Internet Drama

[Richard B Riddick]

It may be accurate to say that one of the reasons people bother with things like internet forums involves a form of escapism.

They're safe havens for those who have a lot of drama, negativity and stress in their real lives. And provides them a place where they can loose themselves in the anonymity of a crowd and relate to others on an equal playing field.

It can serve as a type of social function which is more devoid of issues relating to race, sexuality, class warfare, demographics and other circumstances which draw invisible lines that normally might separate people into distinct social groups which do not normally interact.

It also provides a means of interacting with types of people and personalities a person might not normally encounter in their day to day life.

Anyways.... if the whole point of people interacting on internet forums can be a form of escapism and involves a safe haven from stress & assorted things, is it self defeating to propagate drama online & can it completely defeat the purpose of things like forums in the first place?

What do you think of internet drama or circumstances where people intentionally spread rumors & make up things about people in an effort to re-create drama in an internet setting?

1. Does it cause you to lose respect for certain individuals when you see them saying untrue things about others, spreading rumors and otherwise being lame?

2. Is it pointless considering as some say, you're never likely to meet the person, hang out or interact with the person? Why bother?

3. In some cases, I think those who engage in internet drama and propagate it are losers who couldn't pick on people or bully them in real life. They choose to do it in an internet setting because its the closest they'll ever come to having real power. What do you think of this?



All I know is... I have seen people on the street who were high on drugs who were more respectful, honest and civilized than some of the people I've come across online who were supposed to be "good" & "decent" people.

And, I have known people who had a criminal background who were involved with organized crime who were less barbaric and bloodthirsty than a lot of kids I've seen on internet forums.

Interesting lyfe, eh...

 

[Jack's Smirking Revenge]

no matter what the circumstances, if you bring a fairly large group of people together (i'm really only counting the regularly active people here), and have them interact a lot then there will be disagreements and arguments. it's naive to think that people can live harmoniously in some sort of eutopia, no matter how many things they all have in common. people are different and will clash over things, it's just life.

 

[Lirael]

1. Does it cause you to lose respect for certain individuals when you see them saying untrue things about others, spreading rumors and otherwise being lame?

It really depends on the person and on the situation. There are often two sides to a story and you really do need to consider WHY the person spreading rumours is doing so. If they're not a friend, then it's difficult to approach them, but if they are, or even if they're an acquaintance you see online often, it's nice to ask the person spreading rumours whether they're okay.

Luckily, I have only been directly invovled in rumours once. This was around 5/6 years ago and I was the one who the rumours were about. The person in question was certainly lying, but felt bitter because I'd recently broken up with them, making him my ex. He had decided to create an account on the forum with all of my closest friends and 'expose me,' insisting that I was a liar and had created a false persona. He even managed to text me whilst I was at school and powerless to defend myself to let me know that he had done it.

When one is involved, they are often more likely to feel bitter and biased. I was more concerned that I'd lose friends than anything and was so relieved when they stood by me. I didn't lose respect for the one spreading rumours. I was a little upset, but I understood that he was too. He had a few additional problems.

It's harder judging the situation when you have very few details. I therefore tend to stay out of it and don't judge; I can't possibly know the full story nor can I fully empathise with the person's reasons. People rarely spread rumours just because. The problem may not lie on the forum; it may lie at home or at work. They may never tell you, but it's always a possibility. I still support taking measures to stop the person spreading further rumours and upsetting others, but I would still tread carefully and certainly wouldn't call them lame, nasty etc.

2. Is it pointless considering as some say, you're never likely to meet the person, hang out or interact with the person? Why bother?

If you care about the people who are hearing these rumours, it matters. I have always had a high regard for my friends online; they have been as important to me as the friends I see in person. It doesn't matter whether I'm likely to meet them. What would matter is whether I share a connection with the people they're lying to. If I were viewing the situation as a third person and were watching person a spread lies about person b, I would take the feelings of person b into account when deciding whether or not it mattered, though I'd be more likely to feel it mattered in case person b was more upset than they let on.

3. In some cases, I think those who engage in internet drama and propagate it are losers who couldn't pick on people or bully them in real life. They choose to do it in an internet setting because its the closest they'll ever come to having real power. What do you think of this?

In SOME cases, maybe. Very few though. And even then, I think there's a reason the person has turned out this way.

 

[L]

i dont really get heavily involved with forums anymore

i enjoyed the companionship in the past, probably cracked some of the most wicked grins in my life and had a good time, but I just can't take the internet as seriously as I used to.

Maybe I just grew out of it or I just got tired of giving a fuck about what so many people had to say about anything. It's great to sit down and have a conversation with someone, but most of the time it's just two zealots bitching at each other and trying to convince one another that the other is wrong, even though neither of them are willing to except that they could be wrong or are even willing to be tolerant.

I guess it's just so hard to give two flying fucks after being surrounded by so much blind hatred and completely inconstructive, relentless critic. i've been playing World of Warcraft for about 5 years now, and the community has to seriously be the lowest of the low.

some faggot is always posting some shite about how the information in your post is not perfectly exactly correct just to be a little shithead or just want to start some shit by calling a bunch of people terrible. you always have to be the dumbest imaginable person possible whenever you have posted something incorrect and fuck it just gets on your nerves even if you don't believe it.

it's literally like baiting or harassing someone, but not even an actionable offense.

/sigh

sometimes if someone says something negative about one of my posts, I will snap back at them. But my reply is short and concise, the point is made and nothing else needs to be said. Usually summed up as a simple way of saying "fuck you", but I just don't have the heart for it anymore and just shrug it all off wicba.

1. Does it cause you to lose respect for certain individuals when you see them saying untrue things about others, spreading rumors and otherwise being lame?

depends on what it is, but usually not. there was probably no respect in the first place. but if there was, and it was about something I actually felt mattered, I would probably just share my opinion.

2. Is it pointless considering as some say, you're never likely to meet the person, hang out or interact with the person? Why bother?

sure, i usually ignore them in the first place anyway. haters gonna hate.

3. In some cases, I think those who engage in internet drama and propagate it are losers who couldn't pick on people or bully them in real life. They choose to do it in an internet setting because its the closest they'll ever come to having real power. What do you think of this?

probably. can't say i haven't ever taken a shit on someone's post because i thought it was amusing. but i find it easier to sympathize with these types of people than to criticize them though, a lot of people get pushed around and sometimes they really do feel like they are actually worthless. maybe they piss people off just so that they can forget, I don't know.

 

[seddy-0]

the worst kind of drama are the facebookers who post to their status' like its their damn journal. trashing people up and down. its so messed up how people miss-use facebook. i have a standing rule on FB, if you try and cause drama by posting about my business on your page..you're gone.. i don't tolerate kiddy drama. i don't have time for it.
forums are an escape as there are moderators to keep the assholes in place.. with social networking now at its highest peek and growing, and with the way things are starting to get outta control, we are prolly gonna see a rise in forum use again. it all comes in circles. forums were huge till myspace came about and started to die off.. look out for them to get big again as people start to get angry with unneeded drama with "social networking"

 

[Sepalcure]

What do you think of internet drama or circumstances where people intentionally spread rumors & make up things about people in an effort to re-create drama in an internet setting?

Well having been a member of approximately three forums in my lifetime, this one included, I've witnessed quite a few dramatic arguments. Typically I never got myself involved, I was merely one to spectate and I rarely ever instigated said arguments. I think when someone intentionally spreads negative gossip or rumors to create ill will, it shows that they have a lack of maturity. The responsible thing to do would be to not add proverbial fuel to the fire by making the other party irate and drawing out what was essentially a small spat. Of course, not everyone in forum communities or Twitter or any other social networking medium follows this golden rule. You will always have someone who's going to be the instigator in a spat, or someone who blows something out of proportion and spreads nasty ish about people. Frankly, if it has nothing to do with me then I won't care to jump in and defend you. However, if it's a rare personal affront against me then I'll point out where you're wrong if you are and then bow out. There's no need for me to make a mountain out of a mole hill.

2. Is it pointless considering as some say, you're never likely to meet the person, hang out or interact with the person? Why bother?

My opinion is that it's pretty fucking stupid. Chances are that if you live in the middle of nowhere, x amount of hours away from me, then I'll possibly never meet you. The chances of me seeing you in say, my local supermarket are naturally slim so why would I waste my precious energy and emotions on you. Indeed why bother? It's silly and it's not like I'll gain or lose something from contributing to someone's ire; I'm not getting a medal for having "epically pwned" you on the intarwebz.

3. In some cases, I think those who engage in internet drama and propagate it are losers who couldn't pick on people or bully them in real life. They choose to do it in an internet setting because its the closest they'll ever come to having real power. What do you think of this?

That's your opinion. Some people are, in my mind, ignorant and simply lack the knowledge and maturity. I wouldn't call them "losers" because I'm insinuating that they have no life; I don't know them from the stranger I pass by on the street. It's like me making assumptions to how much a loser the guy who packs my groceries at the market is, maybe he has quite a thrilling life. Haha, but um yeah they may actually have very interesting lives, bottom line is, if we have bad blood because of a spat I'm not trying to judge you on whether you're a "loser" or a "bigot." I'm going to prove where you're wrong, admit my own wrongs, and/or defend my viable points and I'm going to keep it the fuck moving. Bottom line.

 

[Ohri-Jin]

I agree.
Its an escape haven for us to socialise with people from different countries.
For me for example, since English is not my native language, I like being on English forums and sites etc. or play videogames online with English talking people.
It actually educates me. I can write in english way better than years ago.

A forum was perfect for me. Especially when it resolves a subject I am a fan of.

Lately Ive seen FFF going down hill. I met some cool people, but also shitty people.
Those shitty people made it very unpleasable for me to even visit this site. Also the decline of buddies I had here made FFF a lot less active.

I am here for fun in general and not debates etc. I have enough serious shit in my real life, but when I see negative shit being spread on FFF an online forum I get too carried away sometimes. IRL that shit never happens in my face, because people are too cowardly to do so.

We are all here for different reasons. If all you do is spreading negative bullshit on a forum you must be very sad.

Online some people have another persona, Safe behind their computerscreen.
Online some are as shitty as in real life. Losers have friends too, other losers.

I will try not to get carried away anymore, cause its a waste of my time and energy.
You should do the same Richard. Honestly just ignore the rotten apples and move on.

You are here not for them, but for yourself I reckon.

Sometimes you gotta stand up, I completely understand where you are coming from, but I figured out a long time ago that wont change a thing.

Trust me just ignore that shit. Its just a online forum after all.
Let those people think what they are gonna think, if it makes them feel special and almighty.

 

[Shu]

Well instead of speaking from a Member perspective here, I'll come it at from a Mod/Admin approach.

The main thing about this forum in particular is that there are rules put in place so Drama can't go overboard in the first place. Internet Drama can and will happen, but my feelings are neutral, because I don't find it a habit to make people's life miserable. I find the folks who usually do are either bored and/or need a real life outside of here. The later is the case 99.9% of the time.

People tend to overcompensate in general with their real life, because they are either shy/repressed/abused/Made fun of or they have anger issues in which they need to resolve in taking it out a different way. Trust me, if you are an American in general, I think every single one of us should be pissed off in some way with what's going on in today's world. (Hands Tied). Though to take it out on some stranger, on a forum, well that's piss poor. It would be better reflected if you could do it to a person in the real world. AKA if you got problems, deal with them in the real world, don't let them trail you back to a place like this.

I take the same stance on.. If you are in a relationship/friendship and have never met in person, then it's not a relationship/friendship. It might be perceived differently than drama, but love to me, is only when two folks can officially be face to face. So love/friendship/drama to a stranger.. well leave it off the forums if it's going to cause you to be involved and flame/troll people. No one can hold your hands if your significant other/ friend gets thrown under a bus in a debate. That's how a lot of the drama comes about on these here forums. Some people find identifiable interests in another and make it a thing, and then boom you have 4 people who are against 1, not due to the actual debate, but because the person is that person.

No offense, but ya'll are all strangers to me in the real life, but on the forums we are an entire community. So if you come in here and make it your business to daily go out of your way to make someone's life miserable, you will get popped. Otherwise it's not a community if there isn't some type of order. (or someone paying for the site) No one wants to sink a few bucks on a forum that has no monetary value and a net loss worse than his car payment a month.

 

[Tyler Breeze]

Meh.... I've fallen victim to internet bullshit drama before, and I probably will again. Sure, I've let it get to me a few times, but with the help of some really awesome friends ( ) they've made me realize that at the end of the day, all the bullshit is just words on a screen. It's not gonna affect me or my future in any way. So why bother with it? I know who my real friends are, and I know who the trolls are. Just block out those trolls and this place can be a community full of sunshine again. If anybody has a problem with me or what I like, that's fine. Their opinion doesn't matter to me one bit. If you like me, awesome! If not, that's cool too. That's your prerogative, I'm not gonna try to change you, so please don't change me. And especially, don't cause any bullshit over it. I have new attitude now, if somebody want's to start up some drama I'll just be like "What? I can't hear you over the sound of my happiness." Hey.... I'm chilling. :jeri:

 

[Big Casino]

Its pretty simple really. You have a big thing like the internet and you have forums where people from all over the world can come and talk. People of many faiths, many beliefs and religions. Just like in real life if you get a bunch of people together there is gunna be arguments and heads butting sooner or later/

I class internet drama as the annoying people who make threads all the time about every stupid little fucking thing thats happening to them. The ones who pour their soul out and think they are so hard done by in life. Oh i dont like my haircut, it makes me look so fucking ugly. Im ugly now and i hate my life. I had to split up with my boyfriend / girlfriend again I HATE MY LIFE. I once almost killed a man with my bear hands and now im a lost tortured soul who lives in the shadows.
Thats what i think of when someone says internet drama. Because real problems, and i mean REAL problems start in real life and get fixed in real life. Lots of people come to forums and play the sympathy act because there are people silly enough to give them sympathy and there are people crazy enough to believe all the ridiculous lies they like to call life stories. There are always a few folks who will go out their way to please certain people. Will almost do anything they want them too and will shower them with compliments and hang on their every word. Of course these people cant exist on the internet without being real but for some reason they seem to appear everywhere on the net and your typical woe is me drama banana takes full advantage.
Now i shall answer the questions.

1. Does it cause you to lose respect for certain individuals when you see them saying untrue things about others, spreading rumours and otherwise being lame?

Yes. I dont like liars much to begin with but 1 thing i certainly hate more than anything are bullies. Making up hurtful stories about someone and spreading it around like the fucking clap is absolutely pathetic. If thats what you do then in my eyes your probably one of the lowest forms of people and you need to grow up.

2. Is it pointless considering as some say, you're never likely to meet the person, hang out or interact with the person? Why bother?

Nope its not pointless. I've met many people from the forum in real life and they've all been great people. Despite that though il always treat someone the same on the internet as i would to their face. Why you would play an act i dont know. It doesnt make any sense really. Surely its much easier to just be yourself.

3. In some cases, I think those who engage in internet drama and propagate it are losers who couldn't pick on people or bully them in real life. They choose to do it in an internet setting because its the closest they'll ever come to having real power. What do you think of this?

I agree with this. Whenever I see all these idiots on YouTube pathetically trying to be a dick to everyone i think that. I think mostly all keyboard warriors are exactly that. Folks who in real life get walked over and are treated like a doormat. They dont have the courage to stand up for themselves there so they come on the internet and make up for it here. Vent frustration etc. Of course though some people are just dicks because they want to be.
I dont think there are much people like that on FFF though. Maybe two or three, four at the most. Deviant Art, Tumblr, Twitter and the their favourite hang out YouTube seems to be the places where they like to frequent the most often.

 

[Moogles]

I've read a lot of good, positive responses to this topic. It's obviously good to respect and be considerate of your fellow peers regardless of where you're at. Although I share many of the thoughts that have been shared here, I'll admit to something maybe a little less...admirable. I find drama entertaining. Internet drama, drama at the McDonalds drive-thru, drama at work--it can be a pretty good show. I don't mean to suggest that I root for drama to occur, but when it does, I'll sit back and enjoy the show. I won't trigger it and I won't fuel it, but I'll definitely get a kick out of it (depending on exactly what is occurring--some stuff can go too far). Bullying, for example, is obviously not okay. Two people fighting over something ridiculous? Hysterical.

Not sure if this came out right.