When teasing on the board goes too far

I was just doing some thinking about how we do tease each other on this board at times. True, most have us have a wonderful sense of humor. But when this gentle teasing turns into down right cruelty, it makes me think. Do people realize when they are cruel that they are actually hurting people? I really don't think so because they continue to do it. Sometimes I try to think of why people do this. Is it a defense mechanism? Cruelty and hurt can put a great distance between people . Perhaps some people can't deal with getting close to people so they hurt them and keep them at a distance. I believe that this is very childish. Or maybe people were terribly wounded at some point in their lives or in particular their childhood. They never learned how to deal with things on a mature level and this is how they cope. I admit that there have been times on this board that I may have over stepped some boundaries..........but I learned and grew from those experiences. Please discuss.

---

Are people throwing negativity snowballs again?

I don't know if it stems from personal experiences, but I think, in some cases, people feel the anonymity of the board gives them license to be a$$holes.

---

I think you have a point there Shameless. Being online gives a person a sense of freedom to let their dark side show. It is a shame that has to happen as I think it is a very unhealthy.

---

MN..I think that is true. Online we have to chose our words very carefully because no one can hear our voices. I have been a chat host on AOL for several years and I always stress that it the chats I lead. However, there are times in here when it becomes just too much.

---

Shameless, I have the same sense of humor myself. I know what you mean.

or maybe there's an awful lotta whiny little cry-babies on this board who didn't get enough love from mama and now they're searching to fill that void with anonymous conversations. suck it up folks, it's a message board.

---

Papa, there are, without a doubt, a lot of whiney crybabies here, but it doesn't change the fact that some people go too far, and seem to take pleasure in it.

---

Grouping every person who's against the overly nasty atmosphere that sometimes occurs here as a whining crybaby is an oversimplification that's beneath you, papa. You act as if considering the feelings of others is akin to dressing up in a pink bunny suit and singing the Barney song.

It burrows into your brain and eats it from the inside out, Priest. *nods solemnly* Trust me. And I was already getting too old for Barney the first time I saw it.

Well, you are assuming all of us are adults.

---