*sigh*

[andrewducker]

Now been defriended by prynne, which I guess solves the problem. Shame though, as I liked a lot of her writing, and we occasionally chatted over Yahoo in an enjoyable way.

I mean, the ideal solution to "I do not like your speech." is to then remove yourself from it, but that doesn't stop me wishing there was a way of fixing it.

*insert amateur psychological analysis of why I don't like to lose friends here*

(oh, and it took me about 45 seconds of scanning my icon list to find one I couldn't misinterpret in some way as being somehow a dig, offensive or otherwise unsuitable)

Comments

[kurosau.livejournal.com]

I didn't get a chance to read every comment in your original thread, but there's one thing I thought to say.

There's lowering your language to the point where it can't be misinterpreted, and there's understanding that as written online, people rarely get the tone of what you say correct.

Also, to clarify before I begin, although I use some mildly insulting language, I'm only pointing this out as a statement on linguistics. I'm not suggesting that you're a bad person, or you've done anything wrong.

So, in that light, I'd say that although you're free to do it, it is foolish to expect that people are going to stumble on the right answer to the question, "Does he really mean what he says in that icon?"

I personally don't object. But I do think that you take your words in your hands with such a comment. It isn't because other people can't be bothered to interpret your language correctly, but rather that such a statement is hard to interpret online. Here, we lack sarcasm and tone to defend our behavior.

[spaj.livejournal.com]

While what he says (hi) is absolutely correct, the tone of his post (hi, I don't know you, so you're third person) points the blame at you.

This is your Journal. You don't have a duty to post nice things. If all you did was post pictures of kittens, you'd be in a kitten-posting community where everyone loved everyone, and no one's was intellectually stimulated (offensive to kitten-posters. Tough!)

Equally, she (the cats mother) doesn't have an obligation to like what you say or agree with it.

I should say that you've been through this before Andy, in a number of guises. I would be very strongly sticking to my guns over it, but that's me. You're questioning the world whether you're wrong. But one of the things I've learned from you is quite specifically that morals are completely subjective.

Got to go kill some terrorists.

Adam

[kurosau.livejournal.com]

Actually, I'm not really blaming him for anything. I'm just trying to point out that assuming that someone will understand the tone of your post doesn't work.