As promised in my first thread of this Forum,
www.abovetopsecret.com... I am going to try to explain the
"D-Ego" and how it can impact the responses we make to comments and or views expressed by our fellow members.
The D-Ego is a REAL phenomenon. We all have a persona on line. Some people are the same on line as they are in the RW ("Real/non Digital World") and
some people take pleasure in creating a completely new personality.
Regardless of whether you are "you" on line or a created personality, you WILL be emotionally challenged at times by what you read in these
forums.
That challenge impacts the way you respond to what you read. In other words, your D-Ego takes over. I've personally watched several logical,
rational, polite members literally "blow a gasket" and go over the virtual deep end because of what someone posted in the forums.
This behavior is most unfortunate but it can sneak up on you if you are unaware. A classic example would do well to illustrate what I am going on
about here...
Member J points out that
all people with blue hair are unclean pigs and child killers.
Member C, having blue hair, doesn't take that very well and lets member J know he "doesn't appreciate that broad brush statement", a very mature
and polite response.
Member J retorts with "that's because YOU are a baby-killer and stink!"
Member C
should use the "gripe idea button" and report the idiocy Member J is spewing in our forum
immediately. Then Member C should
STAY OUT of the conversation and IGNORE Member J until a staff member can deal with the problem.
Unfortunately, our angered Member C, his D-Ego in full swing now, goes on to point out what an fewkin moron Member J is and how his mother is the heat
source for the local fire department or something like that.
Now it seems in Member C's mind that he was attacked first so he is well within his rights to launch a verbal ICBM at member J. Well it's not within
his rights and he's in as deep as Member J now.
The point of all this is...
The TAC (Terms and Conditions of use) specifically FORBID the insulting/name calling of a fellow member period. It does
NOT say
"it's Okay
to insult a member who insults you first".
If you ever find yourself in a situation like this PLEASE use the
gripe/idea button or contact a Moderator. It will save you alot of
unnecessary anguish and I PROMISE YOU the offending member will be dealt with and YOU will be held in very high regard for handling things correctly
and NOT sinking to "their level".
The D-Ego is the favored prey of trolls, trouble makers, spammers, and various other undesirables that do, from time to time, find their way into the
hallowed halls of AboveTopSecret.com.
These type of users NEVER last long here. Our members usually find them out within a post or two and we ban them on the spot.
Occasionally, a "good" member will have a bad day, a bit of "drunk" on, or simply go stark raving mad and act the fool (the D-Ego gone haywire).
When this happens we certainly DO take into account the history of the member in question and act accordingly. Usually this sort of situation is
resolved with a stern "talking to" and a warning.
I do hope this helps to give you a little "for sight" into how this happens and how we deal with it.
Springer...
Edit: Just fixed a link
[edit on 15-12-2005 by ZeddicusZulZorander]
