Signing Off

The other night I attended a couple of SL parties where I ran into several people whose ideas I have gotten to know through the forums. Some I agree with, some I disagree with, some I can live with, some I find totally unacceptable, but you know what, all of them were actually pretty nice and tons of fun!

I find the forums are a big threat to SL in-world relationships. I don't know how they were prior to my arrival in August, but I find the forums to be a hornet's nest.

Politics, religion, sexism, personal attacks against people, etc. A lot of the threads are pretty vicious and I am sure have affected relationships and friendships. There are a few people whose purpose in the SL forums seem to be throwing gasoline into the fire and I am sure enjoy the heated arguments (as opposed to rational debates) they originate. I have not been affected, but I am not willing to stick around to find out.

Even though I am voting for Bush this election due to not having a better choice, I am a peace and love kind of guy. My philosophies of life are "live and let live", "if you don't stick your nose into someone elses business, they will not stick their nose into yours" and of course the "golden rule". Meaning, I don't get off on arguing or hate.

The forums are not conductive to the peace and tranquility I seek in SL, so with that I bid farewell to the forums. I am leaving the war, the two running for president, and the rest of RL issues to RL. I am off to enjoy my SL!

I can always be found at the beach in Maui if you wanna say hi.

Peace.

- tito

Sorry to hear that Tito, and also surprised since your first statement above proves that your second one is false.

I totally understand what he means. People that you would normally have a frikkin blast with ingame could become horrible enemies because of how you interact with them on the forums.

Things that might never show in a game environment might possibly come to light on forums due to something that was posted and ruin that chance of enjoying the persons company.

It's just the nature of Forums in general. I have only played TSO before this game and I noticed the same kind of behavior there that I assumed was unique to that Forum. It's something about the written word typed without a "face" on either end that brings out the worst in people.

Tito,

I saw you at some parties this weekend. I won't mention here what was transpiring.

That was a joke, before anyone flames me.


All kidding aside, I've run into people IW that I detest on the forums, but I've learned to keep what happens here... here. For me, the forums are a greater extension of my RL self than what is shown IW, thus some of my opinions are much more heated and passionate. When I'm IW, however, I don't have time to continue with the ramblings... I've got stuff to build, people to visit, etc.

I think alot of people operate the same way.



I find the irony in that comment amusing. Odd that your philosophies do not carry over to your candidates.

Tito I definitely understand your feelings. I find myself wishing this election would just be over already. Mind you when I came to Second Life Bush had already been in office for a couple of years, the scandal from the election of 2000 was old news and there was little to no political debate in the forums. It hurts me that during this election time the SL community has been so divided. Maybe it is inevitable as we all know how important these issues are to us on a personal level. But I do hope that after the election people will chill out on the politics. I am very political myself and have been my whole adult life. However I never post in political threads. I do not care to loose friends over politics or have people think differently of me because of my political beliefs. I am not shy or embarrassed about my beliefs I am just not interested in discussing them in this venue.

On a more personal note I do hope you continue to come to our parties as I thoroughly enjoy your company. I know for a fact that many members of the Cartel have antithetical political beliefs to my own but it doesn’t divide us. The love we have for one another supersedes political and religious beliefs. I can assure it is not specific to my group either. This is a very loving community despite the douche bags and fucktards that post to disrupt. We have seen it during the hurricanes and other times of need. Vertu serves as a great example of what this community can achieve collectively. I definitely hope to see you in world…I want to help you with the Che exhibit dude. Hopefully after the elections things will become less hostile and you will feel comfortable coming back to the forums. Best of luck my friend Tito.

One love.

One of my very best friends in the entire world holds opinions opposite to mine in almost every respect. We argue on the phone about politics and religion. We call each other extremely rude names. We even hang up on each other now and then. None of that changes what a great guy he is and that he will always be one of my very best friends. I think it's sad if people feel they can't be friends with someone because they hold opposite views. Debate is simply an exchange of ideas, and unless you're debating something personal, it isn't personal. One of my favorite people to have contentious debates with is my mom. I was raised in an atmosphere where that kind of discourse was encouraged and appreciated. I can love people whose ideas I disagree with. I think that most of the people who regularly engage in debate on the forums do so because they enjoy it, and like Juro said I think most people don't carry it over into SL. If there are people who are offended by my opinions and as a result feel that they couldn't be my friend I'd find that very disappointing because I don't feel that way about anyone.