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On Tap: The comments on IndependentMail.com are addictive, aren't they
You just can't stay away from the drama
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For the most part, I am a simple individual.
I don’t really want for the crazy lifestyle of my youth in which I would cavort until all hours of the night/morning, get some breakfast at a 24-hour greasy spoon and start it all over again the next day.
OK, sometimes I want for that, but then I remember how many times I swore I would never do anything again and think twice.
Anyway, with this continued aging process I have tried and tried to rebel against, I have also learned there are more ways to entertain oneself than by constant partying, chilling with the boys and swearing never to do anything ever again.
I’ve become a big fan of a variety of musical acts. I have taken to watching movies, reading a few books and, yes, occasionally going out to (now) all hours of the early evenings and hanging out with friends.
But there is something that has recently seeped into my subconscious and just won’t let go: comments on stories on IndependentMail.com.
Each day I try to quell this voice inside my head that asks me to visit the “Most Commented” section of the newspaper’s Web site. Sadly, each day, it calls me back with its siren song, beckoning me to read the insanity that is spewed from the fingertips and through the circuits of our friend, the computer.
I mean, how can anyone resist the constant bickering and redundant mind meandering of the dozens of people who either love or hate Joey Preston and/or Cindy Wilson? How in the world would we ever know that one commentator would rather have semi-trained llamas on the Anderson County Council rather than Gracie Floyd or Larry Greer? And would we be able to sleep at night without the opinion that the newspaper stinks and should go away (even though they, then, wouldn’t have their forum to gripe about Preston/Wilson)?
I, for one, would not be able to sleep and cannot resist the bickering. It’s kinda like kettle corn. At first you think it’s rather over the top and has no real place in the world. But by the time you get to the middle of the bag, it is worth every overindulgent bite.
It’s truly an enigma. But it’s a growing enigma. Each day I see a new someone attempt to get in on the commenting conversation about lawsuits and budget impropriety. I read as their reason starts out strong, but they just get sucked into the abyss of name-calling and insults. Soon their well-thought reaction turns into a defensive muck of half-truths and hearsay that eventually causes them to get a new username and call themselves “TruthandJustice” or “TheEvil5.”
If you have not tried it, get involved.
Just not in the actual commenting itself. You might find it a little tough to escape.
Unless your name is “RightisRight.”
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You're kettle corn analogy is close. In the middle of the AIM bag you find a lot of unpopped kernels.
i;ll buy the 3rd round
Commenters are sort of like "talk show hosts," they only say something if they think it will get someone agitated enough to actually respond. You don't really think that these people actually believe what they say here do you? .....They do believe what they say here? Your kidding, aren't you.
I'm just stoked this is getting me free beer. We will have to get a DD with all the rounds going around. And thanks for reading...if you didn't just skip to the comments like I did.
Nat Light for me if yall are buying.
errpp...scuze me.
I can honestly say I have never heard of the Greasy Spoon, but I have been to a few hole in the walls.
As to being older than dirt, my body would agree, but my head says, "not quite yet."
excellent thoughts! you would think the ability to share ideas in this fashion would be an invaluable way for the public to band together and build a platform from which we could all grow and build a healthier community. instead, many times, it is used as a weapon to bludgeon opposing viewpoints and a vehicle for constant “oneupmanship” and “get back.”
"they just get s.u.c.k.ed into the abyss of name-calling and insults."
i have to admit, i find myself drawn into the fray!
what i don’t think participants to this blog expected to encounter, is the competitive nature of some bloggers (and some journalists on the AIM staff). whether it is to have the last word on a subject, or to unload blog bile by name calling, or for some nebulous reason cut off the ability to post on these pages, or to create lookalike login names for the purpose of misleading readers into summarily dismissing another blogger’s opinion, the ad hominem attack remains the tool of choice to discredit others. The old adage, “if the facts aren’t with you, attack the person” has become the battle cry of many of the posters to these pages. the attack can be overt, as in a direct verbal assault, or covert in behind the scene manipulations by media administrators that don’t like their journalism challenged.
what drives this scramble to denigrate? is it their own inability to maintain the consistency and continuity of thought that gives credence to their own words or position? is it that time and the revelation of facts shows them they have been on the wrong side of an issue or have been debunked ? do some people just like to attack anything they have not been asked to be a part of? possibly others just want an opportunity to be contrarianists and to stay in the mix of it in order to get the attention they are lacking at home. who knows?
personally, i think it is jealousy? when every post from some bloggers is an attack on the person and never a suggestion or contribution, you begin to wonder what happened in their childhood or professional life that created such bitterness or their desire for negative attention.
of course there is the obverse to this dark side. in some of these posts, i sense a real desire by some, to share a possibly unique piece of information that may add flesh to the skeleton of public perspective. others are here, from the shadows of anonymity, to say something they feel no one else is saying; but, would if they could. still others, really want to contribute and have no other way to reach the audience this forum offers. all of which is fair play and is served properly by an anonymous forum.
why are people, as described by the author of this piece, drawn to this melange of thoughts and feelings, like moths to a flame? because it is real, raw, unplanned, and unpredictable! you never know what you are going to learn, from the next post, about Anderson County.
the way I see it, if you don’t want to tangle with a shark, don't go where sharks hang out! if you DO want to play with the sharks, truth is an excellent shark repellant!
In search of Truth didnt comment......you wrote another article. Starting to sound like Pierce Adams!
in response to Scotch
well of course not Scratch, if it goes beyond two sentences, you lose your way. we understand! i can summarize all of you 278 posts to just one of your most memorable.
"NAH NAH NAH NAH BOO BOO"
we don't expect you to respect or make any sense of what someone else says. especially since we haven't witnessed it in your "real" life.
InSearch is right, some of you don't ever have anything good to say! Always downing people.
B-O-O-O-O-RING!
I only visited Straight Talk a couple of times, but I would also like to see it back on here. Santo, is that really the reason it was taken off?
No, it was taken down because theflash aka wyatt was the one doing the name calling. He was mad cause no one would give him a cookie, LOL!
in response to Scotch
After reading some of your previous posts it looks like your very existence is an insult.
I bet someone with PhD and a lot of time on his hands could do a psychological study, telling us what about these forums lead people to continue commenting, arguing, disagreeing, and name-calling, etc. Of course, we could also just chalk it up to the fact that the sense of anononymity provided by the comments sections allows people to "scream" all the things they'd like to but won't in public (for fear of being thrown off the bus, arrested, or getting beat down by a way bigger fella).
in response to DonnaAstuta
unless you were willing to pay the hourly on that analysis, or you found a credible psychologist who had a personal interest in the situation (which if he/she had a personal interest he/she should recuse themselves anyway), they would probably answer your question.
my first question to you would be...and it's important for you to know this because....?
this kind of forum scares the bejesus out of the status quo. this platform is unique in our society because it is the ultimate level playing field. it costs nothing to participate and provides exactly equal access to all. it's purity is derived from the absolute equality of every keyboard contributing to it. you can be a butcher, a baker, or a candlestick maker and have the exact equal opportunity to voice your input. neither your gender, race, class, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability is portrayed by your name. there are no stars or medals, sharp pencils, sharp tongues or shiny guns to separate us into classes, subsets or political parties. the fact that many of you don't seem to appreciate that, is what astounds me.
if all you have to contribute is naysaying other people, well heck thats your keyboard's contribution and you have the right to use it anyway you like. but don't expect anyone to hug your neck for it! but, pull on up to the table, because all are welcome!
i love to network. to hear others ideas and experiences. many times it saves me the time of figuring it out or making the mistakes learning it on my own. getting people to share ideas is an uphill battle. they are more interested in shooting the messenger or attacking the person rather than addressing the issues. i guess that is one of the things anonymity rectifies. people always seem to seek solace in trying to find out what they can hurt you with if the facts are against them in the instant issue and it isn't going too well for them. it's kind of the "mutually assured destruction" defense.
in response to oracle
Yikes...that was mean...I think Scratch is a trip...
I'll be the DD...when and where ? :)
sounds like a blast !
in response to In_Search_Of_Truth
Hmmm...if I didn't appreciate it, would I be here?
in response to Scotch
Isn't it fun to "scream" (or politely discuss in the case of non-agitators) all the things you'd like to in public without interruption?
How often do you get the freedom to do that--at home--at work? Online you can...even if you are not personally anonymous, many of the people on here are, which is why they choose random screen names. It allows them the opportunity to say things they might not otherwise say. For some people, it's all good fun. For others, it may be bigger than that--a place to vent or express opinions that otherwise get squashed.
As for the agitators, the name-callers, etc., it is true: if they didn't find the arguing itself amusing, they clearly wouldn't keep coming back. Some people enjoy the fight more than the cause, don't you think?
I love coming online and "arguing" with everyone. Y'all are so much fun! Scratch and InSearch of, Y'all are just NUTS! ~LOL~
God forbid
in response to Scotch
True! We'd probably be good friends.
LOL Consitor - you gonna bring hell with ya , too ?
lol- not at all, Consitor! just a fan of the movie you're quoting :)
in response to clemson_girl
nutty is, as nutty does! but yes, this e-zine blog is choc fulla nuts. would it have a readership of 12,000 if it just relied on AIM journalism? NOT!
I love coming here also because it helps me get thru the day. I'd be alot crazier if I wasn't able to come on here and "blow off steam".
Wyatt is the reason ST is gone. He got mad & cried to the "big dogs" that the TOS rules were broken. He could always dish it out but could never take it. Cry baby!
in response to santo
Santo, I wish it were that easy to blame Straight Talk closing on me.If I am not mistaken, there was a picture of wyatts family posted on there and he got upset about it.
You're right I called Wyatt a few names on there.And dont worry you didnt hurt my feelings, it takes alot more than that.
I am going to have to write about comments on this board every week. You guys sure made this a fun week for the On Tap writer. Now, don't forget to read Be each and every Thursday online or in stores. (Shameless plugs are something I was born to do.)
Obviously "santo" must be one of Wyatt's pals. Otherwise, they would know that KassidyRose had absolutely nothing, zero, zilch to do with Straight Talk shutting down. For those that visited ST often, know that KR and Wyatt had their bouts and dislike of each other. But ST shut down because Wyatt wanted it that way. When he was dealt a hand that resembled ones that he often dealt or threatened to deal, he proceeded to dismantle the whole forum. At least that is my assumption, because some new user posted a pic of his family (which I disagree with also) and the site was shut down the next day (if not the same day). I personally hope that ST will come back online soon. Maybe everyone will behave a little better once it does. The arguments and battles are what makes it fun, but when it gets to the point where people are having their pictures posted without their consent, especially including their children, then things have gone too far.
Jake:
Has BE done any articles for any of the Mexican restaurants in Anderson? I can't remember. I love Mexican food, hence my trying to do Spanish on here and getting "in trouble" ~pouty face~
~haha~
CLEMSON_GIRL
Have you tried El Arriero on hiway 24 in Anderson? The food is amazing and the the owner Louis and his wife are always on site making sure everyone is happy. The waiters and waitresses are super nice too..if you havent tried it...i highly recommend it :)
tryxie:
Yeah I've been several times. Their shredded chicken nachos are awesome. they have the BEST margaritas! I also like Fiesta out on 81! Rancho Nuevo over by the hospital is pretty good as well.
Clemson_girl
i agree 100% , the shredded chicken nachos are awesome !!! Haven't tried Rancho Nuevo yet - i'll have to give it a shot :)
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