Absolute Radio(aka AR) in the UK is simply great. I've never had such fun, made such good friends, as I have on their blog site. The sites I've been on in the US were ok for a time, but a lot of people are mean-spirited, selfish, confrontational, and tend to form cliques, which makes it difficult to establish friendships. I like making friends, keeping them, and having fun.
I've thought about this dynamic for sometime now, and in my view it's because of our culture in the US. It's markedly different from AR, even though the culture on that site is as diverse as ours. Yes, weirdos, lonely people, neurotic people, are out there blogging, joining public chat groups, etc. But they don't manifest FEAR! whenever they are on site for the first time. Nervousness, perhaps, caution, definitely, but not FEAR.
The US media, through terrible actual incidents directly connected to internet contact, which is aired/printed in various media, have instilled abject fear into people whenever they surf the internet. It's almost as if Americans EXPECT to be victimized, or to DO the victimizing first! I understand the dangers of the internet fully, but I doubt anyone has used common sense in explaining this to others!
The US media just love dangers, victims, suspicious people/circumstances, criminal behavior, and blare it LOUDLY, REPEATEDLY, until one has become desensitized to it all.
When will people learn to use common sense and stop acting like decapitated chickens????
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
When they learn critical thinking skills.
ReplyDeleteWhen they grow a pair.
When they realize that paranoia and neediness attract predators (because predators aren't merely hungry; they like a challenge).
When they realize that most "trolls" aren't as emotionally vested in THEM as they are in the trolls.