Not being a jerk is legendary?

[vakkotaur]

A few new folks have shown up on IRC recently. It's been interesting, if disheartening, to find that some things seem not to change.

I'll quote one person, "I joined the #warnercafe on mirc and was at least welcomed with a "hello" right away. That's pretty rare from the few rooms that I've been to." Shouldn't being welcomed or at least acknowledged be the norm? It's certainly understandable that if everyone is /away or a channel is crowded and busy that someone might not be acknowledged, but to have something as simple as a harmless "Hello" be a rarity is a disappointing indictment of humanity.

There were a couple other people, friends of one another, who showed up even more recently. They seemed to be not quite familiar with things, but willing to learn. Yet what happened seemed to be that they were either ignored or poked fun of. Sheesh. I suspect what happened is that they made some minor blunder typical of those who have just discovered IRC and instead of a gentle correction or suggestion, they were ridiculed for their ignorance. Once again, ignorance is a curable condition. But only if it is treated. Belittling someone isn't nearly as effective as suggesting (Note that it's suggest, not order. Orders build resentment, suggestions don't.) a more acceptable way to do something.

I've left my session connected for a good many days and just set /away at times, and in scrollback I see these guys have been on at night or when I'm at work. I've seen that one guy was quoted, seemingly mocked, in the topic of another channel. So I know they've been around, on and off, for at least a few days.

I got the distinct impression a night or two ago that I was the first person who talked to one of these guys and gave straight answers instead of using them for crude entertainment or just blowing them off. They weren't asking things like "A/S/L?" or "Wanna cyber?" that deserve ridicule, nor were they making bogus claims of great cracking feats. They were just asking about the names they used or wanted to use, and weren't aware of what network services could do for them. The thing is, they should have gotten those answers much earlier.

This morning I talked with the other fellow. Guy said I seemed legendary. I don't see that. Evidently simply not being a jerk and actually answering questions in a friendly, straightforward manner is that all it takes to be legendary nowadays. How very sad. What I did was nothing special. It's what I expect would be, and indeed should be, the norm. Being reasonable ought to be a typical, normal, and quite unremarkable thing.

Want a better world? Be legendary. It's pretty easy these days.

Comments

Legendary

[tkcoyote.livejournal.com]

*nods* Yes, I have also seen the rudeness all too often which is why I try to be friendly to anyone I see. Yeah, and it's true that they may be away...but when you see them all talking when you enter... well, guess that explains that. Tutoring, very good way to build confidence especially if you can help them ^^ Though I've only tutored my neices, still feels good to help them learn.
Continue being the legendary one that you are :o)