Quote:
Originally Posted by Flint
I was reading a dwellar laying into another dwellar with obscene profanities, and it didn't bother me. As an adult, I realize that sometimes you use that manner of speech (I myself curse like a sailor) in real life; then, if you are being honest on the internet, you'd use that same manner of speech, right?
But, actually, probably not. Because most places, I think, are probably moderated for "offensive" language, right? I mean, I came here because I had been on AG, which has no law and order whatsoever, and SteveBsjb told me there was another great unmoderated board over here.
But, is this the internet that most people get to experience, or are they living in an extension of the sanitized, politically correct world we all walk around in, with fake smiles and minty breath?
Is it possible that the internet could someday have the life regulated out of it? I had a flash-forward of us as old fogeys, telling the youth about how you used to be able to say anything you wanted on the internet. It rang true because I've heard this kind of thing before, about how "We just did it that way, and nobody thought anything about it, and nobody got hurt, but it ain't like that anymore."
Or have we turned a corner in our cultural evolution where the information in our heads has a conduit to flood outward upon the Earth and carve new pathways, eroding right through the stratified layers that were set down in the olden, unenlightened times? That doesn't ring true, because #1 we always think we are the modern, civilized, better people than we used to be and #2 we never are.
Man, I just can't get any work done today.
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I was going to reduce your quote to be more specific in my response, but I have changed my mind.
"Honest"? I bet we have different understandings of that term. Because I think 'Honest" is what you are. Even if that means saying one thing and meaning another, even if that means lying. '"Honestly", you're a liar.' (note double quotes, please, I'm not attacking you). We can't know everything beforehand. I think we're "honestly" composed of all our actions and words (and inactions...).
Perhaps you meant something like, if I swear like a sailor in real life, and I don't swear like a sailor on teh cellar, I'm being dishonest. If you meant something like that, I'd have to disagree again. I monitor my language all the time; I'm responsible for my language all the time. Even when (*sigh*
especially when) I say stuff I later regret. Still responsible. And I believe it is still honest (whatever that means) when I say something I later wish to retract. I make mistakes all the time.
And another thing, I am conscious of what I say (almost) all the time. That often means holding my tongue. Would you consider that dishonest? That I forgo saying something I'm thinking? My expressions on the cellar are a pretty good match--wait--better--my expressions here are consistent with how I communicate in real life. Is that the honesty you're thinking about?
I sometimes lose my temper. I sometimes speak in anger. I don't like it when either of those things happen. I like a clever remark. I like being grateful. I like it when I feel like I understand something, including the thoughts and ideas of other people.
I'm rambling, sorry.