> when people can read what other people are thinking, what's bugging them, etc., we tend to get Drama
I said almost this exact thing to someone today. :)
Okay, and now off to tangent-land. Bear with me, it's late and I might be rambling. *g* LJ is an interactive medium -- we post, others comment. Unfortunately people are more likely to comment on 'extremes' -- thoughts and statements that reflect peaks of emotion -- than on more mundane 'balanced' posts. And why does it matter that people comment? Well, comments reinforce posting behaviour...especially since few people (in my experience) ever comment with blunt responses like "you're full of sh*t" or "geez, would you take this offline?" We're more likely to get "(hugs)" and suchlike. These positive responses encourage dramatic posts, whereas low-commented 'balanced' posts get less reinforcement. Does this make sense? After all, comments are our only proof that anyone's reading (i.e., paying attention to us).
Hmmmm...maybe we need to encourage and offer better feedback, if we want different types of posts?
And also, if we want to present a more realistic image of ourselves online, do we need to make an effort to post the everyday mundane in addition to the extremes?
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Date: 2005-06-08 05:54 am (UTC)I said almost this exact thing to someone today. :)
Okay, and now off to tangent-land. Bear with me, it's late and I might be rambling. *g* LJ is an interactive medium -- we post, others comment. Unfortunately people are more likely to comment on 'extremes' -- thoughts and statements that reflect peaks of emotion -- than on more mundane 'balanced' posts. And why does it matter that people comment? Well, comments reinforce posting behaviour...especially since few people (in my experience) ever comment with blunt responses like "you're full of sh*t" or "geez, would you take this offline?" We're more likely to get "(hugs)" and suchlike. These positive responses encourage dramatic posts, whereas low-commented 'balanced' posts get less reinforcement. Does this make sense? After all, comments are our only proof that anyone's reading (i.e., paying attention to us).
Hmmmm...maybe we need to encourage and offer better feedback, if we want different types of posts?
And also, if we want to present a more realistic image of ourselves online, do we need to make an effort to post the everyday mundane in addition to the extremes?
Oh yeah, it's late, and I'm rambling. Sorry, I'll stop now. :)