And just like the real world - actually it's much, much easier on the tubez - people can come from one place with one behavioral norm and move to another place with a different set of expectations. And just like the real world, they don't have to instantly behave how you'd like them. It's during that time that it's important to remember where you are and who you're dealing with.
Well, that's a different point. The point I was addressing was the remark that words on the internet shouldn't be able to emotionally affect people.
I'll clarify. Words are words. The communication tool is irrelevant; it doesn't matter whether I speak them to you, or write them down and mail them to you, or telephone you, or write them in a book, or broadcast them on the radio, or trail them in sky-writing. A beautiful poem or piece of literature doesn't lose its power because its posted on the internet; and neither does an insult, a screed, a rant, or a plea.
It's unrealistic to think that because you've created a certain vibe that that vibe will be automatically respected and espoused.
Not at all; it's very realistic to expect that; people *do* normally respect the vibe of where they are online. Take this site as an example (I'll use it because it's what I'm most familiar with). I've been doing this for 14 years now, give or take a few weeks. And by-and-large, people do respect the vibe here. But that's not really what I was talking about.
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