Bold was also employed. Throughout. As in, every word.

I’m wondering if Internet etiquette will ever appear in schools? And if it does, will it be useful, or the easiest hour of class since home ec.?

“What is considered shouting online?”
“ALL CAPS”
“Is it rude?”
“Yes.”

A+ – now get out there, future asshat, and show em you know everything, and are too cool to fact check.

But, then again, I realize what’s more rediculous: The people getting all up in arms over a video game or comic books? Or me getting pissed about people being pissed about a video game or comic book. And then I go and post a tirade against people having tirades, and that starts a whole new tirade. What a stupid cycle.

That said, I really enjoyed your post.

Think before you post.

Invariably, at some point on one’s development in utilizing the internet to communicate, you are faced with a moment when you can either start to think before you post, or you can decide you don’t give a shit, and post with abandon, regardless of what you say, its truth, or its effect on others.

People who refuse to think before they post–who do believe they are not only entitled to feel whatever they feel, but that they are entitled to communicate it instantly, without hesitation or editing, at any time and for any reason whatsoever–these people should be run off the internet and stuffed into a ditch somewhere without access to electronics.

Everyone else is fine.

It’s a hard lesson to learn, I admit, and even now after a decade on the web I have a hard time hesitating on occasion. But I almost always do, and I almost always feel better for it.

I think it’s far easier to talk crap in the web than in a print magazine, because regardless of the editorial ethics, it’s harder to argue you’re not causing harm. If you print bullshit in a monthly magazine, that story is going to persist, and advertisers, companies you’re reporting on, etc. will all get up in arms.

But online, if you post crap, there’s always this sense of, “well, no big deal, we’ll print otherwise tomorrow – hey, even more hits.” Regardless of the fact that the first crap posted lingers just as long, in it’s own electronic way.

It’s spitting in the wind really – I don’t think the nature of the net is going to change anytime soon, and I was deep in a hair pulling mess.

Time to retreat, get drunk, watch some TV, and then dive back in later.