Conducting some research on the sometimes childish attacks here--any thoughts?

[MISTERQCUE]

Is a DJ-L a Musician ?

 

[noisedude]

Depends whether he can spin or not.

 

[Lt. Bob]

Ya' know ...... Jeffree's announcement of this study by a class which he teaches sounds a lot like a form of spam!

 

[DJL]

Ok, I know you've all been waiting with baited breath for me, so here I am... lol. As someone who know's what it's like to be under a dog pile... and most likely the most unliked person on this bbs... I can tell you this, I will always standup for what I believe.

 

[Sky Blue Lou]

Ok, I know you've all been waiting with baited breath for me, so here I am... lol. As someone who know's what it's like to be under a dog pile... and most likely the most unliked person on this bbs... I can tell you this, I will always standup for what I believe.

OK then.

Who's next?


lou

 

[Big Kenny]

Sit down!!!!

 

[tallman]

Sometimes, it's good to choose your battles. Me, personally, I just got back on my meds. It's working out great, thanks.

 

[Big Kenny]

I don't need anyone to look out for me. If I ask advice and someone gives it, the discernment is up to me as to their motivation and credibilty.

 

[jeffree]

Actually, I usually enjoy your posts, DJL. I'll admit that I sometimes grow a bit tired of the repeated SP (sorry--797 Audio) digs, especially since I like my SP stuff, but I appreciate that your style is usually pretty soft and humorous, and that you never hesitate to come back for more when swatted. There's something admirable there.

J.

 

[crazydoc]

I can tell you this, I will always standup for what I believe.

That's great - I can only admire that.

The problem I have with your beliefs is that many of them have no discernable etiology in fact or reality - you impute motives to people when there is no rational basis for it - it's just your imagination going wild. You just make stuff up (usually impugning someone's honesty or ethics), and then won't accept any reasonable explanation for the phenomenon you're questioning, but just keep repeating the same baseless idea post after post.

That's the problem I have with you.

 

[Big Kenny]

But doc, that's not crazy at all!

 

[toorglick]

If he denies it, then he is crazy.

 

[gmiller1122]

* Above all, why do some people respond with such a lack of politeness that would be inappropriate in most face-to-face professional communication?

Because they can, without face-to-face repurcussions. People seem to jump at the opportunity to be anonymously mean. It is inappropriate, but it is also exhilirating. There's a certain adrenaline rush that goes along with being mean.

* Would these people respond actually respond in the same way if seated across a table from each other?

Maybe. I can imagine a few people being wiseasses in person, while others would probably be the exact opposite.

* Is there an obvious, persistent, personal agenda that seems to motivate the attackers--something more than getting at the truth and helping others?

I think it comes down to lack of self-confidence. Most of us can deal with that appropriately. Others, however, find it necessary to be curt and arrogant. Perhaps it makes them feel better about their own miserable situations or lack of success (or talent).

* How often are otherwise interesting threads being derailed by such attacks?

I have followed a few posts that turn out silly/off topic/mean, but I wouldn't say it's often.

* How often are apologies offered for obviously rash language? Such apologies for heated words would, of course, be common in many face-to-face business exchanges, but are they actually as rare as they seem here?

Yes. Why apologize if you don't need to fear face-to-face arguments? Here, you can be an arrogant prick and then exit the board without the other person yelling to you, "Hey, come back here you arrogant prick!"

* And how many readers might not express their displeasure at such lengthy, somewhat off-topic exchanges, but who might be discouraged from using this generally helpful forum because of these childish exchanges? (I admit that I'm in this group.)

The childishness has turned me off/away at times. However, it's the same with any 'real life' conversation. If it's going nowhere, I'll just walk away. People have the right to be jerks.

Good luck with your study. I understand the holes in it that others have pointed out (lack of control group, etc.), but the responses should give your students a few things to consider overall. As a fellow teacher, I understand the immense challenge to get students to become critical thinkers!

G

 

[alanhyatt]

That's great - I can only admire that.

The problem I have with your beliefs is that many of them have no discernable etiology in fact or reality - you impute motives to people when there is no rational basis for it - it's just your imagination going wild. You just make stuff up (usually impugning someone's honesty or ethics), and then won't accept any reasonable explanation for the phenomenon you're questioning, but just keep repeating the same baseless idea post after post.

That's the problem I have with you.

Can I print that, get it framed and sell it on E-Bay???

We can split the profits....

 

[crazydoc]

Can I print that, get it framed and sell it on E-Bay???

We can split the profits....

Hey Alan - you can have complete rights to it, and keep the profits yourself. You deserve it for what you've suffered here.

 

[A Reel Person]

Why??

* Above all, why do some people respond with such a lack of politeness that would be inappropriate in most face-to-face professional communication?

It's a well known thing that may happen, when posting on a bbs.

It's called "growing cyber-balls"!!!

 

[lpdeluxe]

"Virtual bravery"

 

[sm2k]

Your study is subjective and completely loaded.

a) You define attackers as those against spam, implying that people who are against people who are against spam are "defenders." (quote: "Is there an obvious, persistent, personal agenda that seems to motivate the attackers--something more than getting at the truth and helping others?")

b) You indirectly conclude that certain potential spam is not spam, and that certain past spammers were not spamming but informing. (quote: "blatantly rude responses to otherwise interesting posts (sometimes obviously more knowledgeable and specific than many others)")

Both a and b tilt the study towards one pre-determined group of people, which is in this case rather small compared to the other side of the coin. Try wording your statements generically without implication and more will be learned.

c) The goals of your study are not reachable through objective study based upon your outline and any conclusion other than "I don't know" will be based purely upon conjecture. The only answers that would be meaningful would have to come from data collected via individual interview and psycological analysis. This cannot be obtained simply by observing behavior in a limited setting such as this. You could answer questions like "are people rude?", but you could not answer questions like "why are people rude?"

d) Without a comparison group you cannot quantify the level of rudeness. You are forcing your students to compare the level of rudeness to what they believe is normal. That's not science, just biased observation.

e) You fail to define "rude" and various other qualifiers, unless everyone is supposed to know what your parents taught you as a child.

f) Posting about your study here forces me to conclude that there is an agenda behind the study other than learning. You pretty much wear your bias on your sleeve though, so it's not hard to guess that you're dealing with a personal emotional response to something that you obviously believe is wrong (e.g. people "attacking" potential spammers).


Every student working on your study will reach the same foregone conclusions with little variations here and there. You may as well just have them do worksheets.

How about a study on pots calling kettles black?

 

[chessrock]

I would like to do a study to find out if Palmolive really softens hands while you do dishes.

 

[Marik]

I would like to do a study to find out if Palmolive really softens hands while you do dishes.

Oh yeah!

Use Colgate and your teeth will be soft and silky.