Reddit psychology

mistynomad5 · 2007-07-16T11:28:59+00:00

I don't be under any illusions that this post will change anyone's mind—it likely won't open many eyes—but it’s been weighing on my mind, and I need to get it …

Michelle Alvarez8 Regular

299 messages
joined Nov 2015

#181 · Nov 2, 2009

lonegardener said:Was that some sort of private study, or is there a paper trail on the forum somewhere? I'd love to look into this...

I tend to agree, though. This whole trend of oversharing feels wrong to me. Even with the "anonymity" factor, whenever I feel like someone is dumping raw, intimate details right in my face, I just end up feeling deeply saddened by it.

Couldn't they at least abstract those feelings? You know, speak in generalities or hypothetical scenarios instead of being so blunt and lacking any subtlety... it's about as subtle as a sledgehammer.

There’s a Twitter thread somewhere about it. One was mine, and the other was started using an alt account. The whole experiment was set up so that I—using the Michelle Alvarez8 account—started a thread based on a real personal issue. Then, the alt account started a thread about a totally made-up problem. The Michelle Alvarez8 thread got flagged as trolling, while the alt thread got showered with all that virtual praise, hugs, and other Care Bear nonsense that people on the US internet are just obsessed with.

The result just went and proved my theory about how inflexible people are—and the weird lenses they use to interpret everything they read.

The current little experiment just wrapped up. Turns out that lady—who's a former admin now—really is just as clueless and dim-witted as I thought she was. She actually sent me the confirmation herself via DM! 😍

The funniest part? I actually *want* to be proven wrong here. But it’s just not happening. No matter what. 😢

cosmictinker21 Active Member

242 messages
joined Jan 2009

#182 · Nov 2, 2009

What was even the point of all that?🤷 Are you feeling more at peace and actually happy now?

Brenda Cooper3 Active Member

157 messages
joined Apr 2009

#183 · Nov 2, 2009

Man, if only I actually had the time to sit down and read through all of this... hmm.

Michelle Alvarez8 Regular

299 messages
joined Nov 2015

#184 · Nov 2, 2009

What do you think it's for? 😕

Curiosity? Just for kicks? Maybe a way to figure out how I actually tick? Honestly—I don't have a perfect answer for you. But if you're asking if I'm doing this to feel calmer or happier... well, no. That’s not it. I've got other ways to unwind, and truth be told, I actually get a little kick out of it when people prove me wrong about them. Usually because I've been judging them a bit too harshly in my head. 😬

Brenda Cooper3 Active Member

157 messages
joined Apr 2009

#185 · Nov 2, 2009

Look, Michelle Alvarez8, I’m definitely seeing you in a negative light right now!
Oh!
What’s gotten into you now?

Michelle Alvarez8 Regular

299 messages
joined Nov 2015

#186 · Nov 2, 2009

Hey, someone get a hold of cosmictinker21 so you guys can start a Slayer fan club! 😁 🤣

Brenda Cooper3 Active Member

157 messages
joined Apr 2009

#187 · Nov 2, 2009

I’m just kidding. I love you 😘

Joshua Hernandez9 Member

40 messages
joined Nov 2009

#188 · Nov 2, 2009

Quincy:

Michelle Alvarez8 says:
There’s this Twitter thread somewhere in the States. I actually ran a little experiment—one thread was my main account, the other was an alt. My main account posted about a legit personal issue, while the alt posted some totally fake drama. Predictably, they flagged my actual struggle as trolling, but the fake one? It got showered with nothing but virtual hugs and massive amounts of Care Bear idiocy—the kind of stuff you see everywhere on the US internet.

🙏🙏🙏

loneangler62 Newcomer

5 messages
joined Nov 2009

#189 · Nov 2, 2009

It seems like quite a few people aren't getting the help they need—which, honestly, is usually why we end up here in the first place. I just don't see the point in attacking someone you don't even know... If you've got someone nearby that you can't stand, maybe try venting that energy on them instead of through a screen at someone who isn't even at fault...

Sandra Parker3 Regular

419 messages
joined Oct 2007

#190 · Nov 2, 2009

Rachel Sullivan2 said:We’re all guilty of it.🙂
I love how Kyle King4 puts it—that dealing with certain people feels like trying to play catch with someone who keeps throwing the ball right at your face. 😍
And honestly? Same. I'll follow some threads, get worked up, and my irritation just builds and builds until eventually, I just don't give a damn about any of it anymore. 🤷

I'm with you on that one.
🙂

That? Which one?
I wouldn't say I agree; we all do it, but not in the same way 😍
I’m being pedantic for no reason here, but it’s true. Honestly, I used to have pets where I noticed some more than others and enjoyed posting about them, or kept an eye on specific ones for reasons that made sense to me
Regardless of whether they gave me enough reason or if they seemed "clueless" and I was just entertaining myself, or if they stuck to me first and I followed back, there’s definitely a mix of everything...

But what I meant was that intolerance can be written with or without quotes—whether some people vent more often or less, casually or intensely, obviously... we're all somewhere in that spectrum, so why make a fuss? I don't see the issue; everything can be worked out 🤷
However, there are certain ways of communicating I would never use, no matter what the excuse is, yet I see such a massive variety out there
The thing that bothers me least is when someone gets all puffed up over a topic; like I said, you might even get a kick out of it
But when it turns into that... that endless rambling via private message, then you've got a real problem, and that's when the actual intolerance kicks in. You could argue about the causes and how much this kind of "communication" involves forcing your own intimacy on others, right? Because let's face it... as long as it stays a dispute on a Twitter thread, it's fine, but once it crosses that thin line into the personal realm—once it moves beyond oversight because there's no monitoring of DMs, isn't it just like that? And so on...
And who was it mentioning perfidy?
What a great word 🙏 though the effect is questionable.

mellowangler6 Newcomer

1 message
joined Nov 2009

#191 · Nov 2, 2009

I haven't read through everything yet—but I do know that most of this comes down to how much experience a user has on the forum. If people realize you’re just a greenhorn, someone is bound to come after you—whether it's out of pure boredom or actual malice. Personally, after five years hanging around the Reddit community, I’ve reached a point where I couldn't care less what anyone else has to say... I honestly view it as a complete waste of precious time and energy. That said, I totally get why some folks let small provocations get under their skin; I still remember how I used to react back when I hadn't quite grown past that stage myself. Eventually, you just get used to it—you learn to either ignore the noise or hit back with something much more subtle... much like how one handles things in real life...🙄

Terry Davis40 Member

21 messages
joined Nov 2009

#192 · Nov 2, 2009

Well, I finally shot back at my stalker—now I’m just sitting here waiting for the ban. 🙂

Kyle King4 Active Member

68 messages
joined Oct 2009

#193 · Nov 3, 2009

Terry Davis40 said:Well, I finally shot back at my stalker—now I’m just sitting here waiting for the ban. 🙂

I went to see what all the fuss was about.
I can't even deal with this right now. Seriously? 🤣

Terry Davis40 Member

21 messages
joined Nov 2009

#194 · Nov 3, 2009

I mean, who could actually—or would even want to—understand her?🙄

Lisa Hernandez3 Active Member

211 messages
joined Aug 2010

#195 · Nov 4, 2009

Kyle King4 said:
Look, I’m just speaking from experience here.

Lisa Hernandez3, why the clone act?
Seriously, now I'm actually curious who we're even dealing with 😁

all is a game. It’s also a game of "non-interference." Honestly, there isn't much to uncover—believe me—there’s no grand conspiracy behind it, nor even many posts; just a lot of observation. Mostly, it's an interest in how other people tick. That’s just my take from the "Believe It or Not" section. 😁

Brenda Cooper3 said:I notice everyone keeps bringing up these supposed "interests."
So, what exactly are we talking about here?
Someone please give me a list. 😁

I'm a bit embarrassed, but well, here I am, linking back to my previous post 😁. (It's right on the smiley face)
Just a side note: whatever those interests might be, we should always remember that at the end of the day, it's all human. It's just that sometimes, perhaps, we don't have the will to be understanding. Or maybe we're simply being mean—kind of like me, I guess.

😕

Lisa Hernandez3 Active Member

211 messages
joined Aug 2010

#196 · Nov 4, 2009

Rachel Sullivan2 said:@ Lisa Hernandez3..

Honestly, I’m just not feeling it today. 🙂
I feel like I’ve already spilled everything there is to say about my own experiences..
Personally, I don't see any real difference.. whether it's people glued to the local news, folks reading pretentious high-brow garbage, or even those "spiritual" types eating organic grass while trying to ascend to a higher plane—even if they're doing it with zero actual effort—they all end up saying their prayers. It all boils down to the same thing when you're dealing with jealousy and malice. At the end of the day, it all just settles into the same pile of human trash, because that's exactly what they are. ☕

And no.. you can't actually escape. Because these people are constantly staring into your plate, tracking whether you took your coffee with cream or black today, keeping a damn ledger of every little deviation from some insane standard they cooked up in their own heads.
It's like they aren't even satisfied with their own miserable lives, right? So they use yours as a sort of substitute, a way to feel relevant. 🤷

Oh, please. And who exactly would that be? 😁

you'll
there's too many of them; you couldn't dodge them all even if you tried. 😬
(Actually, maybe you already have under your old handle 😬)

Don't sweat it.. I thought about starting a fresh account after that last round of bullshit just to draw a line in the sand, you know? 🤔 But who knows.. it’s exactly what I said before.. at the end of the day, everyone leaves their own signature behind, and there isn't a hurricane on earth that can wipe it away. 😁

..the one thing I'm gonna keep doing, and probably even more aggressively now, is running away from cliques or anything that feels like a group mentality, like the devil himself. ☕ It's toxic stuff..

And right after I wrote (!) about how quickly people are judged and dismissed these days, you come along with this. 😛 It isn't the same. There is a difference between someone praying the Rosary and someone practicing those underhanded tactics🤣 on forums—well, unless we're talking about hypocrisy (which, fair point). As for the various types of jealousy, I would argue that a simpleton can't truly emulate an educated person. At the very least, their rhetoric won't match.

Quincy:

and no... you can't really escape it... because this crowd spends their whole time staring into their own plates, tracking whether you had cream or black coffee today, keeping a mental log to watch for any deviations from some arbitrary standard they've cooked up in their heads
since they aren't exactly living their best lives, I guess... so yours becomes a sort of substitute for them, maybe.🤷

I'm not quite sure how to respond to that. 😕 Just stop. 🙏

Quincy:

don't worry... I actually thought about starting fresh with a new username after that last mess, just to draw a line under it, maybe🤔 ...but I don't know... it's exactly what I said before... at the end of the day, everyone leaves their own signature, and no storm could ever wash that away.😁

It didn't occur to me ☕, but still: if using a new username makes things easier for you, then why not? As long as your identities aren't out there talking to one another, it should be fine.

That is, I suppose, a topic in itself within this discussion on forum intolerance—the idea of multiple identities and how that multiplicity can be used for ill.

Brenda Cooper3 Active Member

157 messages
joined Apr 2009

#197 · Nov 4, 2009

I’ll post a topic and then just lose interest in following the thread. It’s actually quite strange and uncharacteristic for me... hm. 😍

Lisa Hernandez3 Active Member

211 messages
joined Aug 2010

#198 · Nov 4, 2009

Brenda Cooper3 said:I’ll post a topic and then just lose interest in following the thread. It’s actually quite strange and uncharacteristic for me... hm. 😍

Maybe you're just feeling a bit impatient? 😍 Some of us—as you can see—aren't—we just saw the thread, thought it was interesting, and decided to jump in. 😍

Kyle King4 Active Member

68 messages
joined Oct 2009

#199 · Nov 4, 2009

Lisa Hernandez3 said:all is a game. It’s also a game of "non-interference." Honestly, there isn't much to uncover—believe me—there’s no grand conspiracy behind it, nor even many posts; just a lot of observation. Mostly, it's an interest in how other people tick. That’s just my take from the "Believe It or Not" section. 😁

I'm a bit embarrassed, but well, here I am, linking back to my previous post 😁. (It's right on the smiley face)
Just a side note: whatever those interests might be, we should always remember that at the end of the day, it's all human. It's just that sometimes, perhaps, we don't have the will to be understanding. Or maybe we're simply being mean—kind of like me, I guess.

😕

coincidence🤣
Let’s say I actually believe you. Still, this whole "observing" thing feels weird to me. Is there some actual purpose behind it, or are you just satisfying some... 🤔strange
needs?

Lisa Hernandez3 said:And right after I wrote (!) about how quickly people are judged and dismissed these days, you come along with this. 😛 It isn't the same. There is a difference between someone praying the Rosary and someone practicing those underhanded tactics🤣 on forums—well, unless we're talking about hypocrisy (which, fair point). As for the various types of jealousy, I would argue that a simpleton can't truly emulate an educated person. At the very least, their rhetoric won't match.

Quincy:
and no... you can't really escape it... because this crowd spends their whole time staring into their own plates, tracking whether you had cream or black coffee today, keeping a mental log to watch for any deviations from some arbitrary standard they've cooked up in their heads
since they aren't exactly living their best lives, I guess... so yours becomes a sort of substitute for them, maybe.🤷
I'm not quite sure how to respond to that. 😕 Just stop. 🙏

Quincy:
don't worry... I actually thought about starting fresh with a new username after that last mess, just to draw a line under it, maybe🤔 ...but I don't know... it's exactly what I said before... at the end of the day, everyone leaves their own signature, and no storm could ever wash that away.😁
It didn't occur to me ☕, but still: if using a new username makes things easier for you, then why not? As long as your identities aren't out there talking to one another, it should be fine.

That is, I suppose, a topic in itself within this discussion on forum intolerance—the idea of multiple identities and how that multiplicity can be used for ill.

In this case, I'd throw in an even harsher diagnosis.😁

Lisa Hernandez3 Active Member

211 messages
joined Aug 2010

#200 · Nov 4, 2009

Kyle King4 said:coincidence🤣
Let’s say I actually believe you. Still, this whole "observing" thing feels weird to me. Is there some actual purpose behind it, or are you just satisfying some... 🤔strange
needs?

In this case, I'd throw in an even harsher diagnosis.😁

There are certainly people on these forums who spend more time reading threads than actually posting or participating in them. Personally, I tend to read much more than I write. My motivations are mostly intellectual—I guess you could say I'm here to stay informed or simply follow the flow of an argument. I don't really track individuals; I track topics. I can't even remember the last time I clicked on that section in someone's profile showing their recent posts. 🤷 Occasionally, I do jump into discussions. In all of this, I see patterns regarding how people behave and the psychology behind it, so I'm not oblivious. 😁 And yes, I am not exactly thrilled with everything I see or experience here. As for my username, it wasn't chosen because of any deep thought or some sort of undercover mission—it was just what I happened to have when this thread started, and it felt convenient enough, I suppose. Still, I think the same question applies to you—why are you participating in this thread under this specific handle rather than another one?

in this case, I might suggest adding a somewhat harsher diagnosis.😁

Unfortunately, I don't have hard evidence for any specific instance, but I could say with a fair amount of certainty that some people do engage in this behavior. Whether they have a clinical diagnosis, I couldn't say. Based on the forum rules, doing this shouldn't be allowed, for perfectly understandable reasons. What I really want to hear from everyone here is whether this is actually being used as a way to settle scores with other members—you know, as a tool for personal animosity. I'd love to hear your thoughts on that.

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