Playing by the Rules
Mon., September 29, 11:20 AM
One of my buddies has recently been visited by another of those anonymous (i.e., cowardly) offensive players. The first thought that came to mind was, doesn’t that idiot know how easy it is to identify the writer’s computer? The next thought was, oh, he’s not worth the trouble.
This is obviously another child (I don’t care how grown up you think you are), who believes that if he acts up and gets their attention, the big kids will let him play with them. I’m sorry. (I’m always sorry for neglected kids, but that doesn’t give them the right to annoy others.) So, kid, I’m telling you right now, if you can’t learn the rules, you’re not ready to play the game.
There are two levels of rules, the ones for a specific game and the rules of life, which I think you haven’t absorbed either. The rules of civilized behavior can guide you when you don’t know the rules of the game.
Let’s talk for a minute about the playing rules of Diaryland. The journal belongs to the writer. You are welcome to read. Many of the regular Diaryland writers make online friendships, and you may even make some friends yourself. You are welcome to comment in the Guestbook, but you may not get malicious. If the writer includes an e-mail address, you may contact him or her, providing your own identification in the process.
I have been known to drop a private message to a writer when I feel the subject matter is a little more personal than belonged in a Guestbook. I have also been known to delete a nasty comment from my own Guestbook in order to avoid embarrassing the writer. (Leave it to me to extend sympathy to someone who doesn’t deserve it.)
Now, let us suppose that you are new to Diaryland, and you don’t know the rules. (That much is obvious.) You come upon a diary that you don’t like. The simplest way out is that little X at the upper right hand of your screen. When you click on that, the offending page will close. Simple, isn’t it?
What if you really feel you must say something? Are you sure? Would you say it to my face? Remember what Thumper used to say, “If you can’t say nuthin’ nice, don’t say nuthin’ at all."
All right, you really can’t hold it in. So you go to the Guestbook and compose a comment, remembering that other people may perceive things differently and that one does not say nasty things just for the fun of it. Here’s where etiquette – the rules of civilized behavior – come in. You are careful not to offend the recipient – or his readers. You apologize in case you have. And you sign your name.
When you don’t play by the rules, the other players will exclude you in one way or another. Maybe they will lock their diaries and leave them open only to their friends. (Oh, you don’t mind that, do you, you didn’t like it anyway.) Some will leave their diaries open but close the Guestbook. None will care to make friends with you.
And one thing more. It’s such a childish thing, going back check the reaction to your insult. I know you did, because you put in a second comment. It was uncalled for. I don’t like you.
To all my Diaryland friends: This was not what I intended to write today. I just think it’s time someone told these animals to stay out of our backyard.
