Why are people so thin skinned, so touchy? I have noticed a great number of people seem to be easily angered.
If I were to talk about a guy in Kentucky that did something stupid, half the state would want me dead.
If I said a white teenager with purple hair cut me off on the x-way, every purple haired white teenager in existence would feel the need to tell me what an a*@hole I am.
If I said a jerk in a red Excursion hit my truck, red Excursion owners everywhere would be coming to his defense.
Because someone says something about 1 individual, not a race, state, country, etc, everyone takes it personal.
Why do people feel the need to be so defensive when somebody talks negatively about someone that has some similar characteristics to them? Is insecurity that common?
What do you think? What do you do??

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 10-Jun-02 AT 01:08 PM (EST)]Are you talking about >here on FTE or on the street?

Rule #1 about human verbal contact.
"It's not what you say or how you say it,it is how a person interprets it"


[font color=red]Dennis

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You have to remember we are all a big melting pot of ages, races, creeds, colors, up-bringing, etc. So when they read a post they interpret as they see it. A statement made in person may seem appropriate but the interpretation in writing may be read with attitude, hostility, or misinterpretation of the intent.
There are also those who are passionate about things they like and will argue until blue in the fingertips to prove they are right.

Thin skinned? I'm not sure that's accurate although a possiblity. I believe it's just that with the Internet we have access to a whole world full of differences of opinions, 2-cents worth and the like. Factor in the cloak of hidden identities, the ease of reregistering with another userid etc. there are all kinds of thing that can be said that would ordinarilly never be asked in a group of people sitting together.

I once heard, "What you just said is wrong, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." We have to live by this on the net and on BB's because otherwise we would always be upset about what we read of other peoples opinions.

I personally do not frequent the General forum more than a couple of times a week and only stop when a topic looks interesting and rarely reply to a post here. If I read something I think is stupid, un-hobby related, or whatever, I just back out without a reply.
Just my thoughts.....

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 10-Jun-02 AT 12:55 PM (EST)]I would have to agree krosati. With the ways of communicating these days, things are taken differntly. When you talk to someone in person, you have body language and tone of voice and what is being said. When you talk over the phone, all you really have is tone of voice and what is being said(although people listen to the tone and how it is said rather than what is said); and in a letter or other written form like e-mail and the net, all you have is what is said and the readers interpretation of the written word and they can take it wrong, no matter how well you clarify within the writing.

Although, I would have to say some people will be thing skinned no matter what was said and how it was said and in what context.

Just my observations and my 2 cents worth, for what it is worth.

 

If you were to say things and NOT get a response life would be Soooo boring. I like to participate in lively discussion, even if it's about me. The nice thing about the web is that no-one gets hurt and can walk away if their feeling get stomped on.

 

Very true.

 

I consider it their problem and usually ignore them, but sometimes they make valid points and I respond. I try not to be disrespectful. Though I love to debate, there are some people I will not engage in a battle of wits because I make it a point of honor not to engage an unarmed opponent.
Dono

 

I'll have you know, you SOB, that I'm a white, teenaged Kentuckian who drives a red Excursion!!!

Well, not really...I was just having fun with the available words. I hope that didn't **** anybody off...

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 11-Jun-02 AT 11:21 AM (EST)]mil1ion,
In response to your question (here on FTE or on the street), I would have to respond both. It happens quite a bit in public, though not always as often with me as others I know, but what drew my attention to the problem was some debating here that turned into whining, bickering, mud slinging. I know it is hard to give an accurate response to everything when no one is capable of reading an emotion, but some things should be taken for face value instead of reading something into it that is not.

I would like to think most people are mature enough to get the facts before they explode, but that doesn't happen very often. I guess it's like seeing someone with tattoo's, piercings, long hair, unshaven, wearing lots of leather, and assuming they are a biker, which I am sure most of us have done in the past. They may not be, so it's wrong to assume that. I also mean no disrespect to bikers (or the biker-looking)by that statement. It is just an observation, not an insult.
If I ask someone what 2 + 2 is, I expect an answer of 4. What happens next is I get responses asking why I have to pick on the guy that can't add. Please note!!! That was a hypothetical example, not a statement about someone here.

If someone voices an opinion on something and they get responses from users like Stab calling them a dork or a nancy because he doesn't have the intelligence to realize an opinion can't be wrong, or that we have the right to differ from his view, why should we post or respond at all? Shouldn't we all just become "thin skinned" and join the mentally challenged? The thing that impressed me about FTE was the maturity of it's users. A lot of intelligent conversation. I enjoy reading what most of you have to say, whether it differs from my thoughts of not. If we all agreed all the time, that would be so dull. But, as with most things, it only takes a few to ruin it for all.

Oh, and monsta, you only WISH you had a red excursion like mine!!!!

 

enduringexplorer, I agree the comments you are refering to were uncalled for. But pointing fingers and naming names shows your skin might be worn a little thin in spots too. Not trying to put you on the spot, but you don't need to go there to get anyone to side with you. Being big enough to take it means suffering in silence.

 

"If someone voices an opinion on something and they get responses from users like Stab calling them a dork or a nancy because he doesn't have the intelligence to realize an opinion can't be wrong,"

I hardly think you are in the position to criticize my intelligence.
Remember when you said this "I was, however, spelling bee champ in my school system, math champ in my Algebrae classes (no calculators back then)"?

Do you realize how stupid that statement sounds? In the same sentence that you brag about being a algebra and spelling bee champ you mispell the word algebra. No calculators? Wow! Did your school not have a dictionary? I guess when someone is a spelling bee champ they don't need a dictionary. Unless you want to tell someone about your "algebrae" championship.


I was not going to get involved in this but you mentioned my name in your post so I thought I should comment. It is really poor taste and low class to carry a dispute from a locked thread to a new one. I think you are the one that is too thin skinned. Why did you start a whole new thread to insult me? You are the one who needs to get a little thicker in the skin.

The mods should have locked this just as they did the other topic. Why would you lock the other thread just to let it continue here?

 

You know, all of you need a little thicker skin. Everyone that makes posts anywhere similar needs to add quite a few layers of skin. To me, all of you that posted those remarks need to grow up and learn to pick the battles that you can pick. This is one of those battles. I don't know most of the people on these forums and if somebody critisized me or said something bad about me, I would let it roll off of my shoulders (I would even if I knew the person) because it just isn't worth it getting even the little bit stressed over. This site is supposed to be fun to use, and those types of posts make it not fun anymore.

 

I'm going with the fifth amendment on this one.

 

 

You are correct, horsepuller. Normally I let things slide. However, I do need a chance to clarify myself on 2 points.
#1. I did not start this thread to bring up the other thread with Stab. I started it prior to reading his final comments on the other thread, prior to it being locked. After reading Stabs last 2 comments on that thread, it only seemed natural to bring them up here. It fit as a good example, but probably poor taste on my part.
#2. To Stab? I apologized to EVERYONE for things getting out of hand and agreed to disagree. I intentionally placed 3 errors in the post that you found the spelling error. I was trying to make a point. You found 1 error.

At this point, I am done. I will not continue trying to explain myself or justify my comments. It just doesn't work, and it is too intense. It has taken the fun and enjoyment out of the forum.

Again, I apologize to everyone for some of my behavior, and I will limit myself to entertaining posts from now on. If I think ANYTHING I have to say may be taken wrong by anyone, I just won't say it.

I particularly want to apologize to Stab. I don't think we got off on the right foot. Actually, I think we put our right foot up the other ones a$$. I don't want to do that anymore. O K with you???