Do you think the media is dumbing us down or are we just turning into trolls?

[Aliyah]

Is it just me or are people becoming ruder on the internet? I have the flu (even though its summer in the S Hemisphere), anyway I was reading tweets about the Oscar Pistorius fiasco and there's tons of hate tweets. I keep asking in my head "what about innocent til proven guilty?" Years ago, Chris Brown hit Rihanna, and people said she deserved it. Seriously, when women gets killed at the hands of a man, its bad. But when she gets beaten up, its ok?

Not only that but why does Barrack Obama get so much hate? He's doing much more than any
of the politicians in my OWN country. Are we just biting the hands that feed us? Its this sort of logic that irks me. Same as people stating that Prometheus sucks and Dark Knight Rises is the best superhero movie ever. Why can't people see that Nolan effed up the Batman franchise due to his arrogance. Are our brains turning into meat?

The bitterness is due to flu and general grouchy feelings whenever I read media headlines and read tweets about these articles.

[Aliyah]

Go straight ahead and change the title if you want. Title is kinda lame.

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

If I'm in conversation with someone and they start checking their phone, I'll stop talking until they're done. Or even walk away. I'm not going to condone that kind of rudeness.

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

Aliyah wrote: "why does Barrack Obama get so much hate?"

I'm not entirely convinced he gets more hate than Bill and Hillary Clinton did. The Clintons got a lot of hate. Irrational hate. Remember when people thought they were running drugs out of Arkansas, and had killed Vince Foster? There was a right wing machine creating lies about the Clintons much the same way we have a right wing machine today creating lies and conspiracies about Obama.

There was a lot of hate directed toward George W. Bush too, but most of it was policy-sourced, e.g., people enraged he'd started an unnecessary war and the like. I suppose you could argue some of the hate directed against Obama is policy-sourced too, some people don't like expanding social programs or whatever.

[Susan]

^Dubs! ::snort::

I recently went out to lunch with a friend of mine that I had not seen in forever. Little (which said friend loves) was along for the ride. Little can demand a bit of my attention at times but once he is settled in he is really quite good. My friend began looking at her phone while I got little all set up with crayons, cars and snacks. No big deal. Then I was done and she continued to look at her phone. She stayed on it until our food came and then periodically checked it throughout the meal. I couldn't help but wonder if I had become boring to her now that I was not in the same place in life as she was. It was sort of a sucky experience.

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

You should have reached in your purse and dialed her phone or texted her and continued the conversation that way.

[Susan]

That would have been brilliant. Also, the only way she would have gotten the point without it turning prickly. She is a hard one to confront as she gets very defensive even when she knows she is in the wrong.

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

It's always rude to behave that way, but particularly when you haven't seen someone in a very long time. So rude. I think Charly is right that our social skills are being endangered by social media and technology. Maybe she actually felt uncomfortable sitting there with you and the phone was like a security blanket. I definitely think phones are security blankets or baby bottles for everyone on public transportation or walking down the sidewalk with them. Looking at your phone means you don't have to make eye contact with the creepy person across the train.

[Susan]

I agree that phones are used as security blankets. Did it make her feel more important to be on her phone? Did she have pressing business to attend? Are we not good enough friends that she can't act a little more excited about being in my presence? Last I knew, she liked hanging out with me. It really bummed me out and made me feel like inadequate entertainment. Not to mention the food was mediocre and she picked the stupid place.

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

It always makes people feel more important to be on their phone.

[Susan]

If it happens again, I will be sure to take out little's play phone and begin texting.

[Susan]

I agree, Misha.

Thanks Dubs. Your time with your friend sounds like a fun time.

I don't have a problem with anyone using the technology they have as long as it doesn't become an object of exclusion during interaction. I am easy going. If there was something my friend needed to check on, a simple "hey I need to check on this" would have sufficed. Hopefully next time we can sit, laugh and enjoy our time together.

[Cynthia]

My book group (in real life) has been a huge part of my life for 19 years now. In the early days, some of us were bent out of shape by members who would bring their knitting/needlework project to the meeting and knit away while we conversed.

Today, several in the group are quick to whip out their smart phone when we are choosing a book or a meeting date. Mostly this is helpful, as some of the members wish to purchase e-books or only want to read something that is available in paperback, or available at the public library. Still, tech gadgets do change the mood of the meetings.

[Félix]

Media are. Medium is.

[Aliyah]

BunWat wrote: "I'm just saying I don't think people are any more rude or ignorant or cruel than they always were, its just that due to the internet now you can "hear" them being that way. In fact I kind of hope..."

The flu is the flu. I'll get better. Your theory makes sense. I just wish that online users wouldn't be so irrationally rude. I don't know how everyone here deals with online trolls, but on other threads, I'm quite abrasive and interrogate them. Usually they will respond with "sorry" or they just f-off. I only do this when they are unreasonably rude towards reviewers who have valid points about why they disliked a particular book. My username should probably include "I eat trolls for breakfast"

[Aliyah]

Charly wrote: "I think in part we are turning ourselves into trolls, or anti-social beings with all the social media crap ht goes on. If I am having a conversation with you it might be nice for you to look at me..."

That's true, and its bad manners too. I often see this everywhere I go. I only SMS and IM when its really important. And answer my cell in emergency situations. Whether in conversations or not. I guess this makes me a Luddite?

Honestly, its rude for students to be smsing during lectures. There are exceptions, like the lecturer being boring or the content being only introductory, then its fine to tune out etc. But not when the lecture contains important content.Its just as rude as coming late to lectures.

[Aliyah]

Lobstergirl wrote: "Aliyah wrote: "why does Barrack Obama get so much hate?"

"I'm not entirely convinced he gets more hate than Bill and Hillary Clinton did. The Clintons got a lot of hate. Irrational hate. Remember when people thought they were running drugs out of Arkansas, and had killed Vince Foster? There was a right wing machine creating lies about the Clintons much the same way we have a right wing machine today creating lies and conspiracies about Obama."

It might be the case that people make assumptions and compare Obama to Bush. This happened when he won the elections last year and the whole issue happening in Israel. There was a lot of hate tweets circulating on the CNN twitter feed. There was also a load of tripe statements too, like "I support Israel or Palestine". And that's like saying that you support Apartheid or Hitler.

The point about the middle east is that the war has been going on for over 100 years (or so) regardless of America's involvement. And you can't blame the west for that. It's the fact that the Arabs and Jews just can't get along for religious reasons.

I think in these instances people look for a scapegoat or someone to blame for the things we face in society in general. I guess Obama becomes the fall guy...him and other politicians/people in high ranking positions.

[Aliyah]

I know, strange it is...

[Aliyah]

But I'm not like the other Muslims who are somewhat Anti-American, yet wear Nike and Pumas. I'm just baffled at the bad media and inaccurate conspiracies and how people can blindly believe them...Much like the existence of UFO's. Surely that was a bunch of lies, yet people lapped it up.

[Sarah]

I'd like to take a bit of issue with "It's the fact that the Arabs and Jews just can't get along for religious reasons." Plenty can. Plenty do.

[Cynthia]

Ironic.

[Aliyah]

Sarah Pi wrote: "I'd like to take a bit of issue with "It's the fact that the Arabs and Jews just can't get along for religious reasons." Plenty can. Plenty do."

I meant within the Israeli-Palestinian context. Currently

[Pat]

Aliyah wrote: "But I'm not like the other Muslims who are somewhat Anti-American, yet wear Nike and Pumas. I'm just baffled at the bad media and inaccurate conspiracies and how people can blindly believe them...M..."

Puma is a German company, not American

[Aliyah]

As for message #24, I don't believe any of that stuff. I was just highlighting the main misconceptions that are around wherever I go. Though I was inaccurate with the date of Israel and Obama's name. That was dumb I admit.

[Aliyah]

BunWat wrote: "Maybe its Aaliyah, like the recording artist, and just a different spelling. But then that's still a Hebrew name."

My name has an Arab and Hebrew meaning. But my username is spelt correctly. And it's Arab. But most "Aliyahs" are spelt "Aaliyah" or "Aalia"

[Aliyah]

BunWat wrote: "Maybe its Aaliyah, like the recording artist, and just a different spelling. But then that's still a Hebrew name."

My name has an Arab and Hebrew meaning. But my username is spelt correctly. But most "Aliyahs" are spelt "Aaliyah" or "Aalia"

[Aliyah]

I guess in your case, Bunwat talking about buns (as in the food) or tying your hair in a bun. It would be weird in a online or offline conversation (assuming that Bunwat is your nickname IRL). I think I was completely oblivious to that.

[Susan]

I love it when you are called Bunny. It is cuuutchhhh.

I sometimes call you Dubs Bunny in my head. :)

[Félix]

Spend a lot of time in your head, do you?

[Cynthia]

Lots of us do, Larry. It keep us company.

[Susan]

Hey, FeLarryix! I've missed you!

What Cynthia said.

Mr. Smartypants.

[Jim]

Cynthia wrote: "Lots of us do, Larry. It keep us company."

Comforting isn't it.

[Félix]

I'm here almost every day. Just haven't been sayin' much.

[Susan]

Oh.

[Jim]

Félix wrote: "I'm here almost every day. Just haven't been sayin' much."

Nothing wrong with that. We know you will when you feel the time is right.

[Félix]

And when I do, you can count on it being staggeringly unremarkable.

[Cynthia]

Brevity is the secret of wit.

Isn't that what the saying is?

?Wait....I'll check.

[Cynthia]

My liege, and madam, to expostulate
What majesty should be, what duty is,
What day is day, night night, and time is time,
Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time;
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief. Your noble son is mad. . . .

Polonius, "Hamlet."

[Youndyc]

Lobstergirl wrote: "You should have reached in your purse and dialed her phone or texted her and continued the conversation that way."

I have texted to someone at the table when at a group gathering. I can assure you that we were not texting complimentary messages about someone else at the table. We were planning our escape!

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

Sometimes conspiracies are necessary.

[Aliyah]

Not when its about trivial drivel like UFO's or the Illuminati.

[Youndyc]

I was just trying to get away from a particular party attendee!

[Cynthia]

Back in my day, Missy, we passed notes under the table or played footsie. Kids today. Get offa my lawn!

[Aliyah]

Yep, my early childhood was in the 90's, and I remember that the days when people used telephones to call friends/families. Also passing notes in class.

However, Cynthia, you can't entirely blame technology for that. Its the whole nature versus nurture concept. And other things. I'm 20-,something, but I have never been a troll, or wasted over 6 hours per day on socially networking sites. Have only defended people being trolled.

People's personality's/agendas become more obvious online, especially when it comes to Facebook/twitter profiles and posts. I can even get a dossier on someone by scanning all their old posts vs recent posts. Its what Bunwat said about being able to "hear" people more online.

[Scout]

Aliyah wrote: "Yep, my early childhood was in the 90's, and I remember that the days when people used telephones to call friends/families. Also passing notes in class.

However, Cynthia, you can't entirely blame..."

I don't trust you, Aliyah. I remember your first posts to this group, and your sentence structure and syntax were very different from what you're using now.

[Aliyah]

I thought I pointed it out in the intro thread. I clarified on that.