I don't recall ever hitting the Post button on a post intended to enrage - I have written a few but I prefer to delete those ones and think about a better response.

I do occasionally misrepresent what I think someone is trying to say in order to mock it more effectively. Generally that would be religious posters trying to use the god say's argument. In particular I've had some fun with Philo's "God does not like wasted sperm" approach to opposing homosexuality. By the way I consider Philo to be one of the more decent of the "fundy" posters.

Earlier today I posted a link to a christain pro-choice article which may well enrage some fundies who are convinced they have the absolute truth when it's comes to god's views on abortion. The intent is not to enrage, rather to demonstrate that the foundation they claim to have is not all that solid. Any abnormal spikes in blood pressure which might strike religious extremists as a result is purely a happy fringe benefit.

R0bert

Recently, I wryly called this classic post by Pynchme 'forum rage':

"Suzie, I wouldn't worry about police officer Cornyflower.

You've been very polite in even replying to those provocations. I get grumped at frequently too - but no bloke ever will you know. Cornyflower lives in pathological fear of feminists or anyone who even vaguely resembles one. Terribly uninformed about feminism, but nevermind.

I think Corny is a bloke btw; though some have wondered if he/she is
Antiseptic'c mum.

Which would explain a few issues I guess:)
Posted by Pynchme, Monday, 1 March 2010 1:12:08 AM"

It was even more funny for those who had seen Pynchme's remark a little earlier that she was advantaged by anonymity (as a public servant, she said) and was concerned about the 'sociopathy' of others:

"Grim I see exactly what you're saying and I think you're right about courage in anonymity.

I am quite sure the sociopathy we sometimes see is quite real - just interesting to think about how it's hidden for every day purposes"

Sociopath Alert! Goodness gracious! Taken alone or together these are very funny posts. A person who has taken on the persona of the tough, irascible radical feminist, with Marxist leanings it seems, who takes herself far too seriously and betrays herself as insecure and anxious about the 'risky' people around her. Would that everyone could be so important as to need protection.

It was flaming of course, but somehow being flamed by Pynchme loses its Ooomph.

However there are many drama queens and not all of them are women.

Then there are those who wear their faux hearts on their sleeves, the list goes on. Did I mention the vehemence of the self-appointed soldiers of political parties, protecting their 'team' (heh, heh, as if the party machines cared)?

Like it or not that is what public Internet forums are about and it is often more sideshow that anything else. Just like the pollies on the TV, God bless them.

This Forum provides us with anonymity,
and inter-action with a very diverse
group of individuals.

There's bound to
be people who harbour a lot of internal
aggression, and who get a perverse sense of
gratification by directing this aggression
at others. People who bully are very adept
at creating conflict with verbal insults,
disparaging comments, false criticism,
patronising sarcasm - while contributing
nothing of value.

We're fortunate that on OLO most of the posters
are not people whose aim is gratification from
the distress caused by provoking and tormenting
others.

However, as one website pointed out:

"Problems with aggression and violence continue to
plague people's inter-personal lives, their
inter-group interactions, and society in general."

Let's be honest, people's personalities do play a part because we all build up a particular reputation or profile where we are only known from our written words.

And while RObert may articulate the same point as Antiseptic, the delivery is more reasoned and even-handed, recognising that issues are not always black and white. This does not make some of Antiseptic's points invalid but it is more difficult to digest if it is offered as a general diatribe against women.

Happens in real life too, someone you know can get away with more than someone you don't. I try to take someone's comment at face value regardless of the deliverer but I'm not Little Miss Perfect and occasionaly post something without thinking it through or making the point more clear.

Anti might carry his own demons and dishes out the poop sometimes but he cops a bit too.

We seap what we row.

cont'd ...

I forgot to add that I will react when
the right buttons are pushed, but I'm getting
better at controlling that impulse.

I'm also getting to the stage where I simply
scroll past certain posts - and don't bother
to read them simply because I've learned that
with certain posters if you make the mistake of
entering into the debate, you pay a price -
and it's not worth the aggrevation.

pelican, "Anti might carry his own demons and dishes out the poop sometimes but he cops a bit too.

We seap what we row."

Some small group dynamics at work too.