More Talk of Comics

[elpollodiablo]

Oops, new page.

This was fun!

[Thermofusion]

you can't decide if yer with er against the terr-ists, obama lvr

[elpollodiablo]

Mainly it's the kaffiyeh, they look so sharp in those

[Thermofusion]

I'll sic Michelle Malkin on you

[Almanzo]

I've also been a cattle-prodding from day one because it's funny and I like to provoke other people when I get bored or when I think they're sill-lee and deserving!

See, this is the big thing about you that I don't like, and it's becoming more and more of an overshadowing characteristic in my impression of you. At first, I liked you but had some reservations, but now I'm starting to lose the goodwill I had towards you, and it's because of this sort of behavior. Trolling, bullying, being an asshole, whatever you want to call it, it all comes from the same place--this weird combination of arrogance and insecurity that I've never understood but have had to deal with my whole life. I've always been the sort of person who wants to be able to discuss different viewpoints with everyone and not have any sort of hierarchical pecking order of coolness that anybody has to conform to. It seems to me that you're the sort of person who can't handle that; if someone thinks a thing that you like sucks, or thinks something is sweet that you think is dumb, you can't just agree to disagree, you have to try and make them feel bad for disagreeing with you. It's an arrogant way to act on the surface, but I would guess that it also stems from insecurity in your own beliefs--you aren't confident enough to believe that the things you like are cool even if someone else doesn't think so. So you try to enforce your own lexicon of cool on everyone.

Let me make this perfectly clear: people who do this are assholes. There is no reason in this world to walk around trying to fuck up someone else's day, and doing it because you just happen to disagree with somebody about their opinion of, I don't know, Pere Ubu or something equally insignificant is that much fucking worse! I'm sure you feel justified and self-righteous in your behavior because you really have convinced yourself that your opinions are objectively correct and that everyone who disagrees with them needs correcting, but that's just that much more evidence that you have insecurity issues.

Now, I have some sympathy for those issues. God knows I have them too, and I just express them differently than you (and sometimes in ways that are just as fucked up). But either way, if the end result on a day to day basis is that you act like an asshole, it's eventually not gonna matter to me that you're doing so because you aren't the most secure guy in the world. Eventually, all I'm gonna think is "oh hey, there goes Almanzo, spouting off half-cocked and saying rude shit to everyone like the fucking asshole he is", and I'm not going to be willing to give you the time of day on anything. Nor is anyone else here. This board operates as a virtual social gathering spot, and if your behavior causes you to get ostracized by the vast majority of the people here, you're not gonna have any fun posting here (and I guess we'll see more "boo hoo no one gives my posts the attention they deserve" comments that we've heard from you in the past). And if that's how it ends up, it'll be your own fault.

I know, I know, I'm being an asshole by posting all of this. I don't really have a defense against that allegation. It's probably true. But I just feel like it needs to be said, regardless.

The vast majority of this is true! It's a problem! I agree!

But, dude, you kind of do the same thing in every post you make. I mean, seriously, you admit to it right there. It's one of the reasons that I really like you and really relate to you - you remind me of me, A LOT. In you, I see many patterns of behavior of myself if they were to go uncorrected and taken to extremes, and likewise I see where you've fixed or kept a handle on other ones that I totally let go. You and I are like two sides of the same coin, buddy. I'm totally serious about this.

About opinions - it's different. It's more like...kind of impossible to articulate, but I kind of think that if someone has an opinion, it should be what they believe is objectively true. I mean, frankly, an opinion isn't worth having if you don't actually..uhh...have it. I don't mean that this should be used an an excuse for being an asshole to other people, which I can be guilty of doing, but rather than it should be a true, legit, passionate conviction, no matter how pointless or important it is. Frankly, anything else isn't really an opinion. It always confuses me when I meet people that are overly namby-pamby about their opinions, feeling the need to offer up a thousand caveats "uhh, that's just what I think, though" or "that's just, like, my opinion...sorry" with their opinions. An opinion should be something you'll defend to the DEATH! It's sort of like when people get mad at other people's religions and say, "why do they have to say that the only way to heaven is such and such? That's rude!" and it's like, "uhh, because that's what makes it a RELIGION, dude."

About this board - whether you like it or not, this board operates far more like what you're accusing me of than what you seem to think it is. It's not some social networking love-in where everyone's cool to each other and newcomers until some turdball comes through. I jumped in and started trying to talk about music, etc. when I got here, and was basically ignored...until someone disagreed with me and said that he wanted to punch me in the face. At that point, I said, "ok, that's how it goes down here, cool. The gloves come off!"

I'll be honest, I'm totally fine with either one. I've been a part of lovey-dovey protectorate boards, and I've been a part of Fight Club eight-way bukkake death match boards, and I'm down with either. But don't accuse me of acting one way, inappropriately so, when others freely do the same thing. 

I really like some personalities I've seen on this board, and I really like the people I've met in real life (Jim, that Blucas, Doctor Bob, Hannah, etc.). I intend to stick around in order to talk about music, film, comics, etc. because I have no outlet in my real life in which to do so. 

[elpollodiablo]

THE ABYSS GAZES ALSO, TSKS

[coldforge]

You and me… we're a lot alike. I bet you don't like to think about that, but I think you know it's true. We're two sides… of the same coin.

[Thermofusion]

For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known.

[Almanzo]

You and me… we're a lot alike. I bet you don't like to think about that, but I think you know it's true. We're two sides… of the same coin.

 

[G.C.R]

About opinions - it's different. It's more like...kind of impossible to articulate, but I kind of think that if someone has an opinion, it should be what they believe is objectively true. I mean, frankly, an opinion isn't worth having if you don't actually..uhh...have it. I don't mean that this should be used an an excuse for being an asshole to other people, which I can be guilty of doing, but rather than it should be a true, legit, passionate conviction, no matter how pointless or important it is. Frankly, anything else isn't really an opinion. It always confuses me when I meet people that are overly namby-pamby about their opinions, feeling the need to offer up a thousand caveats "uhh, that's just what I think, though" or "that's just, like, my opinion...sorry" with their opinions. An opinion should be something you'll defend to the DEATH!

An opionion should be some that you believe sure, but I'm going to totally retain the right to retract something I say here when Drunk, pre-coffee, that I post at 4am, or when I'm furious and having a cruddy time in the rest of my life. And i think anyone on the board should be able to do this. i really respect the times that TSKS has said, shit sorry for going off at you, I've had a crap day, because it seems a lot of people here, like what you seem to be saying Almanzo, take what someone says here as their opinion to the death, when sometimes, you know, we're just chatting with our friends. Or arging with our nemeses. (nemesises?) Does that make sense? I'm overreacting maybe, but I've struggled with relationships where its been the imposed (not by me) rule that you have to stand by everything that you say, no matter the circumstances. And its a rotten way to have to interact.

[Greg Nog]

davd sedairs

[Thermofusion]

THAT IS HOW THE INTERNET WORKS

[Babar]

Or arging with our nemeses. (nemesises?)

nemesae

[coldforge]

Not true. Don't pollute the waters.

[Babar]

it's a joke, codforce, my favorite joke from the dvd audio commentaries of futurama.

[Andrew_TSKS]

I sorta want to respond to some stuff Almanzo said, but I think I'm just gonna let it drop. He and I have both voiced our opinions on the subject, we obviously disagree... no point in fighting any more about it.

Almanzo, in case it wasn't clear--as much as you get on my nerves sometimes, I think you're a decent guy underneath it all. I just wish you'd show that side more, and the obnoxious side less.

[elpollodiablo]

CMON PEOPLENOW

SMILE ON YER BORHTER

EVERYBODY GET TOGETHER

TRYTA LOVE ONEANOTHER RIGHT NOW

[Almanzo]

I sorta want to respond to some stuff Almanzo said, but I think I'm just gonna let it drop. He and I have both voiced our opinions on the subject, we obviously disagree... no point in fighting any more about it.

Almanzo, in case it wasn't clear--as much as you get on my nerves sometimes, I think you're a decent guy underneath it all. I just wish you'd show that side more, and the obnoxious side less.

Ok, will make a decent good-faith effort. Seriously. 

[rockmeamadeus]

God, you fuckers made the comic thread all emo.

Jesus.

[Nick Ink]

About opinions - it's different. It's more like...kind of impossible to articulate, but I kind of think that if someone has an opinion, it should be what they believe is objectively true. I mean, frankly, an opinion isn't worth having if you don't actually..uhh...have it. I don't mean that this should be used an an excuse for being an asshole to other people, which I can be guilty of doing, but rather than it should be a true, legit, passionate conviction, no matter how pointless or important it is. Frankly, anything else isn't really an opinion. It always confuses me when I meet people that are overly namby-pamby about their opinions, feeling the need to offer up a thousand caveats "uhh, that's just what I think, though" or "that's just, like, my opinion...sorry" with their opinions. An opinion should be something you'll defend to the DEATH!

This is how I felt when I was younger but is absolutely the opposite of what I believe now. I think people's inability to see that their opinions are almost all socially-conferred and/or applicable to and a product of their own specific, subjective reality is really the root of all misunderstanding, prejudice, hostility and conflict. An attitude of righteousness (defending such opinions to the death) might make you feel personally more whole, more vindicated, more consistent with yourself, but will inevitably lead you in ever-decreasing circles of parochialism, narrow-mindedness and intolerance. The fierce, all-or-nothing pride in your opinions that you espouse is similar to the way in which people are increasingly likely to justify rudeness and anti-social behaviour with plaintive cries of 'but that's just who I AM!' But the blinkered, solipsistic entitlement that runs through that 'Nobody will stop me being me' boast is a sad and unhealthy symptom of modern life. Through experience, observation, empathy, humility and self-awareness you should, on the other hand, arrive at the sensible conclusion that your opinions are no more than droplets of piss blown willy-nilly upon the trousers of life by the windy vagaries of circumstance.

[Andrew_TSKS]

I actually agree with at least 80% of that.

[Nick Ink]

I actually agree with at least 80% of that.

And 19% of the remaining 20 probably stems from subconscious cultural conditioning in The American Dream, therapy culture and the importance of individuality and self-improvement.  ;-) (joking)

[jebreject]

Let's talk about our FEELINGS

[edison]

About opinions - it's different. It's more like...kind of impossible to articulate, but I kind of think that if someone has an opinion, it should be what they believe is objectively true. I mean, frankly, an opinion isn't worth having if you don't actually..uhh...have it. I don't mean that this should be used an an excuse for being an asshole to other people, which I can be guilty of doing, but rather than it should be a true, legit, passionate conviction, no matter how pointless or important it is. Frankly, anything else isn't really an opinion. It always confuses me when I meet people that are overly namby-pamby about their opinions, feeling the need to offer up a thousand caveats "uhh, that's just what I think, though" or "that's just, like, my opinion...sorry" with their opinions. An opinion should be something you'll defend to the DEATH!

This is how I felt when I was younger but is absolutely the opposite of what I believe now. I think people's inability to see that their opinions are almost all socially-conferred and/or applicable to and a product of their own specific, subjective reality is really the root of all misunderstanding, prejudice, hostility and conflict. An attitude of righteousness (defending such opinions to the death) might make you feel personally more whole, more vindicated, more consistent with yourself, but will inevitably lead you in ever-decreasing circles of parochialism, narrow-mindedness and intolerance. The fierce, all-or-nothing pride in your opinions that you espouse is similar to the way in which people are increasingly likely to justify rudeness and anti-social behaviour with plaintive cries of 'but that's just who I AM!' But the blinkered, solipsistic entitlement that runs through that 'Nobody will stop me being me' boast is a sad and unhealthy symptom of modern life. Through experience, observation, empathy, humility and self-awareness you should, on the other hand, arrive at the sensible conclusion that your opinions are no more than droplets of piss blown willy-nilly upon the trousers of life by the windy vagaries of circumstance.

That is true, but I believe Almanzo meant more that he couldn't see the point of being exceedingly careful in one's presentation of their opinions, because everybody knows that no opinion can be objectively declared better than another anyway so why bother insisting on that caveat - there's a big difference between saying "My opinion is objectively the only valid one and it is what it is and don't bother saying any different", and "My opinion is what I truly believe and I will defend it to the DEATH".

I don't know, at least that's how I see things, and the reason why I'm not really shocked when Almanzo goes around declaring that this or this sucks, and why I think instead of responding "you asshole troll, how dare you", we should rather actually follow up with discussions on the subject at hand, which has been done in the past and has resulted in pretty interesting threads/arguments, I think.

Don't know if this makes any sense to anyone?

[Anne the Man]

It's not some social networking love-in where everyone's cool to each other and newcomers until some turdball comes through. I jumped in and started trying to talk about music, etc. when I got here, and was basically ignored...

Yeah I haven't actually heard of that kind of social networking love-in ANYWHERE in life, so I doubt anyone would seriously imply it existed here, of all places. And yes, you get ignored when you first try to join a group. That's how it is with many groups. The only reason it's obvious here is because it's far easier to ignore people over the net. If you went into a dinner party at someone's house at random and started talking about music etc with them (assuming they didn't kick you out) it's safe to say that for awhile at first would ignore you if you could. Would you start throwing plates around and start going "Fuck you for ignoring me!" to try ameliorate the situation? No. Why would it be different here?

Look, I've been in the Newcomer position (obviously). I felt incredibly insignificant and ignored (also stoopid) when I joined here, but I kinda just quietly worked away craftily breaking their resistance down post by post, and now people answer my posts and shit! If I'd got angry--as indeed I often felt--it would've fucked up badly. I just don't get why the fuck you would think trolling is an appropriate answer.
Even if it does lead to interesting conversations.

(I don't know how much sense this makes. I haven't been here much lately to see any Almanzo hate-a-thons.)

I'm not getting the "Defend every opinion you have to the death!!" thing. Personally, I find it exhausting to be around people who follow their likes/beliefs to that extent 24/7, and I don't see why anyone would want to start arguments over pointless things by doing that. Bo-ring.