Viewing Thread:
"Why these forums?"

I've been having a bit of think recently. Always a bad sign. So anyway why do people chat on the net? Is it different to how you chat with friends? and can/should it replace "real" social interaction?

I guess one of the best things is anonymity. You can say what you like with little "real" repurcussions. This also has a down side as in there is less consequence of your actions on the net. If someone takes exception to what you are saying then there is no "real" consequence apart from the odd verbally abusive post.
Similarly I was e-mailing someone I met on the net in the States. It was fairly casual but her postings got more and more grim. Marital troubles, feeling fairly low etc and then she stopped posting. I got a bit concerned and more concerned when I realised there wasn't anything I could possibley do about it. Had it been one of my "real" friends I could have rung/gone round whatever to find out how she was doing. But written material is always more black and whtie than face to face contact. At least with face to face contact you know a) a bit of background on the perons b) you can read body language. You can't on the net.
One of the joys is obviously you can be a bit of a social tourist. Chat to people/about things that you wouldn't in real life. But equally it has repurcussions and consequences. I'm talking myself into a corner here so I'll shut up. So any thoughts anyone?

Goatboy wrote:
> billhicks.com

Forum can get a little bit heated and there's no moderation,
> but for a political rant and discussion on all things metaphysical, there ain't
> a better place.

Thanks for that.

billhicks.com

Forum can get a little bit heated and there's no moderation, but for a political rant and discussion on all things metaphysical, there ain't a better place.

I know this might be sacriligous and possibly have me chucked off the forum for lack of loyalty but does anyone have any recommendations for other forums.? Especially in relation to movies. All I ever seem to find is those moronic msn chat or vaguely smutty banter.

GasMask wrote:
> Well. Its the sense of interactivity.

And its fun :o)

Yeah its both of those things. Especially the interactivity. I get to read about stuff I would never normally hear/read or think about. I guess I quite like the fact that you can dip into things without having to say anything. I don't mean in a kinky voyeuristic way but unlike the "real" world you can read/listen to a conversation without having to say anything. I guess that might be seen as being a bit strange. I'm off to put my shovel away before I bury myself in my own pit.

Well...

The main times I come on net to talk are week-day nights usually when I'm doing homework and bored.

So I go on and talk as I hate using phones and mates are all doing homework.

Well sometimes I'd prefer to know the people... like I think it wouild be cool if a few were mates and I could get drunk with them, I'd like to watch Goatboy's band and I'd like to punch a few people.

it is great formeeting people who are very similar to you for instance on the Manics chatroom who is my twin of music taste and it is quite annoying that you don't actually know this person but its cool.

Emm yeah :-D

Well. Its the sense of interactivity.

And its fun :o)

Meka_Dragon wrote:
> Goatboy wrote:
> Kitty wrote:
> Sounds like you are very happy with
> her.

Quite possibly
> the biggest understatement of man's history since
> Native Americans saw the boats
> arriving and said "Let's go say hi,
> what's the worst that can
> happen?"


:-) I like people being
> happy.

Its good isn't it. I had a friend to stay for the week-end recently and she was happy. Everything in her world was good and she said so. She wasn't smug or annoying with it just acknowledging the fact she had a good bloke/job/house and that life was good. Its very rare that people actually talk about being happy. Few people live in the moment, have a look at what they got and appreciate it. It seems that for a lot of people they don't want to be happy. There is always something more/better on the horizon. Possibly but possibly not and whilst you've got something good you should make the most of it. It makes a hell of a change from people who see life as one big obstacle course.

Goatboy wrote:
> Kitty wrote:
> Sounds like you are very happy with her.

Quite possibly
> the biggest understatement of man's history since Native Americans saw the boats
> arriving and said "Let's go say hi, what's the worst that can
> happen?"


:-) I like people being happy.

Kitty wrote:
> Sounds like you are very happy with her.

Quite possibly the biggest understatement of man's history since Native Americans saw the boats arriving and said "Let's go say hi, what's the worst that can happen?"

Why forums?

You get more input.

You post something, and you'll get replies from dozens of different people.

In a regular conversation only a couple of people can ever be involved withotu it getting a little out of control, and people shouting each other down!

Here, most of the time people accept that others have different views, and we're free to express ours.

I don't care if people know what I look like though, that's why when SR wanted to print my piccy I sent them one of myself dressed as a Jedi. I don't take myself too seriously, I'm not Mr Forum King or anything, just a bloke that like writing about stuff, and likes reading stuff.

And, evidently, likes the word 'stuff'.