inflamatory post - Internet=Misunderstanding

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 77925

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "zesca" <nansense at c...> wrote:
> severusbook4 at y...> wrote:
> >In no terms was I telling everyone to stop having their opinions,
> >wants, or hopes posted. 
> 
> madeyemood:
> perhaps it's time to examine the difference between the meaning of 
> your choice of words v. the meaning you intended for them to have. 
> 
> >severusbook4:
> >It was my opinion. I am not the person who would ask for censorship
> > of these  posts either.  
> 
> madeyemood:
> okay, sev, say i'm williing to give you the benefit of the doubt. 
> the possibility exists that you didn't understand how your words 
> would be construed. 
> 
> madeyemood:

bboy_mn:

I think we all need to remember that the Internet is ideally suited
for fostering misunderstanding.

There is a tendency to reply in the heat of the moment. There is
little time to ponder the full impact of your words; hit [Send] and
they are on their way. 

The internet also lack crucial ingredients for understanding of
communictation because there are no non-verbal clues; no demeanor, no
attitude, no facial experssion, no body language.

Frequently, and I'm sure we've all experienced this, little 'toss
away' comments that we throw in to our posts get blown way out of
proportion. 

I remember trying to draw a parallel between the smell of cabbage in
Perkin's loaner tent at the World cup and the smell of cabbage in Mrs.
Figg's house, to make the point that sometime a cigar is just a cigar.
That is Perkin's had descriptive characteristics of an old person,
Mrs. Figg had descriptive characteristics of an old person, given the
parallels, it was unlikely that Mrs. Figg was a young fair maiden
living her life under the spell of Polyjuice so she could keep an eye
on Harry. Really, that was one of the big theories a while back. 

Seemed a simple point to make by comparison, but the next thing I knew
people were accusing me of insulting old people, or claiming that I
was saying that all English people stink, or that cabbage it the
vegitable spawn of the devil. And the more I tried to explain what I
really meant, the more the things cascaded out of control. 

A simple post with a simple point, came close to enraging some people
on points I never made and certainly never intended to make. So, at
some point I just had to walk away; shrug my shoulders and accept that
sometimes on the Internet, no matter how hard you try, your real
point, and your real attitude, and your real intent just DOES NOT come
across. So, you walk away, older and wiser, and life goes on.

Point: With any communication on the Internet, we need to temper what
we read and what we write with a little quiet wisdom, and when in
doubt, just lighten up and have some fun.

It's just a thought.

bboy_mn