The age of aggression

It has been a fascinating week on Fet for a different reason than normal. Many groups started up with the idea that there was this mythical creature called freedom of speech. Now it was mythical because it is a Canadian site, so doesn't subscribe to the idea to begin with and well, the banks are involved, which leads to a whole raft of topics not being permitted any more. In spite of this reality many splitter groups were formed with the idea of uncensored speech.

They have the magic words clearly and proudly displayed in their title. It was their rallying cry as they stomped off, after some dust up with a group owner or mod, to create their corner of the world unfettered by such annoyances as endeavouring to not launch personal attacks. Hell many of them had threads devoted to the discussion of why the target was a complete dickhead.

Of course at the other end of the spectrum were those groups that prided themselves on being contentious. They were for adults who pulled on their big person panties before wading in. They were not for the inarticulate or the weak of spirit. Many cried this on their "about us" pages.

Well time moves on, the world turns and here we are a few months or years down the track...

We now live in a time of text speech, thought of the moment writing styles and my idea is equally valid, however inarticulate I may be, types of communications. One of the many flow ons from this is the complete inability to express an idea in a clear and concise manner. Hell some of them don't even try as they go straight to the personal insult. Now that insult is usually sparked by the fact that they feel that they have been attacked, usually by some member of the imaginary clique that dominates the board. One of the unfortunate side effects of that poor communication is the inability to actually read and comprehend the entire comment directed to them.

The end result is a load of butt hurt that is hurled back at the other person and then the pile up begins. Some try to explain why they are wrong, others just openly mock the inarticulate and some just stand there laughing. From there it goes from bad to ugly...

It often remains entertaining, but that is not what this is about.

This is about the recent rash of responses to the issue

Many of the groups in question are starting to censor and add restrictive rules to their groups in an effort to improve the general ambiance of the place. After all you can't have contention, which leads to increased membership, if the more extreme lifestylers are constantly told they are fantasists (which does get old) and they just go fuck it and go back to their quiet corners to talk amongst themselves. Neither can you have members being called fat pigs without appearing to at least attempt to uphold the TOU.

And in the blink of an eye the last round of splitters have become the establishment and a new class rises to take their place...