If I didn't spend time on the internet...

[bladespark]

...I would quit getting into arguments with people.

...I would quit getting hurt by the assumptions of those I hardly know and who hardly know me, but judge me based on a few lines of text.

...I wouldn't be betrayed by those I thought of as friends, who then prove to be otherwise.

...I would get a lot more work done!

But if I didn't spend time on the internet...

...I wouldn't have discussions with people at all.

...I wouldn't have the chance to share my opinions.

...I wouldn't have met most of the friends I do have.

...I wouldn't have a business, so there would be no work to get done.

Damned if I do, damned if I don't, I guess.

Comments

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

That about sums up how I feel about this web thingy too.

[springmoone.livejournal.com]

The internet. It's just one big anarchistic pot of craziness. Try not to treat antagonists too seriously... Unless they start calling you, you can just take the dignified way out and stop responding.

[silveradept]

The bad does come with the good. We hope that you'll be able to get more good than bad. Because this Web thing is still really cool, even with all the jerks on it.

[aoanla.livejournal.com]

Summary:

"If I didn't have social interactions with other people, people wouldn't argue with me, or be nasty to me."

?

It seems like this is part of the general Problem of People, rather than The Internets.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Ah, but I don't have ANY of these problems when dealing with people in person. In person people are more likely to read your intent correctly, because they can see your body language. In person people are also less likely to attack and belittle you than they are online, because so doing can have immediate consequences more severe than getting banned from somebody's lj.

[thetommydodd.livejournal.com]

Just the point I was about to make, verbosely and at great length, until I noticed your elegant conciseness.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

And have you read my response to this point? It has been proven, at length, that people behave differently on line than they do in person.