It's Monday, and every other week on Mondays we have a couple of ladies come in and clean the house. Hey, it keeps me from having to do it, and the price is right, so it's a good deal all the way around. But I hate it!
Last night I was up until 3am, and I had to be back up at seven to finish cleaning up the house so the cleaning ladies could come in and clean it. Huh? Cleaning for the cleaning ladies? That's supposedly what we are paying them for! But that is the way it is around here.
The night before, or the morning of, the cleaning crew we (my girlfriend and I) have to go through the house and pick up all the shit that has been left laying around over the past two weeks. Now, I wouldn't bitch if the shit was ours. But it's not! We live with my parents so I can help take care of my mother and all the shit that we are picking up, straightening up, or just plain hiding is inveriably theirs. Come on, aren't we all adults here? Learn to pick up after yourself would ya? Oh, nevermind, that's why you had kids and trained me to be a butler.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Internet Social Safety
I read on Weird Cake a post about life online and some of the things that happen. It was a great post, and you ought to go over and read it. But there are a couple of things I would like to expand on about the online world, and seeing as how I don't author that blog, I figured I would do a somewhat similar post over here too.
The social scene on the Internet is definitely a vibrant place. Any type of person you could ever imagine meeting I am sure you can find them online. That being said, it also creates a few problems along the way. Since I have been online for about ten years, here are a couple of things you might keep in mind, especially if you are rather new, or getting into a new corner of the Internet.
Anonymity:
In the chat rooms, a lot of people seem to take advantage of the whole anonymity thing to say and do things that in person there would be no way they would do. They might think about them, but the chances of them acting on those thoughts would be nil. Fortunately, the whole anonymity thing is really not relavent any longer. There are many ways to check on someone's identity, the server managers definitely can check the whole who, when and where of the folks on their servers. (Though the checks are usually only made AFTER a complaint is filed.) What this means is that the online world is getting safer. Just keep in mind that there are those idiots out there that still think they are anonymous and take advantage of it.
It is EASY to say what the other person wants to hear:
This is one of the biggest things about the social scene online. How do you know that the person on the other end of the connection actually is what he or she portends to be? It is surprisingly easy to say things that the other person wants to hear when you are not face to face. Body language, inflection, sarcasm, and dry wit are just some of the things that do not translate well in the online world. So, how do you get around this? First and foremost, be true to yourself. Secondly, talk to the person over several sessions over a period of time. Remember what the person says from one session to the next. If need be, keep a history (all chat platforms offer some function to be able to save a history) and compare things. The players and folks with the fabricated stories then become easy to spot because it is generally very hard for them to keep the story straight. Inconsistencies are a sign of trouble, the degree of which you can determine if you keep talking and probing. Also watch what they say to other people. I have known people to try to run three or four different stories within a single chatroom.
Romantic/Personal Relationship Development:
I am living proof that a personal relationship can be started online. My current girlfriend is someone I met online, as were the past two. But here's the catch. It is important NOT to make a final decision about any relationship online before you actually meet the person. If they are across the country, visit them on a vacation. A couple of times. Make sure that what you developed online translates to a working relationship in the real world. Basically, it's like going to a bar and meeting someone. You wouldn't marry that person if you have never seen them outside the bar, don't think you are going to marry someone you have never met except online.
And finally, some might get mad at this, BUT THE INTERNET IS NO PLACE FOR KIDS!!!
Yes, there are sites that are designed specifically for kids and teens. Great, if you have kids, sit with them and explore those sites with them. Regardless of the security, if someone really wants to get onto the sites, they can, and they do. We have all heard the horror stories about kids getting into trouble that starts online. Basically, it boils down to the fact that they do not yet have the social skills to be able to determine who is real, who's playing them, and who is downright dangerous. That is your job as a parent!
The social scene on the Internet is definitely a vibrant place. Any type of person you could ever imagine meeting I am sure you can find them online. That being said, it also creates a few problems along the way. Since I have been online for about ten years, here are a couple of things you might keep in mind, especially if you are rather new, or getting into a new corner of the Internet.
Anonymity:
In the chat rooms, a lot of people seem to take advantage of the whole anonymity thing to say and do things that in person there would be no way they would do. They might think about them, but the chances of them acting on those thoughts would be nil. Fortunately, the whole anonymity thing is really not relavent any longer. There are many ways to check on someone's identity, the server managers definitely can check the whole who, when and where of the folks on their servers. (Though the checks are usually only made AFTER a complaint is filed.) What this means is that the online world is getting safer. Just keep in mind that there are those idiots out there that still think they are anonymous and take advantage of it.
It is EASY to say what the other person wants to hear:
This is one of the biggest things about the social scene online. How do you know that the person on the other end of the connection actually is what he or she portends to be? It is surprisingly easy to say things that the other person wants to hear when you are not face to face. Body language, inflection, sarcasm, and dry wit are just some of the things that do not translate well in the online world. So, how do you get around this? First and foremost, be true to yourself. Secondly, talk to the person over several sessions over a period of time. Remember what the person says from one session to the next. If need be, keep a history (all chat platforms offer some function to be able to save a history) and compare things. The players and folks with the fabricated stories then become easy to spot because it is generally very hard for them to keep the story straight. Inconsistencies are a sign of trouble, the degree of which you can determine if you keep talking and probing. Also watch what they say to other people. I have known people to try to run three or four different stories within a single chatroom.
Romantic/Personal Relationship Development:
I am living proof that a personal relationship can be started online. My current girlfriend is someone I met online, as were the past two. But here's the catch. It is important NOT to make a final decision about any relationship online before you actually meet the person. If they are across the country, visit them on a vacation. A couple of times. Make sure that what you developed online translates to a working relationship in the real world. Basically, it's like going to a bar and meeting someone. You wouldn't marry that person if you have never seen them outside the bar, don't think you are going to marry someone you have never met except online.
And finally, some might get mad at this, BUT THE INTERNET IS NO PLACE FOR KIDS!!!
Yes, there are sites that are designed specifically for kids and teens. Great, if you have kids, sit with them and explore those sites with them. Regardless of the security, if someone really wants to get onto the sites, they can, and they do. We have all heard the horror stories about kids getting into trouble that starts online. Basically, it boils down to the fact that they do not yet have the social skills to be able to determine who is real, who's playing them, and who is downright dangerous. That is your job as a parent!
intro
Alright, I have this thing set up, somewhat. Anyway it will have to do for now. I really do not want to put in a bunch of ads or community stuff in just yet since I don't really know yet just how abrasive this is going to get. But I have it ready and waiting if things turn out that the blog would benefit from it.
I have put in a section at the bottom that will tell a little bit about me. If you need more information, guess you will just have to stick around, communicate, and get to know me a bit. I promise, I don't bite. Fuck that, yes I bite!
I will warn everyone now, in the first post, that this thing is liable to go anywhere and everywhere when it comes to topics. As anyone who is bipolar can probably tell you, I have absolutely no control where my mind goes sometimes. Sometimes it's funny, sometimes it's downright serious, other times, just plain stupid. But it is me, all the way through.
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