What to do...

Highlander179 · 12-19-2005, 05:18 AM

I need a little advice here:

A guy I know, and one I was considering a friend, even though I've only know him thru the internet but have talked to for two years, posts a thread in an Off-Topic forum on another site. The thread was not my cup of tea, so I made no comments on it, but others made fun of it and called it gay and even used that stupid pick of Gary Coleman and David Hasselhoff. It was IN the Off-Topic Forum after all and comments there go unmodified and tend to get abusive, but this guy knew that already and he was a very active participant in being abusive in a joking kind of way to others. So anyway, he got all bent because it turned out that it wasn't one of his many gag posts that he ususally posts, but it was a supposedly serious (to him) topic that cared about alot. Yes, people **** on his thread, but not everyone, and nobody did anything any worse than he has ever done before, but he got all pissed at their posts anyway. He packed up his avatar and vowed never to return. WTF!!!

I even tried to PM him to ask what his deal was and he didn't return me the courtesy of a response. He is actively posting on other forums tho.

Your comments "will be considered with a grain of salt."

legion · 12-19-2005, 05:25 AM

That's tough.

I think we are all guilty of saying things online that we wouldn't dream of saying in person. As such, responses on Internet forums should be taken with a grain of salt. Hopefully your friend will come to this conclusion and not take other people so seriously.

masraum · 12-19-2005, 05:29 AM

some people can dish but not take, whatever, you never can tell for sure what all people are like over the internet. I once thought a guy on Rennlist's email group was pretty cool, then he tripped out and turned into a nutter that got banned.

Jims5543 · 12-19-2005, 06:09 AM

Its only the internet. As soon as your friend realizes this he will be fine.

I used to be very active in the RX-7 community. For 4 years straight I sponsored performance driving schools for RX-7's. Most of the time putting these events on at a loss, usually about 400 to 700 bucks. Last year I let an internet friend who owned an RX-7 site convince me to make this a site event. (Like a Pelican LV retreat) I ended up loosing thousands by then end of this elaborite event. Then the same poeple that benefited from free hotels rooms and the use of MY RX-7 in a driving school were dumping on me.

I packed up my avatar and never looked back. In my opinion they lost a person that was actually contributing to the community. Not just a keyboard jockey.

BTW- When I met all these internet car guys, 90% of them were geeks that just liked to type about their cars and could not care less about driving them in a performance setting like they were intended.

I understand your friends frustration. Give him some time he will calm down.

928ram · 12-19-2005, 06:14 AM

It's the internet; if it's getting to him, then the best thing is to pack up his toys and go home for a little while.

Sometimes we get a little wrapped up in stuff that means nothing.

Highlander179 · 12-19-2005, 06:18 AM

Thats what I don't get. This guy was the king of photoshop and would put your face on home-decor mags and and all sorts of emmasculating stuff. And he was a big part of the "in-crowd" for two years. It was a new site and wouldn't have taken off without him.

And its definately not like this is the first time someone has said something against one of his thread ideas. Its just like every other forum on the planet, where the reponses are hot and cold. For the most part, he puts up some good stuff and I have a lot of common interests. I just dont understand why a grown man would 'walk away' from long-time friendships over some harmless leg-pulling. Have any of you guys ever flipped out because of the Gary/David pic or something similar?

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Highlander179
but others made fun of it and called it gay and even used that stupid pick of Gary Coleman and David Hasselhoff.

It's a funny picture - what's the problem?

M.D. Holloway · 12-19-2005, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Highlander179
...put your face on home-decor mags and and all sorts of emmasculating stuff....

You know how much tail you could get if your mug was on Redbook, Home Decor, Ladies Home Journal? And I'm not talking dried up 50 somethings - I'm talking 30ish divorcee's, maybe a kid or two that is well primed and very ignored.

Your buddy sounds like a sensitive soul who needs a hug.

Tell him to go strapone on when you here from him next. The last thing the world needs is another weakarse, pantywaiste, panzy face who needs more Y then he has X. Get a grip, the net, well its a diversion not judgement day.

vash · vash's Garage

this thread is worthless without a link to another thread!

honestly, give him time. hopefully he will come around, because really, after all is said and done, who really cares what anyone thinks. nobody likes a crybaby.

you think steve wilkenson will ever come back?

Highlander179 · 12-19-2005, 07:51 AM

Honestly, I wouldn't want to "call him out" by posting a linky. It seems like most here are in agreement,, most of these are the same responses I expected to see.

except for Jim's who really came off like a crybaby, thanks for your gay post >:P

vash · vash's Garage

who you calling GAY!

waaaaaaaaa!

Highlander179 · 12-19-2005, 07:54 AM

sorry. didn't mean to exclude you

Jims5543 · 12-19-2005, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Highlander179
except for Jim's who really came off like a crybaby, thanks for your gay post >:P

Sorry, its sort of a sore spot with me. I was approached to put on another event this winter, I decided to use the money I would loose and sign up for a Panoz racing school and get my SCCA license instead.

Like I said, your friend will get over it. If this is a recent event give him a month or two he will calm down... or maybe not like me.

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

'Gay' references seem to be the big Internet threat.

When I was having trouble with Unclezak following through on his promised reimbursement for a car he sold me without having the title, he threatened to post that I had offered to accept some 'sexual services' instead of the $3000 he owed.

I guess it just wasn't intimidating enough, since I turned him in to eBay and published the story on the web and on Pelican.

Funny how people think a few words on a public forum can hold so much power.

Highlander179 · 12-19-2005, 08:41 AM

now thats funny. uhh... you didn't really make that offer, did you?

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

LOL!

Not to my knowledge, but then there may be some gay 'code' that I don't know about...

I did ask him about engine rebuilding services in exchange, but I'm quite sure I never asked him to touch my crankshaft...

;-)

dhoward · dhoward's Garage

This thread is gay.

Highlander179 · 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dhoward
This thread is gay.

is that why you posted? so you can belong

dhoward · dhoward's Garage

No.
It sounds suspiciously like you are the 'friend'.
You know like "um...Doc, my 'friend' has an impotance problem and wanted me to ask...."

Highlander179 · 12-19-2005, 09:08 AM

really, thats odd? because if it was me, I would just use the : middle finger : for those guys and give a little bashing right back at them, not walk away. I thought my opinion on this was clear. I guess maybe it wasn't.