Do we take ourselves too seriously in these forums?

**Devastatin Dave** · 02-24-2006, 15:26

I'm guilty of it. I believe that our community is better informed about world events and politics than the average citizen, regardless of which country we reside. But at the same time, do we take ourselves too seriously? Things get heated and sometimes nasty and sometimes our communications are hampered by simple language barriers and the fact that we can't really type the true meaning or feelings we have about a certain topic. But are we way too serious in here?

**JAG** · 02-24-2006, 15:32

Never!

**Sjakihata** · 02-24-2006, 15:39

Always!

**Don Corleone** · 02-24-2006, 15:42

Originally Posted by Devastatin Dave

I'm guilty of it. I believe that our community is better informed about world events and politics than the average citizen, regardless of which country we reside. But at the same time, do we take ourselves too seriously? Things get heated and sometimes nasty and sometimes our communications are hampered by simple language barriers and the fact that we can't really type the true meaning or feelings we have about a certain topic. But are we way too serious in here?

Who the hell do you think you are!?!?! WTF are you trying to say!?!? I'm right, and if you disagree with me, you must be the dumbest person on the planet?

Is that what you're referring to? Yeah, I think we all suffer from it from time to time. A little more satire, a little less vitriol would work wonders around these parts. A 'confession thread' where we each publicly admitted a time we later realized we were flat ass wrong wouldn't hurt either. Kudos to those that have taken it upon themselves to admit to it in recent threads (I'm thinking of Lemur & Prole specifically).

**InsaneApache** · 02-24-2006, 15:47

I don't. So, just to prove it, a joke.

A man had two great tickets for the Football Association Cup final.

As he sits down, another man comes down and asks if anyone is sitting in the seat next to him.

"No", he says, "the seat is empty".

"This is incredible!" said the man, "who in their right mind would have a seat like this for the FA cup final, the biggest sporting event in the year, and not use it?"

First man says, "well, actually, the seat belongs to me. My wife was supposed to come with me, but she passed away. This is the first Cup Final we haven't been together since we got married".

"Oh ... I'm sorry to hear that. That's terrible. I guess you couldn't find someone else, a friend or relative or even a neighbour to take the seat?"

The man shakes his head... "No. They're all at the funeral"

**Reverend Joe** · 02-24-2006, 16:11

Originally Posted by Don Corleone

Who the hell do you think you are!?!?! WTF are you trying to say!?!? I'm right, and if you disagree with me, you must be the dumbest person on the planet?

Is that what you're referring to? Yeah, I think we all suffer from it from time to time. A little more satire, a little less vitriol would work wonders around these parts. A 'confession thread' where we each publicly admitted a time we later realized we were flat ass wrong wouldn't hurt either. Kudos to those that have taken it upon themselves to admit to it in recent threads (I'm thinking of Lemur & Prole specifically).

I think a confession thread would be a good idea- oh, and Don, since when have you been a senior member?

**Don Corleone** · 02-24-2006, 16:19

Originally Posted by Zorba

I think a confession thread would be a good idea- oh, and Don, since when have you been a senior member?

Since I hacked into the member database & changed my status. That's my confession.

**Lemur** · 02-24-2006, 16:48

To get somewhat back on topic, I don't think anybody takes themselves too seriously, not to the extent that it's a problem with the whole Backroom. Rather, I think people misunderstand each other. Attempts and humor and sarcasm are the usual suspects. People misread them.

Here's a pretty good study on the subject:

According to recent research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, I've only a 50-50 chance of ascertaining the tone of any e-mail message. The study also shows that people think they've correctly interpreted the tone of e-mails they receive 90 percent of the time.

"That's how flame wars get started," says psychologist Nicholas Epley of the University of Chicago, who conducted the research with Justin Kruger of New York University. "People in our study were convinced they've accurately understood the tone of an e-mail message when in fact their odds are no better than chance," says Epley.

The researchers took 30 pairs of undergraduate students and gave each one a list of 20 statements about topics like campus food or the weather. Assuming either a serious or sarcastic tone, one member of each pair e-mailed the statements to his or her partner. The partners then guessed the intended tone and indicated how confident they were in their answers.

Those who sent the messages predicted that nearly 80 percent of the time their partners would correctly interpret the tone. In fact the recipients got it right just over 50 percent of the time.

**master of the puppets** · 02-24-2006, 16:56

I do, i am generally surrounded by idiots (being in high school) who have no idea what i'm talking about half the time so its always like "uh, next to use smaller words" or "what does that mean" or "lets just nuke the middle east." so its really quite depressing, so i come onto the forums and attempt to sound smart and intellectual but many a time i am proved wrong by someone older and smarter, then i feel shame but then i bounce back with some stupid remark and get back into the conversation. plus i'm learning lots of crap about polotics via the backroom and am so interested that next year i'm going to take "contemparary world problems" its an AP class and supposedly a bitch to take(

) but i'm up for it.

**Reenk Roink** · 02-24-2006, 16:58

Absolutely

All we do is ***** and conjecture...

But it is fulfilling in a way...

It's like crack, you know it's bad, but you keep coming back...

**drone** · 02-24-2006, 16:58

I vote Gah!

Oh, wait, this isn't a poll...

**master of the puppets** · 02-24-2006, 17:02

so what if your saying is true lemur than most arguments and accusations are simply screw ups, funny. but if this is true how do we ascertain whether corleone is telling the truth abot hacking to be a senior member, DevDav has more posts but is still a norm member. or does it merely have to do with age?