I was reading JLA Year One again and this panel stood out. I think it's something we should all think about and learn from. If you don't know the characters, it's Aquaman, Flash, Black Canary and Green Lantern.
Most of you already know this, but sometimes it feels like people don't know where the line is. Yes, joking around is good for team spirit and for fun, but not when it alienates. There is a line, there is a difference. Here are a few tips based on how I choose to behave on the boards:
Apologise - if I genuinely did not mean offence and I think I may have wrongly mocked someone and it may have made them feel bad, I apologise. It's the right thing to do and actually the easiest thing do. Some people find it really hard to put their hands up and just say, sorry - I didn't mean anything by it. Instead they may get a hostile response to the initial jibe and will then retaliate with another mean spirited remark. This is the wrong thing to do, if it was your unintentional, initiated jibe that caused offence in the first place, you need to say sorry and not come back at someone upset, with another rude gesture.
Know your boundaries - you know, it would be so easy to twist the knife with some people, it's easy, too easy and it's not really fair to pick upon those aspects with them, especially when they could do the same to you. I've been on forums for what feels like forever, I could pick apart and twist your post, I could be douche and make you feel like shit, I could use your fandom against you. I could reply in the same bullshit tone that you just flung my way. But I choose not to (in the majority of cases). Like Aquaman is saying above, I left Gamespot and came here to be accepted, not to be reminded that I'm different. I came to get away from all the BS, I don't expect that BS to follow me here.
Make your feelings clear - if you are not happy with a post, let people know in the gentlest of terms. I know it's hard to do when you're angry, but try. Sometimes people are oblivious that something bugs you, let them know and you will probably find out that it was unintentional you can give each other RobertRedford.gif nods and get on with your day.
So the next time you think about posting something, think about it, just a little bit harder before you do it. And sometimes, after you do it, too.
You know, after thinking about it, if you really did believe this blog was about you, it means you must think you have done some of this stuff. Innocently or not.
If so, you should pay particular attention to the points I've addressed. There's no point wading through life like a insensitive tank, knocking people over without a thought.
I'm sure most people here don't set out to make other people feel bad.
Except for Iga.
Oopsie. I just figured you were upset because I think the WiiU controller is wank, glad that's not the case.I can be vitrolic sometimes, abrasive maybe so sometimes I'm like eeeh maybe I went a little overboard, but I gotta be me?
You gotta reign your beastial behavior in.