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nockergeekOn one hand, there's a lot of things said on the internet that just don't need saying. Lots of sniping, snarking, mocking, and character assassination that serves no real useful purpose. Sometimes, it's just better to leave things unsaid, or just type it out/scribble it down and delete it/throw it away. If you absolutely have to share something, there's no real need to name names or drop hints as to who's the object of your derision, or to make it public in any way. Once you get it out, let it go - otherwise, it's not really venting.
On the other hand, we could all stand to be more thick-skinned. We're social animals, so the opinions of others do matter to us, but we can often take too much stock in those opinions. It's one thing if it's someone you see in person day after day, but online, it's a different ballgame. In the end, if the words that bother you are not from someone with whom you have a close, personal relationship, then they're just the random chatter of random strangers who only know you as a nickname and an avatar on their screens.
And no, I'm not claiming to be innocent of either saying hurtful things or of being quick to take offense. If anything, the latter is something I really need to work on.
On the other hand, we could all stand to be more thick-skinned. We're social animals, so the opinions of others do matter to us, but we can often take too much stock in those opinions. It's one thing if it's someone you see in person day after day, but online, it's a different ballgame. In the end, if the words that bother you are not from someone with whom you have a close, personal relationship, then they're just the random chatter of random strangers who only know you as a nickname and an avatar on their screens.
And no, I'm not claiming to be innocent of either saying hurtful things or of being quick to take offense. If anything, the latter is something I really need to work on.