We are already covered this. Without knowing the motive of the other person you would not know if they want a debate in the first place. This is why you are left forever wondering why did they say "something stupid".
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How long ago you made the comment is irrelevant
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No, I'm simply pointing out how that poster's explanation made no sense. If someone didn't want to engage you, they won't engage you. "You can only control your own actions" is a nice axiom, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't point out the folly of other people's actions. It just means we shouldn't lose sleep over them, which I'm certainly not. I'm simply making an observation of human behavior that I see all the time that I think is fascinating.
It's sort of like when a driver is tailgating someone, supposedly in a big hurry, and then when they finally are able to pass them, they get in front of them and go slow or brake check them and just generally waste time playing games with the other driver, which proves their time wasn't their true concern, but rather their ego.
Or like when someone says they've got better things to do than to argue, yet continue to reply over and over after stating they were done, thus proving their true concern was to have the last word, not to do those "better things." etc.
I'm not wondering why. I know why. Explained in post 19.
You should always point out that an explanation did not make any sense to you.
There is a reason why one Greek philosopher said that the only thing that I know is that I know nothing.
Isn't most of the time the responder isn't even looking at the OP's time stamp of when they posted. JUst responding out of gut reaction. I've found in those instances of posting on an old thread it's a mix of reactions. They either do like what you described or the discussion actually gets picked up again. I'd chalk this up to over thinking this. It's just what it is.
This is why I suggested that some people simply act like bullies because they somehow "smelled" your lack of confidence or vulnerability and just "went for it".
Ah, so your one of those people who think we have to literally type "in my opinion" after every opinion we state, even though it's obvious it's our opinion because we're the one's stating it? 🤣
I'm sorry, but this is getting a bit silly. I'm not going to go back and forth with you any more in this thread. Nothing personal, but I don't think we're tracking in this discussion, and I'm not sure how to make myself any clearer.
What is obvious and what is not is just another game that people like to play. I feel that I am just being a Captain Obvious in every single comment that I have ever made on this forum. I am happy to call it a day.
Yeah, I get you think you are the smartest guy in the room, but that is a question, not a statement/assumption. I know it is hard to look in the mirror and ask the tough question of ourselves.
Why does this whole issue bother you so?
MacRumors has a wonderful ignore function that may be more rewarding than frustratingly flogging a point…
In your example that kind of person is going to be hostile no matter what. It's in the language they use to begin with that should give you that hint. They lack maturity. There's no point in trying to interact with them.
Saying that, three months is not the same as three days and ten years is a long time ago technology wise.
Your example reply is also just as anecdotal as their original comment.
Saying that, three months is not the same as three days and ten years is a long time ago technology wise.
Your example reply is also just as anecdotal as their original comment.
That was just a made up example for simplicity sake--don't read too much into it. I've had the same response to much less troll-like comments that I've responded to--ones where there would be a much higher expectation of actual rational dialogue. And whether the OP or my reply are anecdotal or not is entirely beside the point. The point is that it's illogical to use the length of time that has passed since one comment as a criticism of response to what one wrote. The only time it would be relevant is if the passage of time has altered their original viewpoint, in which they could easily explain that.
But that's never the case in the interactions I'm talking about--it's simply them copping out of giving a meaningful reply while futilely trying to appear to have a legitimate reason. I decided to post a thread with this observation only because I've seen this exact pattern SO many times throughout the years. It's a cliche, irrational excuse people use to avoid taking responsibility for things they post online.
In my opinion, such a reply from strangers on the internet should be ignored. It shouldn't have bothered you enough to create a thread. The fact that it did should be the real focus.
1. Sometimes people say stupid things on the internet, because they haven't take the time to engage the brain in a rational way that leads to a constructive retort.
2. Often times, people who say stupid things on the internet aren't worth the time responding to.
3. If seeing stupid comments annoys, refer back to point 1 and ignore said comments.
1. Sometimes people say stupid things on the internet, because they haven't take the time to engage the brain in a rational way that leads to a constructive retort.
2. Often times, people who say stupid things on the internet aren't worth the time responding to.
3. If seeing stupid comments annoys, refer back to point 1 and ignore said comments.
Why does one starting a thread must mean they're "bothered" by something in the unhealthy sense that you're implying? Does it look like I'm foaming at the mouth, losing sleep over this, etc? LOL! No. I'm not looking for a psychologist here. I simply think it's a noteworthy tick many people have, very similar to how many people will reply to disagreeing comments with the fatuous "Well that's your opinion" (whose other opinion could it possibly be?) instead of engaging in rational discussion. And you clearly agree with me based on the rest of your reply here, so there you go. If you don't think it was worthy of a thread, well, sorry 🤷🏼♂️
If it didn't bother you in some way, why create a thread complaining about what you have observed? That makes no sense to me.
My post didn't state or imply anything with you is "unhealthy." You jumping to such a conclusion is you projecting context not made.
I have made my posts and don't see a need to continue further with this.
Robert, go back and read what you wrote:
That's implying some sort of unhealthy degree of being "bothered" by this, so much that you're talking like you're my shrink or something trying to counsel me. It comes across as very condescending. Why are you trying to turn this discussion into one about my intentions or mindset for posting instead of the actual topic I'm posting about? Do you post this same reply to the hundreds of other threads on this forum where the thread revolves around some sort of "complaint" or negative observation? If I had made some over the top rage-filled rant in my OP, then I could see your reply being more apropos, but I simply calmly made an observation about something that I thought was an interesting pattern in online discussions. I'm not going throughout my day thinking about this constantly or losing sleep over it.
You're taking it too seriously. People don't think about the comment they wrote three weeks ago. They've written a hundred more since then. You're right that people don't take responsibility for what they post, but it comes from us never thinking of things to be permanent to begin with and that someone was going to come across it in a search engine or scrolling through comments later on.
No, I'm not. Just having a discussion. If I said, "Hey guys, this is really stressing me out and making me furious" then I'd be taking it too seriously. Some of you guys read way, way too much into threads. Starting a thread on a forum isn't exactly an ultra serious thing that means the person is making a huge deal out of the topic. It's very casual.
Well then they have a choice. They get a notification that someone replied. If they have experienced amnesia and can't remember what they were thinking even after re-reading their comment, then they can either just move on or say so. If they want to rebut what I replied, then they can do so. To insult me for replying to their comment just because it went over some arbitrary expiration date in their mind is not a logical option.
No, what I mean is that you're taking the whole commenting on the internet too seriously when it itself is very casual.
It is even very likely people don't even read your reply before they tell you to whatever. You, and loads of other people would love it if they weren't like that, but that's just how the general internet culture is and you just have to accept it.
It is even very likely people don't even read your reply before they tell you to whatever. You, and loads of other people would love it if they weren't like that, but that's just how the general internet culture is and you just have to accept it.
But I'm not. THEY seem to take it very seriously when they freak out about a reply to their comment due to its age, as if there's some sort of formal rule. I just think it's funny. I'm simply pointing out how dumb it is.
I'm under no delusion that I'm going to change them. It's just a discussion.
I get that in some cases it might not make sense to bring up the age of a comment, but I can also see why a year later your opinion might have changed so I can’t really agree on your agree on your point.
Also if you assume the commenter sees the age of the post, it might come off extra pity if they still decide to drag up an old topic.
If I were that other guy, I wouldn't even replied to some old post if it didn't had any particular value to me, so he could let you have your fun party with his old thoughts, all by yourself.
We don't have to engage in comments on internet, or/and we can say what we want, without owning other ppl any explanations, at all actually.
Everybody make their very own interpretations, and they can be very far away from each other, and that's fine.
If we don't like the conversation, we can opt out at anytime without having any respnsibility to answer anyone whatsoever.
We are online for our own sake, and do what we want, with integrity of course - we are not online to serve other people's thinking, unless we do it in some work-related form.
I hear OP say 'they seem to be this and that', which is all interpretations, and now I am making an interpretation that you want us to say you were right and he was wrong.
You won't get that from me. 😉
We don't have to engage in comments on internet, or/and we can say what we want, without owning other ppl any explanations, at all actually.
Everybody make their very own interpretations, and they can be very far away from each other, and that's fine.
If we don't like the conversation, we can opt out at anytime without having any respnsibility to answer anyone whatsoever.
We are online for our own sake, and do what we want, with integrity of course - we are not online to serve other people's thinking, unless we do it in some work-related form.
I hear OP say 'they seem to be this and that', which is all interpretations, and now I am making an interpretation that you want us to say you were right and he was wrong.
You won't get that from me. 😉
It's funny. We as a society tend to live moment by moment, very forgetful of the past. Yet we treasure the Internet...which remembers forever. And then sometime in the future the ever-knowing Internet makes sure we clash with the spontaneous indiscretions of the past. Then we lash out at others for reminding us all the while cursing ourselves for a memory that we hoped we could forget.
Personally, I find that all rationality goes out the window on the Internet. Maybe people hide behind keyboard courage and the pseudo-truth of anonymity on the Internet, believing that you don't need to be nice to people if they don't know who you are. Maybe it's too easy to create a new user name and trash the old one when your bad opinions or detractors have caught up with you. Maybe there's just an overall decrease in civility these days because we see words on the screen, not people behind keyboards - people with lives, history, and experiences that everyone could learn from if they only listened.
Personally, I find that all rationality goes out the window on the Internet. Maybe people hide behind keyboard courage and the pseudo-truth of anonymity on the Internet, believing that you don't need to be nice to people if they don't know who you are. Maybe it's too easy to create a new user name and trash the old one when your bad opinions or detractors have caught up with you. Maybe there's just an overall decrease in civility these days because we see words on the screen, not people behind keyboards - people with lives, history, and experiences that everyone could learn from if they only listened.
In General I have no issue with replying to old threads.
The examples where I might say something is where the topic is without doubt perished.If the topic is open any post within it is fair game. The last reply in the example is a prohibited personal attack. If a website does not welcome replies to an old thread then they can auto-close it after a period of no activity.
That's the thing, though. *HOW* do you know they're taking it very seriously?
Speaking only for myself (in my opinion - heh), if I were to type something like that, I guaranTEE it'd be said tongue-in-cheek, as if to say "Dude, I can't remember what I had for breakfast, let alone what I posted a year ago.
With that said, in general, sure, if I post something, and a year later someone responds to it, unless it's such an inane subject that it bears no response....I'll respond, even if it's to say "Well...my bad, obviously I was wrong" or what have you. But that's just me.