idlehands said
Negative attention is still attention. Ever wonder why people getting ragged on hard stick around to argue or get beat up on? Because at least for that moment, they're not being ignored.

mdk said
Case study.

Make a list of people from RPG who you think were total jerks (It's okay, I'm on the list, I understand, that's fine). Now as you all know, we just experienced a big crash/migration/extinction-type event, and everyone had to re-register -- so, what I want you to do is, go through that list, and see if you can identify anybody on the new site.



What's up with that? Well -- the answer's both simple and fitting. Rather counter-intuitively, the people you perceive as jerks (there's probably a better word) their identity on the internet. We didn't change our names -- we didn't even THINK about changing our names. Or if we did change, we picked something that was already familiar to us, something that already constituted a part of the identity we'd already built. It's the opposite of anonymity -- we all, pretty much unilaterally, held onto the recognizable structures we'd built to define ourselves in a community.

What is that? , sir. And it's fantastically meta. It's the entire internet. Every YouTuber starts his livestream with 'Hey this is *kratos2312 or whatever bullshit*.' Nobody's making us self-identify -- heck, nobody remembers anyway, shit, I have no who the last Borderlands streamer was that I watched, but he certainly gave himself an introduction, and offered a few links to other videos. Those same guides probably would be more helpful if, rather than mixing in your own personality, you just cut right to the chase and showed where to unlock the Dubble Hornet or whatever the hell...... so why?

I mean it's not a trick question. We want to be identified, even on the internet. The people who scream for attention -- tell you what, let's use me. When I make a fuss, it's not because . It's the opposite of that. You see me and, saaaaaay Brovo. You see me and Brovo start up a semintellectual debate and you have to wonder 'how can that possibly be fun,' and yet time and time again we just . Why? Because Even when it's futile. It's like when two kids find some long sticks and play Star Wars with each other -- it's 'you be Roe and I'll be Wade and for a few minutes we'll feel like we're the ones that matter.' And the longer you keep it up, the more convincing it is, to you as well as to everyone watching.

Now if this sounds vaguely sad and pathetic, I'm writing it wrong. That old adage that says 'Reading can take you anywhere!' is a bunch of bullshit. Reading can take you ringside, but only writing lets you throw a punch. And writing is . And the internet is fantastic, for those same reasons. You can be beacon of social justice, if you put the work in. You can be the cool interceding voice of Ace. You can be that guy who posts, and everyone rolls their eyes and says 'Oh, that Naruto is such a weirdo!' Or you can be, you know, a sexually active 13 year old, we had that guy here once, hey, whatever floats your boat man, I don't judge. It's a role. It's an identity. It's a character and it's a part of you. That's better than reading. Reading licks these nuts, this is writing.

And sure, you expect that, here, on a roleplaying/writing website. But look around. Isn't this the whole internet community? Isn't this Reddit? Isn't this twitter? Isn't this facespace and mybook and huggle+? They're all doing what we do -- albeit without the class and dignity we manage around here (ha, wait, I'm posting this in spam? Okay, pretend I'm posting in RP discussion and then dignity. Or don't, and.... fuck it whatever, shut up). It's not anonymity. It's got nothing to do with anonymity. The internet is about being someone as hard as you goddamn can. Sort of like being the biggest Giants fan around. Sort of like being the best sales rep on the floor. Sort of like being the smartest kid in class. Sort of like being an aspiring writer.

Sort of like life.

natsumehack said
where are the ponies?

Turtlicious said
I was going to come in here and call mdk a big dumb, lol troll some more.but he's right.I want people to recognize me.

idlehands said
Negative attention is still attention. Ever wonder why people getting ragged on hard stick around to argue or get beat up on? Because at least for that moment, they're not being ignored.

Griever said I highly doubt that's the reason why. The most likely reason is that it's difficult to walk away when someone is engaging you because most people feel like they have to defend themselves/get the last word in.

I don't know anyone sane who would prefer getting fucked up over being ignored.

Ace of Spades said
Why would I change my name if I'm registering on the exact same site?If I simply want people to know who I am then it's counter-productive to give myself a new name only to have to let them know it's me.Saying that has anything to do with cherishing the name is a bit of a reach. Ace of Spades is hardly something unique and original, it's simply the title I've had since joining Spam in the beginning of 2010.

idlehands said
Negative attention is still attention. Ever wonder why people getting ragged on hard stick around to argue or get beat up on? Because at least for that moment, they're not being ignored.

Blitzkrieg said
I call it the Nat hypothesis.