I was thinking just this morning how much of my internet browsing involves finding reasons to get cross. There are websites that make cross; blogs that make me cross; discussion forums that make me very cross; and so on. For example, I always read Mike Carlton of the Sydney Morning Herald not because I agree with him EVER, but because he makes me so jolly cross. And it is amazing how much emotional energy I can waste on this. Believe me, I have lost sleep over internet discussions. Real sleep! There are really valuable online debates that you can observe and participate in, but sometimes it isn't worth it all.
I am saying this not merely as a personal confession (perish the thought) but because I think I am not the only one! Being cross is a strangely addictive feeling. It gives one a sense of high dudgeon and moral outrage and self-righteousness. It gives one a sense of purpose in a strange way. By which I mean: we actually enjoy our crossness. Love it. It is a form of entertainment.
But how pathetic is it, really?
3 comments:
[Jeremy Halcrow said:]
I'm with you bro!
My GP 'prescribed' me a daily serve of bananas to cope with my online stress levels.
Apparently the potassium in bananas helps regulate your heart beat.
BTW - there is a tangent here on Charles Taylor and spiritual 'fragilisation'.. the online world makes you confront the 'other' like nothing else in the 'real' world.
Have you seen this Michael? I think lots of late night internet posting is driven by crossness.
http://xkcd.com/386/
Amanda
You're wrong, wrong, wrong!
That feels better.
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