Ninja's blog: "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly"

If you have to try to erase the record, then you didn't have the nerve to say it in the first place.

Being able to vocalize your opinion is not a bad thing. Standing up for yourself is not either. Openly bashing good people because you think you can profit in some way by doing so, THAT is where you are going to regret some things. If you want attention, there are other ways to go about getting it. If the attention you receive forces you to change your message, that should tell you that there is something wrong with how you decided to convey your message, or that it was just plain spiteful.

Most of us here have a firm grasp on reality. We know that relationships on and off fubar differ greatly, and that while some people are here for the social interaction and to play the game on occasion, others make this their careers. They blur the line between online life and real life to the point that they no longer realize that real life exists away from the computer screen, away from the web cam, and away from the page stalking.

I would also like to remind people that ONLINE RELATIONSHIPS and REAL LIFE RELATIONSHIPS are two very different things. If you honestly think your online instigating will destroy real life friendships, you are an idiot. If you think that befriending people you claimed you hated just so you have some common targets is really a good idea, think again. We all see it, we all laugh at your futile attempts to try to remain relevant to anyone but yourself.

Another thing that makes you look really stupid is fake profiles! Stalking people is CRAZY. Making a whole new profile to stalk someone makes you an even bigger big bowl of effin NUTS! And when someone comes to me and asks me to help them with outing your crazy ass, if they have the screen shots, you can believe you will be blogged and shown for the nut-job you are. I also want to stress the fact that if your actions come across my desk, and we talk, there is a good chance that I will approach you personally before I take MY time to write a blog. There are many things I am approached about that I try to handle quietly before they blow up to epic proportions. And sometimes, people just need to be shown that their behavior is irrational to understand that they need to get themselves in check. The only time that I will proceed without direct confrontation is if I am blocked, as I look at that as the person waiving their right to mediation.

This brings me to the importance of documentation. If you want to be taken seriously when you make claims of harassment or that you were screwed out of something you were promised, make sure you document EVERYTHING. A screen shot takes 5 seconds to take, and is invaluable when it comes to showing people that you aren't the one instigating the harassment. It also shows concrete proof of the contents of the conversation, so that you can stand by your word 100%.

That leaves me to make the point of the importance of standing by your word. Also, the utmost importance of choosing them well before running off at the mouth. When you make blogs, especially video blogs, everyone can see and hear your insecurities, jealousy, and ignorance. Before you choose to jump on that bandwagon, REALLY think about whether or not you possess the skills to relay publicly what you can with written word.

When someone comes to me with a problem regarding another member, I ask them to write it all down. The purpose of this is simple, it gives me a  solid way to reference exactly what your problem is, and address it in its entirety. It also gives me something concrete to compare your story and theirs. I do not play the HE SAID/SHE SAID game. I want to hear both sides from the source. And if there's no proof to back it up, I will not publicly make any kind of accusation. I have no problem letting my name and my face be attached to something that I have personally verified, but I will not be used for vendettas.

We are all adults here, maybe it's time that some people learn that. You don't have to retaliate because someone hurt your feelings. You have the ability to be a better person. Do not let someone else make your decisions for you. Choose your friends based on how they treat you, not on how others claim they are. You have every right to learn your own lessons and make your own decision. That is not to say that you should be blind to what they do or have done. But if it is something that you can live with in a friend, then so be it. And for Pete's sake, do not bash another person for doing the same thing your friend does.

I think that is enough for today.

*steps down from soapbox*