Jacqueline Patricks's Blog - Posts Tagged "trolling"
Writing, the internet, and insanity...
I think most people know that writers can be a little batty sometimes. It's cliche, but it's more often true than not. Why? Maybe because writing is so accessible as an art form that anyone can do it, so it attracts everyone. Who out there hasn't written at least one poem or paragraph about their angst?
The problem is when writing is made available for public consumption but the writer, for whatever reason, hasn't prepared for the public reaction. Deep down inside we all want to be loved and we want everything we do to be loved. You know it's true. I know that's what I want. But I also know that's unrealistic because there's things in the world that I don't love. Some things I downright hate.
So how can I expect everyone to love everything I do? I can't. No one should.
And then you have the internet -- the perfect boiling pot of anonymity, insecurity, and borderline insanity. Where people go to say things they'd never dream of saying to someone's face. Where they seek out assurance from strangers as if people who don't know them have more important opinions than the ones who do.
And if it's an opinion about their work then it's not personal, should never be made personal by anyone, and should be disregarded because the internet can be a strange and dangerous place.
It's similar to when a person yells obscenities while driving. This same person would likely never say these things to that other person if they were face to face, but if that other person cuts them off in traffic?--then fair game.
My point? Be careful out there because people can be strange but they're also wonderful. You never know who you're going to meet either on the internet or in real life.
But I can promise you that I'll never stalk anyone to their home or flip out on the internet.
I go crazy in the privacy of my home like all well-behaved writers should. :o)
The problem is when writing is made available for public consumption but the writer, for whatever reason, hasn't prepared for the public reaction. Deep down inside we all want to be loved and we want everything we do to be loved. You know it's true. I know that's what I want. But I also know that's unrealistic because there's things in the world that I don't love. Some things I downright hate.
So how can I expect everyone to love everything I do? I can't. No one should.
And then you have the internet -- the perfect boiling pot of anonymity, insecurity, and borderline insanity. Where people go to say things they'd never dream of saying to someone's face. Where they seek out assurance from strangers as if people who don't know them have more important opinions than the ones who do.
And if it's an opinion about their work then it's not personal, should never be made personal by anyone, and should be disregarded because the internet can be a strange and dangerous place.
It's similar to when a person yells obscenities while driving. This same person would likely never say these things to that other person if they were face to face, but if that other person cuts them off in traffic?--then fair game.
My point? Be careful out there because people can be strange but they're also wonderful. You never know who you're going to meet either on the internet or in real life.
But I can promise you that I'll never stalk anyone to their home or flip out on the internet.
I go crazy in the privacy of my home like all well-behaved writers should. :o)
