Guybrush

A lot of the MB drama is a result of anger on the forums. I wonder, why are people so quick to anger here? Is it because we've been here too long and got too comfortable and now feel a sense of entitlement to get angry whenever we want? Or is it because it is an effective weapon in the social competitions around here?

Something many may not consider much is that anger is a way to control a social situation. When people get angry with me, it is usually because they take offense at something I write as part of a discussion. We're discussing with rational arguments, but then it suddenly turns hostile with ensuing name calling etc. What happens then is the rules of the game changes. Instead of trying to win the discussion using reason, it is now about ridiculing eachother. Or it can be about sabotaging the entire discussion. Maybe the one taking offense wasn't able to win a discussion with rational arguments so they decide, consciously or unconsciously, to take the discussion to a different level or sabotage it altogether with some "righteous anger". Perhaps what's important is suddenly not the point being argued, but how the arguments make others feel.

So I think a lot of the forum anger are attempts at controlling the discussions.

The Sopsych situation here is a result of the same. Some members here don't like Sopsych who is a newcomer here with provocative opinions and so they start to act out. The goal of many of those angry posts will be to derail the thread, cause a ruckus, and hopefully blame everything on Sopsych. When a moderator comes in and bans Sopsych or otherwise take some action against him, then that goal is achieved.

This goes on a lot around here. Do you mods realize how you are being used/played?

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