TALK STORY

A Theory of Namecalling

POSTED BY: HKCAVALIER
UPDATED: Tuesday, May 18, 2004 00:12
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 2676
PAGE 1 of 1

Saturday, May 15, 2004 10:05 AM

HKCAVALIER


I used to live with a wonderful little boy named Simon. I remember one night when he was about three, he, his mom, and I were taking a walk. Simon would not stop needing his mom to fuss with his coat. "I'm too hot...I'm cold...the collar's itching me...I don't wanna wear it...can I wear my coat again, mommy...the zipper's all weird...etc." His mom was getting plenty frustrated and couldn't understand why he couldn't just make up his mind or something. But I realized something that night. It occured to me that Simon wasn't rationally discussing his body temperature and trying to mannage it. Simon really just wanted his mother to fuss over him a little bit. he wanted her to kneal down and put her face right up to his, and muss up his hair and matter a little bit more than usual to his mom. And he wasn't consciously manipulating her, either, he was faced with a need (his mom's attention) and was throwing out all the phrases that had gotten the desired response in the past (+ some new ideas that came to him that night, e.g: "the zipper's all weird").

I mention all of this because I was thinking about how a few posters on this board really like to call people names. Other well intentioned posters go to great lengths to explain why namecalling really doesn't get the desired effect. But, you see, they don't understand the true intent of the namecalling any better than Simon's mom knew why her son could not get comfortable. Calling people names gets their posts responded to. Calling people names makes other people worry about them, extend extensive well-intentioned "aid" and makes them a force people (begrudgingly) reckon with.

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, May 15, 2004 11:14 AM

ARDEN


Though I am a student of psychology and sociology in no more than an armchair capacity, I would guess that your hypothesis is very correct. I would think message boards, chat rooms, etc. allow people to work out their attention needs in a "socially acceptable" way. The anonymity offered here allows them to ask for attention (even negative attention) in a way that is more or less acceptable, and free of real repercussions. These behaviors would be met with much graver consequences in everyday real life.

There's actually a Master's Thesis floating out there somewhere on the net about the effects of online anonymity on a person's behavior. Check it out here

http://www.msu.edu/user/trescami/thesis.htm

Well played, Mr. Cavalier.

You got a wife? All I got is that dumbass stick sounds like it's raining.

NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, May 15, 2004 12:28 PM

CALHOUN


Quote:

HKCavalier wrote:
Saturday, May 15, 2004 10:05
I used to live with a wonderful little boy named Simon. I remember one night when he was about three, he, his mom, and I were taking a walk. Simon would not stop needing his mom to fuss with his coat. "I'm too hot...I'm cold...the collar's itching me...I don't wanna wear it...can I wear my coat again, mommy...the zipper's all weird...etc." His mom was getting plenty frustrated and couldn't understand why he couldn't just make up his mind or something. But I realized something that night. It occured to me that Simon wasn't rationally discussing his body temperature and trying to mannage it. Simon really just wanted his mother to fuss over him a little bit. he wanted her to kneal down and put her face right up to his, and muss up his hair and matter a little bit more than usual to his mom. And he wasn't consciously manipulating her, either, he was faced with a need (his mom's attention) and was throwing out all the phrases that had gotten the desired response in the past (+ some new ideas that came to him that night, e.g: "the zipper's all weird").

I mention all of this because I was thinking about how a few posters on this board really like to call people names. Other well intentioned posters go to great lengths to explain why namecalling really doesn't get the desired effect. But, you see, they don't understand the true intent of the namecalling any better than Simon's mom knew why her son could not get comfortable. Calling people names gets their posts responded to. Calling people names makes other people worry about them, extend extensive well-intentioned "aid" and makes them a force people (begrudgingly) reckon with.

HKCavalier




What a DUMBASS!!!



NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, May 15, 2004 12:34 PM

HKCAVALIER


Quote:

Originally posted by Calhoun:


What a DUMBASS!!!





LOL! I love you too!

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, May 15, 2004 1:41 PM

SUCCATASH



Everyone who has posted in this thread is guilty of bringing attention to themselves and purposefully enticing responses.

We could include a discussion about anger and pain and social pecking order, and what it means to "put someone down" and why there is more than one reason to explain name calling.

Anyone interested? Yawn.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, May 15, 2004 1:58 PM

SERGEANTX


Quote:

Originally posted by Succatash:

Everyone who has posted in this thread is guilty of bringing attention to themselves and purposefully enticing responses.

We could include a discussion about anger and pain and social pecking order, and what it means to "put someone down" and why there is more than one reason to explain namecalling.

Anyone interested? Yawn.



I hear they peck pretty hard around here.

SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, May 15, 2004 2:03 PM

SUCCATASH



Yeah, I have a few scars, LOL.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, May 15, 2004 2:07 PM

SERGEANTX


The only time I call someone names is when they're askin' for it.

SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, May 15, 2004 2:11 PM

SUCCATASH



Will you please call me a name?

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, May 15, 2004 2:12 PM

SERGEANTX


Don't you think 'Succatash' is vulgar enough?


SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, May 15, 2004 2:15 PM

SUCCATASH



Don't make fun of my name, you big dick.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, May 15, 2004 2:16 PM

SERGEANTX


Jealous?

SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, May 15, 2004 2:36 PM

CALHOUN


Dumbasses!!

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, May 15, 2004 2:39 PM

SERGEANTX


See Calhoun, you're just the kind of jerk that gives name-calling a bad name. I'm no dumbass. I'm a childish prick. Get it straight.

SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, May 15, 2004 2:39 PM

SUCCATASH


Quote:

Originally posted by Calhoun:
Dumbasses!

------------------------------------------

content deleted by KIDSAFE Parental Software
(30-day Trial Version 2004.5)

------------------------------------------

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, May 15, 2004 4:04 PM

CALHOUN


Quote:

SergeantX wrote:
Saturday, May 15, 2004 14:39
See Calhoun, you're just the kind of jerk that gives name-calling a bad name. I'm no dumbass. I'm a childish prick. Get it straight.



Jerk! ??

How rude! Cant you tell I just crave attention?


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, May 15, 2004 4:28 PM

SUCCATASH



Calhoun, I didn't say the word "jerk" but I apologize for the use of that word.

I live in Salt Lake City, Utah and where I come from, "Jerk" is a really harsh word and it means you wrongfully sexually stimulate goats and horses. It's a cowboy term around here. It's pretty much the worse name you can call someone.

I don't really need to add details but let me again apologize for the use of the J word.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Sunday, May 16, 2004 12:51 AM

CALHOUN


Heya Succatash,

No need to appologize you could never offend me, dude. I think of you as a brother, an awkward slightly simple brother but a brother nonetheless.

I'm an Australian and have no knowledge of comboy terms or about sexually stimulating horses or goats. Are you yanking my chain about the origins of the word "Jerk"? Can you provide any links to substantiate this claim?


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Sunday, May 16, 2004 1:32 AM

CAPNRAHN


Tash yank chains -NEVER!!!

He is just a garden varity wanker yanker...

Heh, I am known as homewrecking bastard! So whad'da I know!

An invective censored, you stupcks still has impact!

"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"

NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Sunday, May 16, 2004 3:36 AM

TEELABROWN


I prefer Mandarin. I suppose now that I want attention. Um, give me attention? I don't know, I don't care.

_____________
"Freedom is the Freedom to say that 2 plus 2 make 4. If that is granted, all else follws"-Winston, 1984
Teela Brown, keeper of bad typing.
"No one reads these things any way."- Bart on Blackboard

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, May 18, 2004 12:12 AM

CALHOUN


We still pals Succa?


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

YOUR OPTIONS

NEW POSTS TODAY

USERPOST DATE

OTHER TOPICS

DISCUSSIONS
Canada Getting It's 1st Total Solar Eclipse In 40 Years
Wed, March 6, 2024 19:49 - 1 posts
What Song Are You Listening To, California Dreamin'
Thu, February 29, 2024 07:48 - 148 posts
S.I. go Bye Bye?
Tue, January 23, 2024 14:29 - 13 posts
EMMYS ratings tank
Sun, January 21, 2024 02:21 - 9 posts
What happened to music?
Thu, January 18, 2024 21:13 - 61 posts
ESPN stole Emmys for 13 years
Tue, January 16, 2024 21:01 - 4 posts
Your essential top ten music albums.
Fri, January 12, 2024 12:45 - 31 posts
Fukushima Nuclear Reactor Status
Tue, September 12, 2023 09:30 - 128 posts
SpaceX
Wed, August 23, 2023 13:07 - 7 posts
Special Branch XIII: Soulless
Mon, August 21, 2023 16:59 - 30 posts
Hollywood star whackers, Dave Chapelle: 'I was paid $50-million by for gay sex'
Sat, August 19, 2023 05:49 - 19 posts
Marvel comics continues the long march to destroying an industry. ( Get work, go broke )
Thu, August 10, 2023 13:36 - 5 posts

FFF.NET SOCIAL