And why?
Maybe vetbridge taught himself to find things funny at the age of 7.
Man, do I really need to say it?
And your job is supposed to deal with communication and the workings of the human mind?
How many cereal boxes, exactly, did you have to clip and send in to get your degree?
FinnAgain, I hear Grenada has one of the top psychology programs in the Caribbean.
Irony. And now, the fact that I have to explain my laughter.
Well, when you post something like this:
It tends to piss people off. Now, you are entitled to call it their failling (which would be not only condescending but also pompous and self righteous), but the vast majority of the posters on this board don’t appreciate being lumped in with Neo-Nazis and fundies. We’re funny that way. And whether intended or not, lumping us in with those groups is exactly what this post did.
You asked for opinions, you were answered, and then you went on to explain why our opinions were childish and insecure and invalid. Well, why the hell did you ask? Merely to have something to belittle? Who’s the insecure one? Frankly, you were met with way less vitriol than I expected to see. I’m amazed at the restraint you’ve been shown. Considering your profession, I have a difficult time believing you’re this clueless about people’s reactions to your invalidating their opinions and am seriously beginning to think you’re winding us up.
Huh, and I thought you just liked the way it scanned. 
*It was never his intention
to pursue such condescension,
but the matter of the fact is that we’re buggering about.
Matters intellectual,
dialect’cal,
hypertextual
(maybe sexual?)
demand consideration that is really quite devout.
We quite simply are not trying
to perceive that we are lying,
and this vexes our friend such that he is feeling quite put out.
So forgive th’interlocutor
while he sits at his computer;
He’s attempting to extract himself from quite a nasty rout.*
Care to take a stab at haiku?
Might’ve been easier; sadly the moment has passed. Apple blossoms fall.
Useless sarcasm. Not surprising, though.
You took my referencing those groups as lumping in of (some of) yourselves with those groups. Once again, not my intention. You interpreted it this way. Your interpetation demonstrates something about you.
Insecure, yes, I used that word. Childish and invalid, no. Your additions of vocabulary, again, give you away. YOU are feeling childish. YOU are feeling invalid. Why?
I asked in order to hear what people have to say what they wished, and to respond as I wished. Your use of the word “belittle” again gives you away.
Now THAT I believe!
The Profile feature includes an entry for “Occupation.“ I enterred it. Your expectations as to how I should behave, as a member of this or any other profession, are irrelevant.
Getting wound up and BEING wound up are two different things. I’m not DOING anything to you or anyone else. You are doing it to yourself, and I think that’s worth your examining.
Is anybody else starting to think that drmark is getting his posting style from that episode of Friends where Phoebe’s dating a shrink? (“Remember, Monica – it’s only food, it’s not love.”)
Another one here without a dog in the fight. I know about the ignore feature but have never used it myself. I don’t think it’s any of my business how or why anybody else chooses to use it, and I certainly wouldn’t pass judgment on anyone based on their motivations for using it. I would be opposed to the removal of the feature, because I’m aware that some folks find it useful and I fail to see any valid reason for disabling it. It seems wildly unlikely to me that anybody is using it to filter out the input of people with whose opinions they disagree, and, in fact, nobody in this thread who has copped to using the ignore feature has stated that they use it for that purpose.
That said – drmark, this disinterested observer feels that you have been a condescending prick throughout this thread. I’m sure that says a lot about me, and I will take it up with my therapist at the earliest opportunity. Meanwhile, you might want to reflect on the fact that the majority of people responding to you here find that you’ve been condescending. I’m sure, like me, they are sick in the head in various interesting ways. But they might – just might – be onto something anyway.
Not bad. Not bad at all. I am complimented by the effort. Did you write it?
Nice opening! Neat metering, especially in the last line. Sarcasm a little too easily read, though.
Yep, OK, agreed.
No outputting experienced, at least on my end.
Forgiveness is nice, I guess, although how you should deem yourself worthy of dispensing it, or to instruct others to, is beyond me.
Your use of the word “rout,” intrigues me, though. A nice little ganging up, perhaps? What does this say about your view of these boards, and your own and others’ roles in them?
Because, you smarmy bastard, calling someone insecure and defensive is indeed a way of saying that they’re being childish and that their feelings are invalid. YOU refuse to accept responsibility for how you’re coming off to the vast majority of Dopers here. YOU refuse to analyze your own behavior. Why?
Would you please just change your user name to Smarmy Asshole?
Even after you’d heard what people said, you were still condescending and rude. That, in case you’re wondering, belittles people.
And you’re still doing it, by telling people that not liking your smarmy bullshit really represents some sort of problems with them.
Not at all. One would expect someone who works in the mental health field to have a clue about communication, moods/emotions/mental states, etc… If you put up information on a public message board, it’s fair game. And just for the record, you remind me of every stereotypical, smarmy, head-up-his-ass shrink
in popular culture. Wanna psychoanalyze me and my reasons for thinking that about you?
And I think what’s worth examining is why you’re acting like a spoiled child and refusing to accept that the burden of communication falls equally on you and your parterns in dialogue.
Well, then, drmark, I would say that it probably says I either:
a) misinterpreted a post which you intentionally made nebulous in order to get a specific reaction
or
b) misinterpreted a post which you unintentionally made nebulous and were genuinely surprised at the reaction elicited.
Let’s look a bit further at your attempts at clarification to see if we can deduce which, shall we?
Hm. Insufficient data used to arrive at incorrect diagnosis in order to strengthen position.
Next.
As I have been very frank and forthcoming with you in this thread and answered your questions in the open manner of one expecting nothing but free exchange of dialogue, I find your usage of the phrase “gives you away” curious; do you believe people have a habit of trying to hide things from you? Or do you doubt my veracity? Let’s explore that next session.
Defensive posture, as well as a marginally untruthful statement. Of course your profession ties into your posting style; why else would you be analyzing mine?
Perhaps you misunderstood my meaning by “winding us up.” Allow me to elucidate. By “winding us up” I meant that you were, perhaps, engaging on a discussion with a somewhat hidden agenda and are continuing the exercise for reasons as yet not divulged by you. I did not mean “emotionally wound up.” However, as I was not totally-100%-able to understand by any psych 101 student-clear, I can see how you could have misconstrued that meaning.
Now. As you really did not address any of my concerns, but merely analyzed my syntax, perhaps you can address the meaning behind my original questions. Which was, in short, what can you hope to gain from the information you’ve recieved if you refute the data you’re given?
Just out of curiosity… has anyone here, in your view, given an opinion as to why they use the “ignore” feature contrary to your initial assumptions or preconceived notions? I certainly see plenty that seems to refute your ideas on the matter, so I’d like to hear your specific feelings on those who are out right appearing diametrically opposite. Thank you.
I taught myself not to be surprising at age 5. Surprise is for commoners.
Quite right, which is why I taught myself to be uncommon at age two.
I’m not surprised.
Tch. You two are not taking this exercise seriously. How can you expect me to grow as a person if you don’t react the way you’re supposed to?!