How do you react to things on this board?

[melsb]

I'm pretty much, whatever, usually! But last night someone completely took something I said and changed it. I was hopping mad! "How dare they!" "I'm folding up my account!" "I'll PM this person and that person." "I'll start a thread!" Blah, blah, blah, I ranted (to myself) for probably about 3 hours. I'd also had a bad day in other areas of my life.

Anyway, about 7 p.m. I started to settle down. And became very thankful that I hadn't done all the different things that I thought about doing. Truthfully, the person probably misunderstood what I said, and that is OK, life goes on and really, this isn't a poster that I had ever ran across before - probably never will again. And maybe I should learn to be more clear in my posts. Maybe I shouldn't discuss my personal life as much.

So, I was wondering how you handle things that are said, or mis-said, on MommySavers. I know I'm not the only one that has gotten my feathers ruffled on here before!

[Happymom]

There are certain people who always seem to take what I say the wrong way or twist my meaning. I get a bit angry to myself, but usually go back and clarify what I said and leave it at that. Life is too short to get too worked up!

[ChickyHip]

I think it's always hard to understand how people are trying to come across on a message board. I admit that I take things the wrong way a lot and the same happens when people read what I have to say, too. And just as I speak before I think sometimes...I type before I think, too.

[Cookie2]

I do get emotionally wrapped up in the board (and other discussion boards I frequent) sometimes. I sign-on just to see how someone is doing. I'll quickly click on a thread that one of my favorite people has started. I'll think about the board and people on the board through the day when I'm not on line. That connection is why we're called an internet community.

However, I've been on internet discussion forums since the internet practically began and I've learned that if I'm getting TOO emotionally involved it probably means I need to take a break.

Being on-line means we can often be more open about our personal thoughts than in real life. However, it also means we interact with a lot more people than we normally would want to in our life. And it means we really don't know each other like we would if we met them face to face. For instance, I belonged to a board for almost a decade and had met several of the members in person. One person lived near enough that I met her 3 or 4 times a year. Then suddenly she cut off the friendship and I never knew why. I was crushed. I had to let it go. Our relationship was influenced by misconceptions we had about each other based on our early internet 'conversations' and somewhere I think that got in the way.

[emmlly]

I take everything with a grain of salt. I find that people dont read the whole thread before replying a lot of the time. I do have to say i like getting different takes on things...even if I dont agree with them! lol

[bananabellesmom]

I do too get emotionally involved.... there are a couple of people who just seem to poke the pin in my side and always seem to misunderstand me. I try to let it go. Like you said, it doesn't help if I'm having a bad day in other things...

[skimommy]

I know what you mean. I try to keep my posts simple because I feel like some people try to personally attack me.

[2bearsmom]

On-line it is so much different than having a person to person conversation, so I just try and remember that. Sometimes it gets a little hard b/c those of you that know me or have talked to me on the phone know I am the same on line as I am in real life, I expect everyone to be like that but they aren't some people are very very outspoken on the internet, but not in real life and vice versa. A lot of things get said on line that wouldn't in person.

There are certain comments that can ruffle my feathers, or something taken out of context but like Happymom said, just claify things and in the end... it either works itself out or you just agree to disagree.

I'm not one to pack up my toys and go home...I have an emotional investment in Mommysavers

[Christy]

I post a lot of topic starters. I like discussions and I like hearing two sides. What bothers me is when the same people respond to my threads minimizing my feelings for almost everything I discuss! So frustrating....but I don't walk away from this board bent out of shape or anything....I am invested.....but like MELSB said, you just have to put things in perspective and not consume yourself with everything said on here. It would be nice, however, if these people would either NOT respond or simply agree with me at least ONCE in awhile! LOL

ETA: I have also learned to avoid conflict. I don't respond to political threads or religious threads and I sensitively respond to "what's your opinion" type threads because I know those threads are loaded!!! LOL

[calimari]

I don't get nearly as riled up as I used to but some comments tick me off if it seems that they totally misunderstood the point of my post. Sometimes I repost to clarify but then that one gets misunderstood, etc...