That's It: I Quit! I'm Moving On...

[apple_pathways]

Herein lies a tale where I, a well-meaning but occasionally clueless fan of Doctor Who, have yet another pointless discussion that seems to center around semantic distinctions I make that other people seem to find negligible or non-existent. I managed to quit before becoming rude and irate, but it was hard.

If you're so inclined, take a look at this thread and tell me what it is I'm missing in this discussion. (My reply begins: "I don't think the 'sexualization' of Amy is anything new for a companion on Who..." Oh, and if you can't be arsed, and would rather wag your finger at me and say "I told so!" regarding anon memes, you'd be more than justified in doing just that.)

I'd like to believe that the world is wrong and/or stupid, but I suspect instead that my brain is just too rigid and detail-oriented to engage in any sort of rational debate without it devolving into a non-sensical discussion of how we're going to define the word "is". (Bill: I feel ya, man! /incredibly topical reference)

Many a well-meaning friend has sat me down and patiently explained to me that "other people just don't look at things the way you do. They're not as 'careful' in the way they speak." My argument that that's their problem to solve seems to be greeted with a sigh and a slightly-less-patient head pat.

Does anyone else run into this problem, where you think you're discussing one thing and the person you're talking to just keeps going on about something else? Do the details matter, or are you a big picture person? HELP ME I AM FAILING AT SOCIAL SKILLS AGAIN! :P

Comments

[wldcatsprstr-14.livejournal.com]

I WARNED YOU ABOUT THE ANON MEMES! I WAAAAARNEEEDD YOOOOUUUU!

[creativeaminot.livejournal.com]

I pretty much avoid anything like those memes and Whofan boards now, the people drove me insane. Those that purposely cause drama (known as trolls) are annoying and evil and I wish they would learn how to just have a normal conversation.

There's a quote by Douglas Adams that I find very dear to my heart on how to deal with some of the people in that meme: "A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools."

[inkdancer.livejournal.com]

I, too, tend to get in trouble for my language because I learned to speak from reading. Therefore, the way I use words is not the way other people tend to use them and it makes for awkward misunderstandings.

On a completely unrelated note, my boyfriend will probably be friending you soon because I've said so many lovely things about you.

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

*weeps* *rends clothing*

I SHOULD HAVE LISTENED! :'-(

Now someone else has butted in to the conversation, sort of on the side I was arguing, and being very rude about it. THAT IS NOT ME! I might be annoyingly persistent, but I am not mean!

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

The obvious trolls I don't mind so much; they're easy to ignore. (Well, for me at least--the more you try to get a rise out of me, the more unlikely you are to accomplish your goal. Chalk that up to being raised by a father who likes to pester me mercilessly!)

No, it's the fact that I kept trying to argue one specific point, and the other people kept harping on something else entirely; something I actually agreed with them on! My need to overexplain gets the best of me in those situations, and I find it hard to back away.

I am going to write that quote on a Post-It note and stick it right in the middle of my computer monitor. :P

[sabriel75.livejournal.com]

That quote's fantastic!

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

I, too, tend to get in trouble for my language because I learned to speak from reading.

OMG, we are twin spirits! I was painfully shy as a child and spent most of my time reading. Therefore, I had a very interesting vocabulary and communication style as a child.

Still do, if I'm completely honest! When I posted samples of my work on concrit_anon, by far the most common comment was: "your sentences are too long/complicated." Why are they like that? Because I really talk like that! Sometimes I forget to translate my thoughts into normal human speech before committing them to the page. :P

On a completely unrelated note, my boyfriend will probably be friending you soon because I've said so many lovely things about you.

Aww, so sweet! It's nice to know that while people might hate me on an anon meme, there are others saying nice things behind my back! :P What's his username?

[sabriel75.livejournal.com]

You know... I'm not sure that expressing one's self has any right way of it anymore, but by antagonistic tone.

Sometimes I wonder why nice, logical people even try.

And while I know you aren't into the Torchwood fandom, this complaint that you're trying to argue against with no success is the same one that kept cropping up about Gwen Cooper in Torchwood fandom and it pissed me off there just like it does me here.

Why must we immediately negate the strength of character in a woman if she comes across as sexy and willing to use that hotness to her advantage?

[inkdancer.livejournal.com]

I'm the same way with the overly long sentences. I love commas and semicolons much more than I should, and I tend to speak in rambling phrases that some people have trouble breaking down.

The boyperson is ironyaficionado. He is superduper. He is studying to be a teacher, and I think you'll have a lot in common.

[wldcatsprstr-14.livejournal.com]

Yea I hate when that happens. I always try to be as civil as possible and I avoid swearing at almost every turn.

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

I wish I could just copy and paste over there exactly what evilhippo said on my other entry. She just says thing much more smartly than I do. :P (If you're interested, this is the comment I'm referring to.)

I'm just glad I backed away from that discussion before I got overly frustrated and gave into the temptation to be rude. (Someone else came along later and took up the side I was arguing, but in a very unkind way.)

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

Yay! I like new friends, and people into thoughtful discussions. :P

I sort of feel bad friending people based on shared fandoms, as I spend so little time talking about them here. The last couple days have been the most I've talked about fan stuff in AGES!

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

It's so hard, especially on an anon meme when the people you're talking to aren't bothering to hold back!

[inkdancer.livejournal.com]

Well, the nice thing is that although we do share fandoms like Dr Who, we also share other things: appreciation for smart/nerdy things, love of literature, a future in education... and also just plain friendliness! Some of the best friends I've made have been from some little connection that blossoms into something bigger and better.

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

It definitely takes more than a shared fandom to form a friendship! Even though I met a lot of my flist through fandom pursuits, most of them have moved on from the fandoms we initially had in common, and it was the RL stuff we ended up bonding over.

[ladylovelace.livejournal.com]

Sometimes, I think that doing the whole Philosophical Learnings thing has been more a curse than a blessing, because no-one else cares about hypothetical discussions, rhetorical techniques, the utility of taking another viewpoint for the sake of argument or indeed the basic tenets of spelling and grammar, and so they are difficult to have a rational argument with.

But then my classmates were no better :/

TL;DR: I feel your pain.

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

Thanks. *sigh* Yeah, I'm gonna have to promise myself not to get involved in any more online "discussions" unless I trust the forum wherein they take place.

I have a feeling people are going to lose patience with me if I keep getting 'surprised' by the irrational nature of the internet. :P

[tierfal.livejournal.com]

I generally try to stay out of arguments like that, because – yeah, they make me really irritated and riled-up and, eventually, extremely depressed, and I have enough self-inflicted misery tendencies without adding fandom ones. XD

But yeah, I just tend to think that 80% of fandom (slightly dependent on which fandom you're in) is composed of opinionated assholes who (a) cannot look at anything without personal bias and refuse to accept factual evidence; and (b) totally forget that there is another person on the other side of that screen who has feelings and is a human being, rather than the entirely fictional figment the opinions are about.

Pretty much I sometimes wish the internet was just for porn so that people wouldn't tear into each other the way they always tend to do. :/

For the record, I really, really don't think Amy is anything outlandish as far as New!Who goes. And my vintage!Who experience is limited, but given how much I've perved on Jo's wardrobe, I don't think the sexualization of companions is remotely unusual.

I think the point of this comment is that I know exactly what you mean. XD

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

First: OMG, I have almost exactly the same icon! (It's the little things in life... :P)

I need some sort of device to shock me everytime I attempt to have a pleasant discussion on the internet. I think, "Oh, here's an interesting statement I'd like to discuss. Allow me to offer my observations..." And then...pfft! There goes the point, and here comes the hostility.

Not that anyone was openly hostile toward me: just general passive-aggression and snide remarks. Oh well... (At least I have nice people on my flist who like to have intelligent discussions, right?)

Amy is so not outlandish: either for Doctor Who, or television in general. The only difference between Amy and other companions is she owns her sexuality. It's not, "Oh gee, am I sexy? *bat*bat*" but "Yes, I am sexy: let me show you how!" (Which, hey: I like!)

[tierfal.livejournal.com]

WEWT!! No, I totally love icon buddies. XDD

I used to try, and eventually I gave up. But I'm not a very persistent person in general, which is probably why. XD

omg, right?? And are they trying to convince me they didn't throw their arms up like \o/ when she tried to jump Eleven at the end of that one ep (er, S5 is not my favorite :x)?? BECAUSE I WAS LIKE OUT OF MY CHAIR CHEERING.

Plus Karen Gillian is a babe. Trying to convince her not to act like a babe would be absurd. Simple. XD

This comment brought to you by too much ice cream and not enough sleep