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icarusSix months ago I told ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
epicyclical (I think it was her, either that or she replied to it in someone else's journal) that I clicked on a something called 'Fandom Wank' from a link in someone's journal once, blinked at it, "who are these people and why do I care?" and hit the Back button thinking "that's three seconds of my life I'll never get back." (And if I've ever been on this thing don't tell me because I honestly don't know and like it that way.)
Well, I heard about a wank-thing in someone else's journal and... okay, I clicked for the hot icon, but I did try to read it because I realised I knew both parties.
I see why people do this wank stuff. It's rubber-necking. A little like a car crash in slow motion. The argument developes from it's petty origins, veers out of control, wipes out several other cars (as people choose up sides) and then crosses into on-coming traffic. It's horrific, yet there's something amazing about the amount of damage just talking on ones cell-phone (or a livejournal) can do. Mere words.
But after about three or four comments, I felt a little ill with the mean-spiritedness. I showed it towildernessguru and he got depressed -- and he didn't even know the people. "Why did you show me that?" he asked. I looked for the bottom line of the argument, and it was simple and rather petty. Nothing you could bring into a court of law, just a matter of opinion, though I suppose a case for defamation in the aftermath could be made if you worked really hard at it. A lawyer once told me that companies don't get in trouble for what they do, that's usually fairly simple. But the weird things they do to deal with it is where they cross the line into illegal territory.
So I propose a Wank Survival Kit.
Airbags and good Anti-lock breaks.
If a simple discussion starts to skid, the ability to stop and the use of some patience can keep the car from wiping out others.sparrohawk once said, "If you just leave it alone, it'll usually go away." Always remember the original argument and who the original argument was with -- it was rather small, n'est pas? Just a matter of opinion?
Emergency food supply and blankets.
When feelings are hurt it is best to tend to the injured right away. The temptation is to start to blame and choose up sides to retaliate. Instead, send private emails to friends, and chat in Y!M, etc. There is no wank a good vat of Haagen Dazs can't solve.
Walk away from the scene of the accident.
While I would never recommend this for a real accident if you have a ten-car pile-up in Wankdom, it's best not to stand around watching. This takes iron control. But a few things can help:
- never read other people's wanks. (Don't get in the habit.)
- never throw your own opinion in the fray of other people's wanks. (It is addictive.)
- don't bookmark wankfest sites. (If you don't know where the action is, so much the better -- you won't know where to look when it's you.)
- don't check the LJs of the "offending parties." (Be generous. Give them their time to vent.)
It might take a time out from fandom or week out of LiveJournal to be able to do this, give yourself some time to cool off. In fact, I have a wonderful idea: write a story!
Consult with your inner attorney.
Once you've finished your third vat of Haagen Dazs, have spoken with some supportive friends who've told you everything you want to hear and are feeling better... try to examine your own part in the matter. Now don't blame yourself. We're all only human. But how could this have been prevented? Examine:
- what was was the original argument again?
- why was I so upset about something so absurd?
- did it tie in to some other deeper issues that I can use this help me?
This is a private process and good mental health. Learn from it. Then take steps to ensure that it doesn't happen to you again.
Dispute resolution.
This takes tact and class - and guts - but if mature parties are involved, a simple private email to the original person can go a long way to resolving a problem. And you might either emerge with a friend or at least develop a new-found respect for the other person. (Icarus nods tospare_change.)
epicyclical (I think it was her, either that or she replied to it in someone else's journal) that I clicked on a something called 'Fandom Wank' from a link in someone's journal once, blinked at it, "who are these people and why do I care?" and hit the Back button thinking "that's three seconds of my life I'll never get back." (And if I've ever been on this thing don't tell me because I honestly don't know and like it that way.)Well, I heard about a wank-thing in someone else's journal and... okay, I clicked for the hot icon, but I did try to read it because I realised I knew both parties.
I see why people do this wank stuff. It's rubber-necking. A little like a car crash in slow motion. The argument developes from it's petty origins, veers out of control, wipes out several other cars (as people choose up sides) and then crosses into on-coming traffic. It's horrific, yet there's something amazing about the amount of damage just talking on ones cell-phone (or a livejournal) can do. Mere words.
But after about three or four comments, I felt a little ill with the mean-spiritedness. I showed it to
wildernessguru and he got depressed -- and he didn't even know the people. "Why did you show me that?" he asked. I looked for the bottom line of the argument, and it was simple and rather petty. Nothing you could bring into a court of law, just a matter of opinion, though I suppose a case for defamation in the aftermath could be made if you worked really hard at it. A lawyer once told me that companies don't get in trouble for what they do, that's usually fairly simple. But the weird things they do to deal with it is where they cross the line into illegal territory.So I propose a Wank Survival Kit.
Airbags and good Anti-lock breaks.
If a simple discussion starts to skid, the ability to stop and the use of some patience can keep the car from wiping out others.
sparrohawk once said, "If you just leave it alone, it'll usually go away." Always remember the original argument and who the original argument was with -- it was rather small, n'est pas? Just a matter of opinion?Emergency food supply and blankets.
When feelings are hurt it is best to tend to the injured right away. The temptation is to start to blame and choose up sides to retaliate. Instead, send private emails to friends, and chat in Y!M, etc. There is no wank a good vat of Haagen Dazs can't solve.
Walk away from the scene of the accident.
While I would never recommend this for a real accident if you have a ten-car pile-up in Wankdom, it's best not to stand around watching. This takes iron control. But a few things can help:
- never read other people's wanks. (Don't get in the habit.)
- never throw your own opinion in the fray of other people's wanks. (It is addictive.)
- don't bookmark wankfest sites. (If you don't know where the action is, so much the better -- you won't know where to look when it's you.)
- don't check the LJs of the "offending parties." (Be generous. Give them their time to vent.)
It might take a time out from fandom or week out of LiveJournal to be able to do this, give yourself some time to cool off. In fact, I have a wonderful idea: write a story!
Consult with your inner attorney.
Once you've finished your third vat of Haagen Dazs, have spoken with some supportive friends who've told you everything you want to hear and are feeling better... try to examine your own part in the matter. Now don't blame yourself. We're all only human. But how could this have been prevented? Examine:
- what was was the original argument again?
- why was I so upset about something so absurd?
- did it tie in to some other deeper issues that I can use this help me?
This is a private process and good mental health. Learn from it. Then take steps to ensure that it doesn't happen to you again.
Dispute resolution.
This takes tact and class - and guts - but if mature parties are involved, a simple private email to the original person can go a long way to resolving a problem. And you might either emerge with a friend or at least develop a new-found respect for the other person. (Icarus nods to
spare_change.)
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no subject
Date: 2004-03-30 01:30 pm (UTC)No trolling as in, don't got over there an tell the person wanked that there an ____ or poke at them or post a think to F_W. Half the time its not even the person that starts the wank that gets talked about the most. Sometimes its the topic itself. Actaully alot of the times it is.
What about if there's a two-way battle (yeah, mom's "it takes two to tango" sank in) and only one of the parties shows up to participate in lobbing bombs at the other?
What I meant was we won't go into the OP journal and makefun/mock/point out that maybe people disagree with them. If they come and post and F_W with nothing more than 'you guys are mean', we will mock them more. If they come over and try to have a debate with us over the topic, hey we're all for that. That is what F_W really is. You can debate topics there without worrying about someone going 'OMG!!!11!YOUSTUPID!', people will disagree but it normally well thought out and free from netspeak.
Is it more a good-natured teasing because you all know them? Is there a particular crowd of regulars (sort of like the Summary Executions)?
Nope, even if its the one of the oldest memebers, they'll get the same treatment if not worse. Espical if they break one of the laws: ie, comparing something unrealted to Naizs, saying your not repsonble for being a bitch today becuase your sick/pregaunt/cooking pasta, or the favorite that its okay to say something about some group becuase your brother/sister/mother/friend/fourth cousion twice removed is in that group.
Why do people I_wank?
Becuase sometimes we all realize we've done something really dumb in a post wether if be fandom or no. Kinda saying some remind me never to do this again type of thing.
If you can stomach it, lurk over there(F_W) a bit. If you ask questiois nicely (even as a anoymice) people will normal anwser you nicely.