History of Feminism
In reply to the discussion: Men get it [View all]JustAnotherGen
(34,146 posts)But I just saw something really disturbing in GD . . . I responded to it to - in kindness and out of concern.
What's concerning to me -
Some of these folks really take this web site very very SERIOUSLY. The past few weeks I've gotten a creepy feeling that this is their be all and end all in life. It's where they get their 'soul fed' so to speak. Losing their posting privileges would be devastating to them. Being cut off from this community would be devastating to them. They have a very real emotional attachment to DU.
I can understand that mindset in support group formats - to some extent. But only to some extent.
Maybe it's my degrees? Mass Communications and Political Science - that makes me see this as a grand petri dish of ideas - yet something I don't need to be attached to? I.E. I don't get an emotional payoff from DU.
Here's the thing BB - I don't think you get an emotional payoff from DU either. Lately I'm sure there's been some amusement and horror - but most important and ever present you get and give IDEAS. I think you like to explore and share IDEAS. Concepts of thought and being.
And the this morning at about 5:30 a.m. - it dawned on me - people who are idea people are engaging with people who have turned this into their very life - their being - their emotional payoffs -
Their very identity is linked to this site. And they identify with OTHERS who have linked their identity and popularity - circle of influence and admiration to this site.
Warren wrote a beautiful post. He seriously did. But the beauty of Warren? He doesn't get an emotional payoff from me writing that. He shared a concept an idea - and that's that.
And what he encounted on that thread? Was the cult of online personality.
I think we all need to step back, breathe and start to try and see it. And I believe - truly believe - that you will see the positive intent in what I've just written.