A Little Wonder

Things that happen on the internet aren't really real. I've been spoofed somewhere, and it's a very unflattering spoof. 'Victim' of a troll I guess, not a personal thing either, seems several key figures on the website have been spoofed too, but I am surprised that I seem worth the effort too.

The thing is, I understand trolling. People whining about things that don't matter. The excessive reaction of someone to something fairly innocuous. It is, admittedly, fairly amusing at times as people over-react, act like the top dog, and behave like the internet owes them a modicum of respect.

My own opinion on the matter is that it stops being fun once people start to feel hurt. A hurtful comment in real life owes an apology, however truthful. A hurtful comment in virtual life should be the same. This is how I behave, everyone has their lives, live and let live. Have fun, enjoy yourself, but not at the expense of others feelings.

The internet isn't a real place though. I once thought it was; I described it as a vast metropolis, but it seems more like a pit of hell, with some small patches of light. I wonder now why I even stay online at all some days, as my inboxes fill with bar-room chat-up lines, and scorn related to a large part of who I am. I do get some meaningful messages from people I know and like, but really, given all the problems that do come up, I still am left wondering.

How do you deal with the internet forum troll for example? Reacting in any way results in them stepping up the game; Gives them power over you, as you suddenly start to feel what they want you to feel. Non-reaction feels like a cop-out, like you haven't dealt with the harm you've suffered. This wondering is probably my reaction, like removing the pictures that show my face on some sites, it's me pulling back a little from it all and asking why. I already know why though. Someone thought, somewhere, that it would be funny. They're not arseholes, cunts, bastards, or fuckers; they're people. The rules that supposedly apply to real life don't apply to the virtual, leaving confused people only asking themselves why.

Back in reality though, nothing much is different. Life goes on. I wake up, do stuff, go to bed. The sun rises and the sun sets.

The internet is boring lately.