Raleigh wrote:
So, no plans to fly under the radar, then?
Half of everything is showing up, as you may have heard. I've started to think that half of the rest is knowing when to STFU, at least for people like me.
Getting into a spat on a web forum with someone seems pretty normal. Sending a slew of PMs to the people involved, and rapidly cycling through a bunch of intense emotional outbursts will definitely freak people out.
Revealing possibly legitimate personal information of some unknown person along with invitations to do them harm crosses a line anywhere.
Could be a cry for help gone horribly wrong. Fortunately, there are other places to cry for help and people don't have to endlessly repeat their mistakes. Could be an elaborate troll. Part of the Troll Tax which everyone pays is uncertainty about whether a person posting has no other goal than to stir up anger or concern as a joke. Could be a particularly insidious form of narcissism where the person demands support from other people by beating themselves up. Most of us learn that trick as children and grow out of it, but it takes some longer than others.
Bearing in mind that all we see of each other are words on a screen, and I live in a world of probabilities, the cost-benefit analysis seems pretty clear.
Completely aside from all of this, I have torn new bungholes in more than my share of barrels this week. I chose my words carefully and I stand by them, but even the best justification doesn't make it kind or useful to try to destroy someone with words, even carefully chosen words. I will enjoy myself more if I use my powers for good.
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"I find that the best way [to increase self-confidence] is to lie to yourself about who you are, what you've done, and where you're going." - Richard Ayoade