Let’s say that there was a “Doper” that you just didn’t like at all and you found most of their posts and threads at best, annoying and sometimes downright offensive. You have pitted this person once and have been tempted to on other occasions.
A “Dopefest” is in your area and this person shows up and it’s obvious who it is because they are wearing a name tag.
Do you…
A.) Do your best at avoiding this person.
B.) Make a joke with the person about your encounters on the message board.
C.) Ask this person why they are so annoying, mean, offensive, etc.
D.) Try to tell them off and cause and argument
E.) Act rudely towards this person.
F.) Grab the nearest blunt object and…
Use an answer from above or your own and remember I’m not referring to any specific “Dopers”.
I haven’t noticed that many Doper enemies but it seems to happen now and then.
If I had a Doper “enemy”, which I don’t, I think I’d opt for option G - treat them like I would treat anyone else at the event and take it from there. I can fiercely disagree with someone and their viewpoints, and still enjoy their company otherwise.
I couldn’t summon up an “enemy” on the Dope. Just like in real life they aren’t worth the emotional energy. However there are Dopers that I think are unpleasant - always looking for an argument, quick with the insults and happy to turn threads into discussions of the merits of their posts. I would treat them like I try to do on the SDMB, be civil but when they make some argumentative/insulting post to which I am meant to respond, I just let it go.
So those few people I wouldn’t give the cold-shoulder but I wouldn’t expect to enjoy their company.
A. I’d definitely try to avoid them. Picking a fight would be impolite to the other participants, and pretending to enjoy their company would be silly.
To respond to the OP, I’d probably try to keep in mind that the SD is a place where people often project a much different personna than they do in real life. I have plenty of friends and family who I disagree with, and it doesn’t keep me from finding SOMETHING likeable about them. If I removed every person I disagreed with from my life, I’d be very lonely indeed.
I don’t know if I have any enemies, or could summon up the energy to care. The worst it gets, AFAIK, is “What a dick!” But if I did, I’d go for Option B/G. In fact, I know I’d like to have some long face to face discussions with some people who have nailed me to the wall sometimes.
Part of being an adult is realizing learning what boundaries are. People’s online SDMB personalities are often quite different than their real life personas, and sometimes they’re the same. If you meet someone in real life at a social function, and you violently disagree with their SDMB expressed opinion on a subject of importance to you, or you just think they are a disagreeable asshole you need to keep your mouth shut and BE POLITE. There are other people at the party who want to have a good time, and the world does not revolve around your need to confront someone you disagree with in cyberspace.
SDMB parties are for people to match a face to a name and just have a good time. I’ve only been to one SDMB function, but in reading the numerous descriptions of other SDMB parties I’ve never heard of two online contenders “taking it to the next level”, though I have head of numerous dopers meeting their future SO’s wives & husbands at these functions. Make love not war.
I have friends and family that I disagree with often on subjects. I can’t think of any users who I could describe a hatred for, I have a minor nemesis who on some subjects always disagrees with me, but that is in one small niche. We might agree on many other subjects.
I know as a sports fan, I get along well with people who have very different Political opinions because we root for the same team.
I don’t think anybody should really treat the debates on this board seriously enough to build up a hatred.
I’m too new for an enemy (I think…don’t correct me if i’m wrong ) but i’d probably just go for A. Maybe B, if they had a sense of humour, but jokes can turn into insults very quickly sometimes.
I’ll be meeting someone I’ve had “issues” with on another board in a couple weeks. We’re both really excited about it - just because you may disagree on somethings on a MB shouldn’t preclude being able to hang out. I may not always like the “message” but that’s only a very small part of the messenger.
WHAT? You don’t have any enemies? Are you F*%#*in’ delusional? Why, the next time I see you… Just kidding.
As for me, I think every fight I’ve ever been in was not of my making. I would probably smile, shake hands and gravitate towards the inevitable groupings of like-thinkers that tend to emerge at social functions.
How’s that saying go: “Don’t start none and there won’t be none” kinda philosophy.
Just kidding.