Cyber Friends Enemies

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 7:08 am

I have been playing around with computers and the net since the whole cyber world thing started, back to the time of Spry Mosaic and with Compuserve being about the only ISP. What is hard for me to understand, is what appears to be a desparate need by so many, to develop relationships over the net. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy cyber contacts and the interplay with others, but serious relationships, taking advice, having one's feelings hurt, all the emotional responses that one would have if talking to others face to face is hard for me to understand. The net is fun, educational, inspiring, challenging & informative, but it ain't the real world folks. People are for the most part anonymous, you only know about them what they want you to know, and even that is questionable. I love the net, but it lacks eye and physical contact which in the past was the way many of us measured others sicncerity and character. I see many posts on this and other forums/newgroups etc. where someones written words are totally mis-interpreted, and yet, would not be if the same words were said face to face.

john8pies · Post by **john8pies** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 7:41 am

Perhaps some people just want, need, or even crave the anonymity of the `Net in order to make relationships, and perhaps some are just too ill, elderly, handicapped or even just too lazy to make `face to face` contacts with real people. I think I try to do both

Agnes · Post by **Agnes** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 9:20 am

canaan wrote: I agree Lon. The internet is for entertainment. Once you get to the point where you are arguing and insulting someone elses font..you should step away from the keyboard and go for a walk.

now who referred you here? let the gas flow you've held it in too long. :wah:

capt_buzzard · Post by **capt_buzzard** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 11:44 am

I joined here last year. It was an entertaining, fun, debates ect. Then in April this year,all that changed. Another member and myself started getting insulting emails, even phone calls. I have posted time and time again as to whom I might have upset by some of my posting. I have been on many forums and I have never experienced what I have experienced in the last two months.

Post by **spot** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 12:03 pm

That's a poor show, Captain. Nobody deserves that sort of stress. I've talked with nobody here for whom I would not happily buy a pint any day of the week. Abusive phone calls and phantom emails, though, that's shoddy work.

Agnes · Post by **Agnes** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 12:29 pm

capt_buzzard wrote: I joined here last year. It was an entertaining, fun, debates ect. Then in April this year,all that changed. Another member and myself started getting insulting emails, even phone calls. I have posted time and time again as to whom I might have upset by some of my posting. I have been on many forums and I have never experienced what I have experienced in the last two months.

are you for sure? who the heck could that be as it started in April? i don't e-mail people nor do i make international phone calls? Gee give us a clue who you might think it is? there has to be some clues to the notes? :-6 sorry for you. no nip-pickers here lately.

cars · Post by **cars** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 5:09 pm

I have found that the net is a place where you can go to discuss problems one may have, and find that "others" have similar problems. So one can find out that they are not alone, with "unique" problerms only burdening the initial poster. Sometimes someone else's wisdom can benifit many, by offering sucessful possible solutions that may be able to be applied to the subject. I myself have sometimes offered words of wisdom to others, because of been there, done that!

Trying to help prevent them from making the same mistakes made by myself.

Of course, the reciepient of the advise must weigh it for applicability, & reality!

As far as people looking for/finding "True-Love" on line- FORGET IT! I agree, one needs to see the person's facial expressions, & body language to get the "real" meaning of spoken words!

Philadelphia Eagle · Post by **Philadelphia Eagle** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 5:23 pm

I use the internet for many things. Being handicapped it makes it easy for me to shop, bank, pay bills etc.

I also post on several forums which are specifically designed for particular interests - in my case it's finance. These specialist forums are quite different from FG - as they should be. They are generally populated by those who are in that particular business or employment and are quite 'technical' and serious.

FG on the other hand is designed to be a fairly light-hearted cosmopolitan place where views can be exchanged - often 'tongue-in-cheek'.

After spending several hours on a 'serious' forum I find a visit to FG to be a winding-down and relaxing experience.

I hope it continues in that vein.

mominiowa · Post by **mominiowa** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 8:53 pm

It amazes me to think - that someone can take a conversation and become entangled in it - so that is consumes their life? How sad is that to think that they do not have "freinds or foes" for that matter to verbalize with, so in turn they result to personal emails or phone calls. I feel for you Capt. and I hope who is doing this realizes that there is "life out of FG" AND that what we say here is only our opinions and what pleases us - and has made us sad or angry that day...

News stories, events in politics, terrible tragedies, and happy things...I have no use for people when they take things to far, and that is **to far**..

mominiowa · Post by **mominiowa** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 9:36 am

FR -this is a wierd thing - and doesn't happen here on a normal basis...Enjoy it here! Its a GREAT place! :-6

weeder · Post by **weeder** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 12:59 pm

As Ive shared a few times before.. Last winter not only was the first time I visited a Forum, but also the first time I dabbled on the net at all. Captain Buzzard was the first person to welcome me on. He seems to me to be a very kind man. I am very sorry he is having these horrible problems. He has shared so much with so many. He was a wonderful Ambassador for his beloved Ireland, and seemed to have a true admiration for us Yanks. Things did change here in the spring. Got too serious for me. I dont need to ward off insults here. It was for entertainment and fed my need for enjoying the intellect of people I knew I would never see. I dont post much anymore.. but I continue to read. Hoping for some topic I feel I could contribute something valuable to. I dont ever compete for anything and I steer clear of any situations that are the least political. I do not like to ever witness people with egos opressing the meek or the weak, I am ecstatic when I read kind words , advice , and encouragement pass between all of you. It would be wonderful if The Forum members could band together and rid the Captain of this problem.

weeder · Post by **weeder** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 1:02 pm

Ps.. I dont have a clue how the phone number could have become available.... But my psyic gift of recognizing or identifying sick psyches tells me I would have a guess at who the culprit is.

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 1:09 pm

in his other thread i offered to trace the phone caller. it is not possible to get the number from FG , so this is very strange.

Agnes · Post by **Agnes** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 2:00 pm

Am i a cyber friend, enemy or a pest? i can only hope for kindness otherwise i will have to beat you with a curtain rod? :wah:

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 2:27 pm

Agnes wrote: Am i a cyber friend, enemy or a pest? Depending on what mood you're in...all three!:wah:

Agnes · Post by **Agnes** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 2:40 pm

Okay, what kind of mood am i in today? :-6

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 3:26 pm

Agnes wrote: Okay, what kind of mood am i in today? A sunny :-6 minx kind of day

Agnes · Post by **Agnes** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 3:30 pm

Pleasant for the momment lets keep it that way my tension rod is right here for protection. :wah:

cars · Post by **cars** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 4:05 pm

abbey wrote: Depending on what mood you're in...all three!:wah:

:yh_rotfl :yh_rotfl

A Karenina · Post by **A Karenina** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 4:20 pm

Capt, I'm so sorry this has happened to you. Kinda scary.