discuss political or religious widgets, you should be fine.

 

[Grog]

If they're too "thin skinned" to accept that, then maybe they shouldn't have started the thread.

Actually, I don't mean the OP, but the ones that reply.

Example....

OP... I hate purple widgets

Next poster... "HOW DARE YOU!!! I LOVE PURPLE WIDGETS!!!" .... when they could just let the comment roll off their backs and realize that not everyone likes what they do.

 

[Figment22]

You're right. Have you ever seen this? I don't remember who sent this to me but I think it's right on point.



CHANGING A LIGHTBULB ON THE INTERNET
A lesson in Posting to message boards ...

How many group posters does it take to change a light bulb?

1 to change the light bulb and to post that the light bulb has been changed

14 to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs and how the light bulb could have been changed differently

7 to caution about the dangers of changing light bulbs

27 to point out spelling/grammar errors in posts about changing light bulbs

53 to flame the spell checkers

41 to correct spelling/grammar flames

6 to argue over whether it's "lightbulb" or "light bulb" ... another 6 to condemn those 6 as anal-retentive

2 industry professionals to inform the group that the proper term is "lamp"

15 know-it-alls who claim *they* were in the industry, and that "light bulb" is perfectly correct

156 to email the participant's ISPs complaining that they are in violation of their "acceptable use policy"

109 to post that this group is not about light bulbs and to please take this discussion to a lightbulb group

203 to demand that cross posting to hardware forum, off-topic forum, and lightbulb group about changing light bulbs be stopped.

111 to defend the posting to this group saying that we all use light bulbs and therefore the posts *are* relevant to this group

306 to debate which method of changing light bulbs is superior, where to buy the best light bulbs, what brand of light bulbs work best for this technique and what brands are faulty

27 to post URL's where one can see examples of different light bulbs

14 to post that the URL's were posted incorrectly and then post the corrected URL's

3 to post about links they found from the URL's that are relevant to this group which makes light bulbs relevant to this group

33 to link all posts to date, quote them in their entirety including all headers and signatures, and add "Me too"

12 to post to the group that they will no longer post because they cannot handle the light bulb controversy

19 to quote the "Me too's" to say "Me three"

4 to suggest that posters request the light bulb FAQ

44 to ask what is a "FAQ"

4 to say "didn't we go through this already a short time ago?"

143 to say "do a Google search on light bulbs before posting questions about light bulbs"

1 forum lurker to respond to the original post 6 months from now and start it all over again....

 

[Grog]

Oh, and I agree that if someone who is thin skinned starts a possibly controversial thread they need to be ready to take the heat.

What I am wondering is why people coming after the OP turn a non-controversial thread into a controversial one.

Figment22... I love that! I had seen it before and was thinking of it as I posted my original question. I don't think there is any right or wrong answer to what I want to know, just interested in opinions.

 

[Saffron]

Hahaha! Someone posted that last year and we had so much fun posting about what we thought individual posters on the DIS would do or say about the lightbulb!

I don't know why that happens. I've done it myself though, so no excuses from me!

CEDmom!!!!! I am so enjoying your pictures!!!!!!! I could just jump right in there with your daughter! The water looks so refreshing and your daughter looks like she is having the time of her life!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by Grog
.......Just curious as to why people feel the need to jump on the OP in cases like this.......

I think the Net enables people to say things, oftentimes in a nasty way, that they might not say in a similar manner in RL. JMO. I see it too.

 

[Saffron]

Oh wait, I don't turn non-controversial threads into controversial threads, I just speak up when, in my opinion, I see something offensive in a debate thread. ROTFLOL!

 

[Bob NC]

Did this widget come from....um.....Wal Mart??????

I was going to go to a ball game with my wife's, sisters, brother-in-law's nephews neighbor....BUT, they said I couldn't bring my widget, so, I'm not going!!!!!

I couldn't believe it, I was at Epcot and I saw an overweight woman wearing a TWO PIECE widget!!!!!

I'm thinking about having my mother-in-law's sister present at the birth of our new widget, should I or shouldn't I?

 

[CEDmom]

Originally posted by Saffron
CEDmom!!!!! I am so enjoying your pictures!!!!!!! I could just jump right in there with your daughter! The water looks so refreshing and your daughter looks like she is having the time of her life!

Thanks, it's the best $2.99 ever spent. She loves it so much she sleeps with it. The picture was taken at the Flamingo in Vegas. Like most kids she loves the water.

BTW, I have to agree with Dan on this. Sometimes the fingers work faster than the brain. I've edited posts after rereading them because my tone may have been harsh. However, I'm sure there have been a few I've missed. Also everyone has a bad day now and then which may come through in what they post. Of course their are just people who are not nice in this world, not on the DIS of course .

 

[minmate]

...then again, I know people who make EVERYTHING controversial or negative in real life too... devil's advocates too. Hopefully, in the end, we can all be strong enough of our own mind to find the support we need in those replies which offer it and ignore those posts which don't coincide with our perspective --- ALL, while trying to stay open to the opposite viewpoint should it come in a non-argumentative tone.... right?

 

[Saffron]

She sleeps with it?! Oh how precious is that!!!!!!!!

That's like shep's daughter who wouldn't take her swim goggles off for days. She ate breakfast in them and everything! LOL!

Kids are so wonderful!

 

[Gaspode]

Originally posted by Figment22
...
33 to link all posts to date, quote them in their entirety including all headers and signatures, and add "Me too"
...

So true!!

Cya,
Gaspode

 

[CEDmom]

Originally posted by Saffron
She sleeps with it?! Oh how precious is that!!!!!!!!

That's like shep's daughter who wouldn't take her swim goggles off for days. She ate breakfast in them and everything! LOL!

Kids are so wonderful!

I apologize now for momentarily hijacking this thread. This should make you laugh though:

Now back to the original topic

 

[Figment22]

CEDmom,

You are forgiven for temporarily hijacking the thread. That photo is too funny!

 

[Tigger&Tink]

I LOST my widget!!! If ya find it can ya send it home please???