![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
A Mini Rant-ette
I have been reading a lot or rants in LJ's recently, and so far have restrained myself from commenting. This has not been because of disagreement or agreement with one side or the other, but rather that some, but not all, people seem to leap in with guns blazing and open their mouths before thinking, and cause a lot of hurt and bitterness.
It takes me a while to think things through.
I have read incest fic, and I have read rape fic. I read it when I was new to the whole fanfic scene and was reading virtually everything I got my hands on, good and bad and very bad. And I have read some, but only some, stories where they have explored what I would consider the 'true' nature of such 'relationships', where the story has been about the problems and trauma that such incidents have brought about. I tend not to read it now, unless it is 'saying something' that is in keeping with such a view, but it seems that these stories are few and far between.
I am not commenting on the rights and wrongs of such fics, this has been more than adequately covered elsewhere and it seems that no reasoned arguement will convince anyone one way or another.
What I am furious about is the plain, nasty, personal vitriol that is poured out on anyone who dares to say what they think. Referring to people as mad, being a bitch, of spoiling someone's 'fun' and so on in any public or even semi-public arena, especially when said person has put forward reasoned and heartfelt thoughts is wrong and unecessary. And I am talking about both sides of the equation here, though I must say that the real hatred does seem to be more on the part of one side than the other, though that is just my personal observation.
I have seen people on BOTH sides of the row hurt very, very badly by such public attacks. Reasoned and thought out posts should do no harm, and merely stimulate discussion. If you MUST be offensive, then by all means rant one to one on IM or even in conference with one another. But as soon as it becomes public, then I am afraid you are on your own, and any of your 'carefully considered' opinions get overwhelmed and swamped by your outpourings of nastiness.
It takes me a while to think things through.
I have read incest fic, and I have read rape fic. I read it when I was new to the whole fanfic scene and was reading virtually everything I got my hands on, good and bad and very bad. And I have read some, but only some, stories where they have explored what I would consider the 'true' nature of such 'relationships', where the story has been about the problems and trauma that such incidents have brought about. I tend not to read it now, unless it is 'saying something' that is in keeping with such a view, but it seems that these stories are few and far between.
I am not commenting on the rights and wrongs of such fics, this has been more than adequately covered elsewhere and it seems that no reasoned arguement will convince anyone one way or another.
What I am furious about is the plain, nasty, personal vitriol that is poured out on anyone who dares to say what they think. Referring to people as mad, being a bitch, of spoiling someone's 'fun' and so on in any public or even semi-public arena, especially when said person has put forward reasoned and heartfelt thoughts is wrong and unecessary. And I am talking about both sides of the equation here, though I must say that the real hatred does seem to be more on the part of one side than the other, though that is just my personal observation.
I have seen people on BOTH sides of the row hurt very, very badly by such public attacks. Reasoned and thought out posts should do no harm, and merely stimulate discussion. If you MUST be offensive, then by all means rant one to one on IM or even in conference with one another. But as soon as it becomes public, then I am afraid you are on your own, and any of your 'carefully considered' opinions get overwhelmed and swamped by your outpourings of nastiness.
Heh.
However. I do think I'm quite an angry, belligerent, bitchy and meddling sort of person... and not particularly keen to change that either.
There are some things - actions, beliefs, opinions - that annoy me whether or not they've anything directly to do with me. I don't want to ignore them, to live and let live. I want to jump in and do battle. I want to hurt, annoy, offend and insult certain people in any way possible - for the opinions they hold and the way that they think. I don't wish to show them respect because I do not respect them; I think they're stupid, and I'm keen to tell them so in whatever way gets the message across best.
Very often, as you say, carefully considered and reasoned opinions work best. Other times, humour and parody are more effective. But I think there are also times and places for "plain, nasty, personal vitriol", and even when that doesn't yield the desired result, it can be very, very therapeutic! And the whole aim of my vitriolic and offensive rants, if and when I have them, is to reach, offend and damage as many of the target people as possible; to have maximum public impact.
I'm probably speaking here more of myself in RL than my behaviour online. Heh, somehow I've not managed to be involved in too many online arguments and flame wars... yet! That's possibly because this seems the area where my time and effort will have least direct impact, so it's probably more effective to expend my energy elsewhere, in RL work, campaigning or activism.
I know by now that I'm just not a person who can go through life in peace and equanimity and acceptance of everything and everyone; I could drive myself mad trying. So, until I'm world dictator and can have my own way always in everything, I might as well accept the fact that, win or lose, sometimes I'm going to have fights - and use any available weapons.
I do think, though, that if you're prepared to dish it out, you'd better be prepared to take it, too.
And apart from all this, I suspect I'd find a world where there wasn't some plain, nasty, personal vitriol flying around extremely dull, LOL!
Re: Heh.
But I think that when something is written, it takes on a totally different quality. Even vitriol can be well expressed and actually have far more impact! I guess I am tired of reading 'she (usually LJ user name or reference) is a f***ing bitch' or words to that effect; no real thought and no real way for anyone to comment apart from "yes I agree, *hugs*" or "no she isn't, *slaps*".
Someone's well expressed and extremely cutting remarks have far, far more impact, especially if they manage to restrain themselves from merely flinging around insults. THOSE I DO enjoy!
Re: Heh.
entertainingeffective! :-D