The internet is a funny place. Further to my, outburst? passionate defence? tiredness and frustration?, I've been having a small but interesting back-and-forth with someone who blogged about the musician's comments on Twitter. I've noticed a bit of a spike in my views as a result of responding to the blogger (his response to me is here, I'm too tired to go post-diving for the original, but I'm assuming you're smart enough to do it yourself), so I've been thinking about what folk might be reading.
It's an interesting exchange because it shows, pretty clearly, how the internet is essentially a giant game of Chinese Whispers (or Telephone, for those who didn't grow up in the UK in the 80's and 90's). Musician said one thing via the medium of 140 characters (Which, I'd like to make clear, wasn't entirely accurate in the first place. Yes, it was suggested that he make his choices quickly, but he was also helped in the Kids' section by a colleague, was served at the till and left without making a single complaint at the time, then aired his grievances on Twitter. I stand by my "If you wouldn't say it to someone's face, don't say it online" rule), Blogger read it, then wrote about it, stating that he was refused service, thus furthering the inaccuracy. Now, when you Google certain terms, Blogger's post about it comes up. Other folk will read that, and assume that's what happened, because everything written on the internet is true.
I'd like to make it really clear, Blogger did not write what he wrote because he was up to mischief, or has an axe to grind. It's just what he thought happened. It was an honest misunderstanding, and it's been quite the education to discuss it, rather than do what most folk on the internet do, which is shout (figuratively) over everyone else.
The problem with shouting, is that no-one can clearly hear what anyone else is saying, feelings get hurt, and there's Epic Butthurt and it all becomes a bit like that XKCD cartoon where someone is WRONG on the internet. I was pretty raging when I wrote my last post on the Tweetening (crap name, but I refuse to use a -gate suffix), hence the swears, but I took 10-15 minutes away from the computer, wrote the post, left it alone a while, then came back to edit and try to make it coherent (you may disagree).
Apparently I come across as nice and intelligent, rather than boorish and unpleasant as a result, which is what I was aiming for. Maybe not nice, passionate and ready to stand up for what I believe in possibly, but nice is what I have and nice is what I'll happily take.
I'm unsure as to where I was going with this entry. I did have a sensibly planned out arc, but I've just realised it's ten past midnight, I'm really, really tired and I will start waffling if I'm not careful, so I'm going to stop here.
TL:DR? The moral of the story, chaps? Think before you type, and to quote Wil Wheaton, don't be a dick.
It's an interesting exchange because it shows, pretty clearly, how the internet is essentially a giant game of Chinese Whispers (or Telephone, for those who didn't grow up in the UK in the 80's and 90's). Musician said one thing via the medium of 140 characters (Which, I'd like to make clear, wasn't entirely accurate in the first place. Yes, it was suggested that he make his choices quickly, but he was also helped in the Kids' section by a colleague, was served at the till and left without making a single complaint at the time, then aired his grievances on Twitter. I stand by my "If you wouldn't say it to someone's face, don't say it online" rule), Blogger read it, then wrote about it, stating that he was refused service, thus furthering the inaccuracy. Now, when you Google certain terms, Blogger's post about it comes up. Other folk will read that, and assume that's what happened, because everything written on the internet is true.
I'd like to make it really clear, Blogger did not write what he wrote because he was up to mischief, or has an axe to grind. It's just what he thought happened. It was an honest misunderstanding, and it's been quite the education to discuss it, rather than do what most folk on the internet do, which is shout (figuratively) over everyone else.
The problem with shouting, is that no-one can clearly hear what anyone else is saying, feelings get hurt, and there's Epic Butthurt and it all becomes a bit like that XKCD cartoon where someone is WRONG on the internet. I was pretty raging when I wrote my last post on the Tweetening (crap name, but I refuse to use a -gate suffix), hence the swears, but I took 10-15 minutes away from the computer, wrote the post, left it alone a while, then came back to edit and try to make it coherent (you may disagree).
Apparently I come across as nice and intelligent, rather than boorish and unpleasant as a result, which is what I was aiming for. Maybe not nice, passionate and ready to stand up for what I believe in possibly, but nice is what I have and nice is what I'll happily take.
I'm unsure as to where I was going with this entry. I did have a sensibly planned out arc, but I've just realised it's ten past midnight, I'm really, really tired and I will start waffling if I'm not careful, so I'm going to stop here.
TL:DR? The moral of the story, chaps? Think before you type, and to quote Wil Wheaton, don't be a dick.
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