Anyone else discouraged by . . .- Page 2

[mll85]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 9:08pm

Oh, if only you had witnessed some of the smack we were talking in the Jersey Boys SF rush line... It was like BWW Live.

Oh those were fun times.
Updated On: 4/5/08 at 09:08 PM

[matty159]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 9:13pm

But, Lizzie, that was face to face! That is all a good time! Who doesn't love that banter? I am sure I can come across as a pretentious and contentious jerk when talking theater in public. On here, something can come across confrontational unless tkaen in the right spirit of what BWW is meant for anyhow.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 9:14pm

Heh.

I always think it's funny when people say, "In REAL life, we wouldn't be..." or "In REAL life, I'm much nicer..."

Guess what? This context is completely different. So it's a moot point. I don't really care how you are in real life because we're not interacting there.

[matty159]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 9:17pm

Agreed, but IMHO, I think we should always represent ourselves online as we would in "real life". Idealistic? Absolutely.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 9:18pm

That depends on if you want to meet up with people later on, and how much of your real-life persona you actually want connected to your online persona.

Then again, there have been people who've wanted to meet me based on my posts here AND SOMETIMES I THINK THAT'S WEIRD.

[matty159]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 9:20pm

Alright...totally agreed with you there!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 9:22pm

I mean, there's one thing if you're a fan and your username is like... Cosette678, but if you're a composer or actor or whatnot and talking about your own work here (and, of course, plenty of people here do that), then you probably should be more careful. Like all forums, it all depends on what you want to get out of it and how much you want to take with you offline when you turn your computer off at the end of the night.

[matty159]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 9:26pm

Again. agreed. Well put.

[dented146]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 9:27pm

This board differs from many in that many work on Broadway and others are passionate observers. I'm old enough to remember when a serious discussion did not necessarily become a fight.

I agree,matty, with much of what you say; but when you follow it up with 'I love a flop', referring to a particular show that you have not seen. It is bound to ruffle some feathers.

Still, it's the way you express yourself and some people can handle it better than others.

Personally, I prefer the Margos and Smaxies on this board because they never seem to have an axe to grind. They temper their comments with reason and because of that everyone is better off.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 9:28pm

If someone chooses to be "fake" on the board, it's still part of their reality...and ours, as long as we continue to make the board part of our lives.

Just as life "off the board," the best you can do is model positive behavior. Rather than criticize and complain about the community you have chosen to join, why not bring to it the balanced, kind and compassionate respect you seek?

Act the way you believe everyone should act. Even if it doesn't change the way others interact with you, at least you will be true to yourself. And that's more important than anything.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 9:30pm

Act the way you believe everyone should act. Even if it doesn't change the way others interact with you, at least you will be true to yourself. And that's more important than anything.

You want everyone to act one certain way? Really? I get your sentiment, but that's just asking for polite, bland discussion and monotony.

[matty159]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 9:34pm

I base my comment that I love a "flop" on the musicals that I love. I shudder to say that Nick and Nora and My Favorite Year are two of my favorites. I listen to them religiously and remember my experience in the theatre with them with love. What I guess I was trying trying to say is that I love shows that "flopped", but I love so much. I hate to see something fail. I just wish it had found the inspiration to be greater and overcome its failures. When Barry Bostwick looked pained at the end of Act One of Nick and Nora, I felt for him. It could have been a great show. Trust me, I love any endeavor that reaches for the NY stage.

[SpellingBeeFan4Ever]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 9:35pm

"I always think it's funny when people say, "In REAL life, we wouldn't be..." or "In REAL life, I'm much nicer..." "





That reminds me of that Wedding Singer thread a few weeks ago. When you responded to my comment with......

"That's a good point. Next time I pee on a Starbucks couch and throw straws and napkins at a barista, I'll just yell, "YOU DON'T KNOW ME OUTSIDE OF STARBUCKS! YOU DON'T KNOW ME AT ALL!" and that should do it"

Updated On: 4/5/08 at 09:35 PM

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 9:41pm

I didn't say everyone should think and say the same thing. But people who complain about other people rather than changing themselves are doomed to be miserable. It's a CHOICE they're making, so b!tching about it strikes me as rather disingenuous.

Everyone has their b!tchy moments. But the greatest communicators don't have to sink to name-calling and nastiness to get their points across. In fact, the more lively, creative and original they are, the less they need to rely on cheap, catty attacks on those with whom they disagree.

[matty159]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 9:44pm

miss pennywise, i think you summed up my thoughts that i was hedging on. well played.

[slimandslam]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 9:52pm

Act the way you believe everyone should act.

Immanuel Kant said it first. Lizzie, your beef is with him.

IMHO, I think we should always represent ourselves online as we would in "real life".

I agree with you up to a point. Online, we get to be who we want to be in real life. To represent ourselves as we would in real life means we are happy with who we are in real life. Otherwise, we can use our online personae as a way to address these flaws. (On the boards, I can represent myself as articulate and knowledgable. In real life? Let's just say "less so.")

Maybe some people want to be meaner in real life. I don't, myself, but such a desire doesn't strike me as unlikely or even unreasonable.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 9:58pm

"To represent ourselves as we would in real life means we are happy with who we are in real life."

Bingo!

And Matty, thanks for your kind words.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 10:01pm

I didn't say everyone should think and say the same thing. But people who complain about other people rather than changing themselves are doomed to be miserable. It's a CHOICE they're making, so b!tching about it strikes me as rather disingenuous.

No, but if you (or Kant) wants everyone to act the way you think everyone should act, isn't that just one way?

I agree with you on the complaining -- if there's one thing I can't stand in real life or online it's the constant complainers. I understand not everyone is going to keep their annoyances internalized, but I don't need a constant stream of bitchery. At least make it clever...

[slimandslam]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 10:06pm

If there's one thing I can't stand in real life or online it's the constant complainers. I understand not everyone is going to keep their annoyances internalized, but I don't need a constant stream of bitchery.

The problem with this opinion is that you can't express it without becoming part of the problem.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 10:07pm

Add a rule to that list. You must doubt all absentees.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 10:08pm

LOL, I knoooow. But if you only do it once...

[slimandslam]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 10:14pm

Lizzie: I was pretty sure you knew, but it was too good a setup.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 10:22pm

13. Keep your fantasy life to yourself. Every male actor under 35 doesn't need to be judged by what they would look like in their underwear.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 10:34pm

"No, but if you (or Kant) wants everyone to act the way you think everyone should act, isn't that just one way?"

I'm afraid you're missing my point, Lizzie. (I can't speak for Kant. LOL!)

You can treat people with respect and kindness and not compromise your individuality. Besides, it's not about how everyone else acts, it's about how we ourselves choose to live our lives.

I'm not bland. But I'm also not mean. And I definitely have my own opinions!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/5/08 at 11:19pm

The internet, sadly, will always be a way for people to take out their feelings on people they never have to look at in the face. Bitchy, funny is fine, but some of the levels people stoop to on this board is a tad sad really. I'm always up for a good argument, but every time you dare to talk about something with a critical eye, you seem to get a lot of "Have you seen the show?". Theatre fans are a different breed these days. We didn't have the internet, instant access to video and sound. I miss those days, actually.