Hello, Teeming Millions. I come to you with my tail firmly betwixt my legs. This post goes specifically to Jophiel, Ayesha, BurnMeUp, and whoever else has been annoyed by my friends. I’ll post all of what I remmeber so as to not leave the rest in the dark.
As some of you kno, I join the TM Chat somewhat often, to the point where most people recognize me. I like the chat room, and I think it’s a great way to pass the time as the computer teacher drivels on in class.
So, being a good Teeming Millionth, if I think someone is both curious and intelligent enough, I direct them to the SD. Two of my IRL friends have visited chat. About a month ago, there were problems with “Pablo/don_luis,” the same person. He was a smartass, and seemed to think he was better than all of us. That was my friend Jon. He thinks like that IRL, and his 6’5" 2xx lb build doesn’t do much to discourage that kind of thinking.
Last Monday night, about 11:30-12 Pacific, I invited my IRL best friend Bumpkin to join chat, but it wouldn’t work for him.
So earlier today, about 4:30-5 Pacific, I was happily chatting away, bored out of my mind in the library, when Bumpkin (sitting next to me), says, “I’ll go there, too,” referring to TM chat. I say great, don’t be an ass. I didn’t think he would be. But he has a bad impression of this “Straight Dope” that I mention so often. (Some of the stuff I hear on these boards are so funny/useful, how could I not share?).
He joined and started saying stuff like “my name isbumpkin. whatsyours” I told him to cool it with the stupid schtick. He said, “I don’t care, I don’t know them.” This kept up, annoying everyone. I IM-ed Jophiel, apologizing, and he/she said Ayesha wanted to boot him. I said, “I’ll talk to him, if not, I’ll flip off his computer.” He kept up with the schtick and finally Mortwight booted him. Whoever’s decision that was, I applaud you. Bumpkin deserved it. He was about to sign back on, but I hit the switch on his computer.
Meanwhile, as all that’s going on, “rifter” appears. I look at Jon and he starts giggling, and I know that’s trouble. He starts chattimg w/Bumpkin in public about, well… they said just about everything they could think of. If anyone said anything, he’d reply, “thats nice”. So two trolls in one sparsely occupied chat room- not a good thing.
I feel somewhat responsible for this. I told them both to knock it off and quit being asses, but I guess I was, well, feeding the trolls. I see now why most SDers keep real life and SD online life seperate. I sure as hell won’t invite anyone on, unless they understand that these mere words on a computer screen are typed by living, breathing people, who don’t like smartass morons any more than the rest of us. Jon (Pablo/don_luis/rifter) I will not try to explain. He’s an ass IRL, and I’ll make sure that the chat address is not visible if he’s around.
Bumpkin, on the other hand… sigh I just dunno. My only thoughts are that he’s inexperienced in computing, and is far from developing any kind of relationship with anyone online. He still sees the Internet as that place where you can be a total ass and release frustrations freely, wnd no one will ever know it’s him. Hopefully, he’ll understand the principles behind online gatherings and control himself in the future. He’s a smart guy, and I don’t see why he doesn’t grasp this now. And I think he’d be a great addition to the TM, if he’d just learn some etiquette.
Jophiel, I’m sorry, Burn, I’m sorry, Ayesha, I’m sorry (especially for rift’s “Show us your breasts” comment. An online forum is just the place for that kind of screwiness, and I hope that one asshole will not discouarge you from having fun online. I apologize to everyone involved in the fiasco, and if you’d like me to tell these guys anything, I’d be more than happy to pass it on.
-Jeffrey; jjtm
JMcC, San Francisco, JJM’s page from the Bay
If I were beaned with a fastball, fling my limp, lifeless body to first, cause, dammit, I earned it!
