I am Tired of Tiptoeing

[azaelia]

There is a problem on this message board that goes deeper than just petty arguments over Napoleon Dynamite and whether or not what so-and-so said was meant insultingly. If that was the only problem, it would have blown over long ago. No, the real problem is something much harder to point out. But I'm going to do it. If anyone, by the end of this post feels insulted, I am heartily sorry. It is not my intent. I just don't think that walking on eggshells is doing anybody any good.

The problem on this message board is that people are becoming too attached to it. Be aware, this is just a message board. A way for people to communicate with other people of like minds, or maybe not so like minds, and to learn and grow. But it's also a place just to chill out and have fun. Don't become so attached to it.

I'm not saying "get a life" because I know even some of our most addicted members (myself included) actually do have lives outside of PhatMass, and the internet in general. I'm simply suggesting that we all need to step back and think "Is this really worth it?" Look at some of the things we've seen blow up recently. Are they really so important that we have to get all worked up about them? I can see this happening in the Debate Table, but in Open Mic? Over a movie? Over who said what and what they meant by it? Seriously, people. It saddens me to think that this kind of petty fighting has reached my once safe haven.

We need to stop taking things so seriously. Learn how to let things slide. Remember that we don't really know each other as well as if we knew each other face to face. We're missing things, like facial expressions, vocal inflection and tone, to help us interpret each other's meaning. True, there have been some things said out of sheer frustration that have not been as loving or respectful as they should have been, but we're human. Why can't be forgive each other? Why is this all becoming such a big issue?

I would expect all of us, as members of a Catholic message board, to be able to forgive, or to at least place ourselves in someone else's place and try to see where they're coming from. The spirit infecting this message board is not Christian, and is not of God. And we're succumbing to it, and even accepting it, in our inability to step back, take a breath, and see what's really going on here.

Bottom line...BREATHE! Stop trying to get your points across for one second and think about what you're really trying to do. I'm referring to everyone. If we can't get along here, what makes us think we can make any change in the world outside of PhatMass?

[sweetpea316]

I couldn't agree more. Thanks for that; it needed to be said.

[Tink]

Amen to that, sista! This has been my point all along! Just thought I'd drop in to say thank you!

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

it's a phase....

[Guest Eremite]

A life outside of phatmass?

Whence comes this heresy you speak of?

[Scofizzle]

well said

[Luthien]

Thanks big sis'

[Azriel]

The Velvet Hammer salutes you ... and the Mrs. is right. Its a phase.

[dUSt]

[img]http://www.sweetcakes4u.com/Web%20Pictures/Web%20L%20-%20Cookie%20Cake%20Thank%20You.jpg[/img]

[azaelia]

[quote name='dUSt' date='Mar 1 2005, 07:35 PM'] [img]http://www.sweetcakes4u.com/Web%20Pictures/Web%20L%20-%20Cookie%20Cake%20Thank%20You.jpg[/img] [/quote]

[toledo_jesus]

I've been saying that it's just a message board for a month now.
I don't understand how people could become so involved in what is essentially a conversation you can turn off.
This site is great, but if it shut down tomorrow we'd all get over it and move on. Our eyes would keep blinking, our lungs would continue to fill with air, our hearts would remain pumping, and our synapses would continue to fire.
It's just text.

[MichaelFilo]

I think the fact that alot of teens make up this site is a root source of the problem. Getting a life is indeed a valid solution to all teen problems, I'm sorry to say.

God bless,
Mikey

[Chorusgirl]

Thank you so much for bringing that up!! I recently joined phatmass and I am glad to hear that something of such great importance has been brought up. May God be with us all, and as you said, relax... Have a lovely day and may God bless you!

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

It's a phase that the phamily goes through, probably once every year. The reason why some people are so engrossed in it is because it isn't [b]just[/b] a message board. It's people with whom we've formed friendships with. It's our family (I purposely spelled it with an 'f').

Those who have been here towards the beginning of Phatmass have spent a lot of our emotions and time into the board, forming such said friendships. Friends fight, families quarrel. But all in all, everything always sorts itself out. Give it time. Threads like this one, no offense, is not going to bring about a solution. Time is the only healer.

[argent_paladin]

I agree, especially on the open mic. If you want to raise your blood pressure, bring it to the debate table. Obviously, someone who says that they hate napoleon dynamite on the open board doesn't expect to be attacked or debated. If she said it on the debate board and said why, that would be different. The open mike is a place where we can eat pudding, etc. And we are especially called to "be don't lame", which I think means that we shouldn't take things too seriously here. We can be lame on the debate board, as I often am.