Noobs (or - My thoughts on internet bullies, what they are, why I don't like them, and also D and D)

So I'm a little late on writing my second entry.  I'm attempting to write once a week on Mondays to get into the habit of writing.  So far, I'm just lucky to have written twice withing 14 days.  I'll shoot for consistency later.

I have no specific agenda for writing each week.  Mostly, it will just be what's on my mind, what I can remember from the events of the week, or whatever issue is bothering me at the time.

At this point I have two major things on my mind.  Here they are:

1: A few days ago I had 12 people in my basement playing D and D.  It was epic and a little tricky to DM for.  I design my own quests, loot, and occasionally, monsters.  I started a monthly D and D group a few months back and had no idea I would get so many people involved so quickly.  Some of the group had played video game RPGs before but none of the group had played D and D (or any other tabletop equivalent) before a few months ago.  It has been fantastic!  I enjoy expanding my creativity and I'm surprising myself with enjoying other people's company.  I haven't been much of a people person since my mid teens.  Apparently I'm slowly working back into that.

The quest was awesome and I have several other people who have volunteered their own quest ideas, story arcs, and epic items.  The story and world is ever expanding and is about to get larger.  The next few months will be interesting...

I am toying with the idea of practicing my fantasy writing by writing out each of our monthly quests in blog form like such as. (1000 points for knowing that reference)  I don't know yet though.  I have a lot of other things going on right now.

2: I don't understand the mentality of people who interact with other people online.  The internet does two things to encourage stupidity.  It offers anonymity so people can't be blamed for their overwhelming stupidness in the real world.  It also offers physical separation from the people they are annoying.  You can be anonymous in a bar by insulting someone with a paper bag over your head but that doesn't mean they won't punch you in the face.  Unfortunately you can't punch people in the face over the internet.  They should work on that.....

People think they can say whatever they want about themselves and about other people on the internet.  It bothers me.  The people bothering me isn't really what bothers me though.  It's that people think they aren't responsible for their actions because they are online.  I don't understand how people can not feel responsible for what they do.  I don't understand people who would be mean just to be mean.  I really don't understand people who think being mean is funny!  Being rude like a 5 year old and swearing like a sailor isn't funny.  There's nothing inherently funny about it and it sure as heck isn't evolved humor.  It's just stupid.  And what's silly is that the people that do it seem to be too stupid to know just how stupid everyone else thinks they are.  I mean, no one really respects bullies in real life and it's even worse online!  Ok, a bully in real life can call you names and maybe knock you down.  But they can ACTUALLY knock you down.  And they are running the risk of getting punched in the face or a variety of other unpleasant places.  Internet bullies?  Really?  That's just the lowest rung of lame.  It's pathetic.  It's childish.  It's sad.

It's avoidable...

Yes, it is my fault for playing online games when I know there are people of all ages from 12 to 40 all acting like 5 year olds who have watched too much cable TV.  *sigh*

"This world is rotten." - Light Yagami and Ryuuk (Death Note)
(shameless pitch: watch the above mentioned show.  It's an anime and is therefore not everyone's cup of tea but it is a fantastically written crime mystery story with deep philosophical ideas)

I guess that's part of why I am here though, right?  If bullies bother me I should do something about it.  Obviously not kill them with the powers of a reaper (Death Note) cuz...that'ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss bad.....? (175 points for that reference),  Yes, killing people is bad.  Ok, there may be stipulations to that but that's not the point right now.  The point is, I can't kill people because they bother me.

ANYWAYS

If I don't like bullies I can do something about it.  I can sit here on my butt and complain about it on my blog or on Facebook or Twitter or Youtube but that won't really do anything.  Mulling over my problems doesn't help.  I just get a nasty feeling in my stomach.  Instead I could just...you know...NOT play games online!  Good way of avoiding those people and those situations.  But even that isn't the best option.  It's passive.

I could instead do what I'm doing once a month and getting together with other people.  I can start a community of people who respect each other and respect other people.  I can start a culture of people who are tolerant of other people and who aren't rude.  People who think about other people and actually think of them as people.  Not just a random assortment of letters and numbers that disappear or log off when I talk about their mom.  I can consider other people's feelings.  I can be a decent person.  I can show other people what it's like to be a decent person.  I can help other people BE decent.  Cuz honestly, who enjoys life more?  When you really get down to it.

Why are bullies bullies?  When you really look at them, if you can ever really get to know them you see that they are hurt themselves.  They are compensating for something.  They usually don't feel like they have friends.  They have a hard family life.  So they react and try to keep themselves safe by pushing everyone else away.  They feel their life is out of control so they try to do whatever they can to control whatever situation they are in.  It makes them feel important, powerful, in control when they push someone else around.  It makes them feel better to push someone else below them.

And suddenly I start to pity the bully.  I wonder why.  I wonder what's going on with them.

And so when I encounter these people I shouldn't hate or ridicule.  I should pity and forgive.

And then log out and join a different server because I don't have to put up with their fowl mood. :D

And that is that.  I seem to have suddenly run out of words.  Except for the ones I am typing now.  I will write again....eventually.

Plus Also: 15,000 points for naming the reference of assigning a random number with no known goal for correct answers.

Me (or - an introduction to myself, my thinking, my goal, and my dinner)

So this is new for me.

I have attempted this sentence three times now.  We'll see if anything sticks...

The point of this blog: I am just going to talk about me, my day, my thoughts: pretty much whatever is on my mind on Mondays.  Sometime it will be a soap box, sometimes a philosophical conundrum (thnx google for spell checking that), sometimes a movie or video game review/rant.  I am going to be honest.  I am going to say my thoughts.  I will attempt not to be rude, condescending, or offensive.

[DISCLAIMER]

I am an artist.  I am a cynic.  I am an introvert.  I am a Christian.  I am a gamer.  I watch a lot of movies.  I am a philosopher.  I am a critic.  I am the default DM for a monthly D and D group that I organized.  I like C.S. Lewis.  I like H.P. Lovecraft.  I like H.R. Geiger.  I apparently like people who do not go by their first or middle name.  I am married.  I eat meat (and I like it!).  I am not a republican or a democrat.  I do not approve of lima beans.

If you do not approve of any of these things, do not think these things should go together, have already made an opinion about me that cannot be summed up with one of the disclaimer sentences, or generally do not play well with other people's opinions then this blog is not for you.

And that is fine!

Opinions are many and varied.  We are allowed to have opinions and express them (with the exception of punching someone you don't like in the face in public without recent provocation).  I am allowed to have my opinions.  You are allowed to have your opinions.  It does not bother me that our opinions might and probably will differ on more than one occasion.  That's the beauty of opinions!

To reiterate: this blog is me and my thoughts.  I will attempt to word things in a way that will properly express what I am thinking in a way that will be commonly understood.  For example: if something does not bother me I will use the words "it doesn't matter" as opposed to "I don't care".  The first expresses the superfluous nature of the thing in my life whereas the latter sounds like I am being a jerk.  I am not a jerk (or if I am I'm REALLY a jerk and no one has told me 'cuz I'll be a jerk toward them...idk) so I don't want to sound like one.  I will therefore attempt to communicate despite the fickle, connotative nature of the words we use in the English language.  *sigh*

And I'm done for now.  My wife has made meatballs and they look fantastic so I am going to eat them.

Fin