Editor in Chief Bill | 16 Jun 2018 8:13 p.m. PST |
As each of us gets older, we may face challenges in our ability to communicate on the internet. The obvious challenges are those of old age: the hands get stiff, the eyes less sharp, recovering from a stroke, etc. I hear from many of our readers who are struggling through these challenges. A less obvious challenge, related to aging, is what might be simply summed up as "grumpiness" – some of us find ourselves less and less patient with others, or more aggravated by the things others say. I think many of us remember a prominent wargamer who had to leave TMP because he could not stop 'flaming' against non-historical wargamers. He had also talked a lot of his medical challenges, and PTSD problems after a stressful career. I don't know about his specific case, but I know that our medical issues and our medications (and their side effects) can impact our ability to use and enjoy the internet. More recently, Editor Gwen shared with me an incident with our of our members who asked us to permanently lock his account. He told Gwen that his medical issues can cause him to be triggered by others' comments, so that he 'flames back' at people. From his perspective, he is fighting against people of an opposite opinion; in actuality, he's lashing out at people who often have no clue what he's mad at them for. So the bottom line is: Keep an eye on your health issues. If you find the forum bothering you, keep in mind that it might to some degree be 'in your mind' – if everything offends you, maybe you need to consult your doctor, or consider the side effects of your medications. TMP is here for the enjoyment of wargaming. If you find a particular board offending you, don't read it. If a particular person triggers you, please consider Stifling them. You have the tools and the responsibility to manage your TMP user experience. |
bsrlee | 16 Jun 2018 11:16 p.m. PST |
You young Slackers get off my bandwidth :-P Spell checkers can only compensate so much for fumble fingers. |
ZULUPAUL | 17 Jun 2018 2:28 a.m. PST |
Dang kids, why back in my day we had to chisel out cuneiform on tablets, and we were happy to have them. HMMMPH |
x42brown | 17 Jun 2018 3:49 a.m. PST |
I don't think that I do badly. I have switched off the most irritating boards (Napoleonics and ACW) and for my age I think that I am reasonably tolerant of others. I will struggle on with my arthritis and dyslexia and hope my software sorts out my typos. I love the internet. x42 |
martin goddard | 17 Jun 2018 4:20 a.m. PST |
Good thoughts Bill. I concur. |
skippy0001 | 17 Jun 2018 4:35 a.m. PST |
I'm not crazy…I LIKE to eat brains. Other than that, I'm OK. |
Herkybird | 17 Jun 2018 6:35 a.m. PST |
+1 Bill! If I have offended anyone or they feel I have been rude, I hope they will forgive me, my intentions have never, and never will be to hurt anyone! I find one useful maxim is 'Never put down to malice, that which can adequately be put down to thoughtlessness' |
Legion 4 | 17 Jun 2018 6:46 a.m. PST |
So the bottom line is: Keep an eye on your health issues. The VA keeps me well "medicated" … But a few months back a number of individuals were locked out. Many of those frequently attacked, batted heads, etc., with me as well as others, here. IMO many of those were just looking to start an argument, etc., etc. And didn't get it about everybody is entitled to an opinion, POV, etc. And deciding to agree to disagree and move on is what "well adjusted" adults do…. or should. Admittedly I'm no "Angel" … But I had no problem with seeing many of them go … And continue their vitriol, derision, etc., "elsewhere" … However, some I got along with very well and was very sorry to see them go … All that being said, I agree with Martin and this was a very nice gesture on your part Bill. |
rustymusket | 17 Jun 2018 6:58 a.m. PST |
Thanks, Bill. Appreciate the reminder. If you aren't having fun, don't do it, is my retirement approach to life, now. |
robert piepenbrink | 17 Jun 2018 9:13 a.m. PST |
Does anyone else remember the bit in The Two Towers where someone points out to Gandalf that he's talking to himself? "It is a habit of the old to always speak to the wisest person present. The long explanations required by the young are too wearisome." For myself, I try very hard to just drop out of arguments which have become circular--or when I heard exactly the same case made with the same evidence 30+ years ago. So if you don't see me refuting some bit of nonsense, think of me sitting here growling--or maybe chuckling. It depends. |
21eRegt | 17 Jun 2018 9:46 a.m. PST |
This place is nothing compared to Facebook! |
Toaster | 17 Jun 2018 12:40 p.m. PST |
"This place is nothing compared to Facebook!" And long may that continue, I'm on facebook because I can't avoid it, I'm on TMP because I want to be. Robert |
Ed Mohrmann | 17 Jun 2018 3:08 p.m. PST |
I used to pride myself on my level of tolerance. Can't make that claim any longer. Small things, especially website 'security' protocols (which really are not). I had an admin ask me just today for my billing address 'so we can be sure it is you.' I asked if they were going to send me a bill since all I'd done was try to establish a login ID. I was told no, of course not. To which I responded by asking why did they want my billing address ? I was told 'it is procedure.' Whereupon I hung-up the 'phone and went elsewhere to place the order. An over-reaction upon my part, almost certainly. But I served as a CSR manager for years and buffoonery of that stripe always wrangles me. And I'm not on meds, so don't have that excuse. Perhaps I should be. |
Editor in Chief Bill | 17 Jun 2018 6:22 p.m. PST |
But a few months back a number of individuals were locked out. Many of those frequently attacked, batted heads, etc., with me as well as others, here. IMO many of those were just looking to start an argument, etc., etc. There's a separate issue, relevant not just to TMP but social media in general, of people who create accounts primarily for the purpose of bullying people they despise. We try to shut those people down as quickly as we recognize their behavior. |
ochoin | 18 Jun 2018 2:48 a.m. PST |
Ed: you are a very tolerant man. Don't sell yourself short. |
etotheipi | 18 Jun 2018 4:49 a.m. PST |
I hung-up the 'phone and went elsewhere to place the order. There you go. You have right to run your business (legally) how you see fit. I have a right to participate or not how I see fit. |
Legion 4 | 18 Jun 2018 5:44 a.m. PST |
I hate robo-calls as much as I hate spammers. And at times I will say some very "bad" things to those on the other end of the phone if I actually get a human. The robo-call starts off lying to you saying e.g. "my student loan has been flagged" – don't have a student loan … "we have been trying to contact you about your new rate" or insurance or contract, etc. …
"To be put on our do not call list press … " I do but they still call ? So 'm and the horse they rode in on !
And I'm not on meds, Like I said, I'm well "medicated" … |
Dynaman8789 | 18 Jun 2018 5:52 a.m. PST |
I've turned off a vast slew of boards here, makes me much calmer. Not calm, but calmer… |
Ed Mohrmann | 18 Jun 2018 6:47 a.m. PST |
I can't recall any boards I've turned off – generally, I scan post titles and click on requests for help (in the few cases I can, I do) or on items which appear interesting. But always poised to move on if it looks as if trouble is ahead…there is enough of that in the world without me contributing more. |
Bismarck | 18 Jun 2018 6:47 a.m. PST |
Good points, Bill. I find myself now annoyed by things that would not have gotten a thought even 5 yers ago. Even though folks have mentioned meds..thats another thing. One of my rx was changed a year or so ago and the first few months were pretty bad, so that too can cause tempers to flare. As to the internet, I think the lack of face to face interaction has added to that factor and people are more apt to make comments that they would not if speaking in person. Bill touched on that in one of the previous posts. Tho old adage still proves true, here on TMP or elsewhere…think before you speak. Just my two cents |
War Artisan | 18 Jun 2018 11:24 a.m. PST |
"You can tell the size of a man by the size of the thing that makes him mad." - Adlai Stevenson |
Dynaman8789 | 18 Jun 2018 11:36 a.m. PST |
So something else Adlai was wrong about. That quote should be "You can tell the AGE of a man by the size of the thing that makes him mad." |
Oberlindes Sol LIC | 18 Jun 2018 12:13 p.m. PST |
Well, our life cycle is a curve of getting bigger and then smaller, so both statements can be true. |
Daithi the Black | 18 Jun 2018 12:37 p.m. PST |
I take breaks. From TMP. From FaceBook. From news sites. I know I'm mentally. I take my medications. I know I get triggered by little things sometimes, by big things other times. But the world is what it is these days, and while I don't plan to excercise an "opt out" action like my daughter did, I certainly do like to "pause" from time to time. |
Editor in Chief Bill | 20 Jun 2018 5:35 p.m. PST |
I find myself now annoyed by things that would not have gotten a thought even 5 yers ago. Even though folks have mentioned meds..thats another thing. One of my rx was changed a year or so ago and the first few months were pretty bad, so that too can cause tempers to flare. As men age, our testosterone levels go down – that in theory makes us calmer! |
Legion 4 | 21 Jun 2018 6:23 a.m. PST |
In theory … |
Cacique Caribe | 24 Jun 2018 9:42 a.m. PST |
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Legion 4 | 27 Jun 2018 2:48 p.m. PST |
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