I love my on-line life and my on-line existence. Even if when compared to a lot of internet junkies it would not class as an existence. My internet presence is pretty much the ineffectual low impact one, not have any great impact on anyone’s life.
I love the fact I’m in contact, in whatever capacity, with people I used to know and get on with at school and people I know and get on with now. I’m sure had all of this technology been available when our parents were older it would have been how they too communicated.
However there has to be a point where you acknowledge that life has guided you in different directions from your friends and maybe were you to meet now, for the first time, under different circumstances then maybe you really wouldn’t be friends at all and potentially wouldn’t even like each other. The fact that you attended the same school, the same job or even the same nightclub scene doesn’t mean you have an unbreakable bond that like some Hollywood movie will defy all odds, especially blatant racism.
There’s been people on my facebook that have joined groups such as “Scum sucking, tax dodging Polish should fuck off back to their own country” or “Why the Islam4Uk should not be allowed to happen”, ” If you don't like England then fuck off somewhere else!” or even the well thought out group title which is labelled as a ‘just for fun’ group (that’s JUST FOR FUN) “Immigrants adopt our beliefs or fuck off” Seriously, that last one has been created for fun. I’m not sure if they mean Famous five have ripping yarns in Cornwall fun and Hitler youth Aryan nation and Holocaust fun.
When they do join these groups I really have to ask myself whether they are people I need to know anymore. We have obviously got to a point in our lives where we are extremely and diametrically opposed in views and now it has got to a point where staying friends repulse me rather than igniting feelings of nostalgia.
David Mitchell put’s it so well in his Guardian article where he discusses people’s mindless inbred intolerant knee jerk reaction to this Islam4Uk march that is being planned. Some of the things he says, and it’s worth reading the whole article alone
Apparently, my history teacher was wrong and Voltaire never actually said: "I despise what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”......While it's an important sentiment, it should also, in a mature, free country, be an obvious one. It's not complicated – it's a truism, not a paradox........
The thing about freedom of speech is that people are allowed to say offensive, indefensible things; that we needn't fear that because we're sure that wiser counsels are more likely to convince. "Let the idiots and bullies speak openly and they will be revealed for what they are!"
I thought initially I was fickle with my view point, but now I think I’m just trying to be clear to myself when I respond to what people are telling me when they make these statements for everyone to see. When such strong allegiance to the inbred insular demographic of Britain is displayed, one which will drive this country to a social low point to be ashamed of, it makes me feel dirty that they are even on my friend list. And while they have the right to their point of view and I would never try and tell them why I feel they are wrong, I equally have the right to be offended and make my statements how I feel fit.
It’s an easy solution once you realise, as good as it is facebook and all this social networking is transient and should hold no real importance in real life. I’ve surived the first 30 or so years of my life without wearing a badge of how popular I am by the number of friends I have, I don’t think I’m going to start now. If this happens where someone joins a group or expresses an opinion I think is slightly distasteful or falls under the grouping of “things that make me sick and ashamed” then I will block delete the person without question. Let them have their opinion with the inbreds that will support an encourage them rather than have any association with me
It reminds me of the lyrics by They Might be Giants from the album flood (the one you’ll probably know for Birdhouse in your soul)
Your racist friend
“This is where the party ends
I can't stand here listening to you
And your racist friend
I now politics bore you
But I feel like a hypocrite talking to you
Out from the kitchen
To the bedroom to the hallway
Your friend apologizes, he could see it my way
He let the contents of the bottle do the thinking
Can't shake the devil's hand
And say you're only kidding”
Your racist friend by They Might be Giants
n contact, in whatever capacity, with people I used to know and get on with at school and people I know and get on with now. I’m sure had all of this technology been available when our parents were older it would have been how they too communicated.
However there has to be a point where you acknowledge that life has guided you in different directions from your friends and maybe were you to meet now, for the first time, under different circumstances then maybe you really wouldn’t be friends at all and potentially wouldn’t even like each other. The fact that you attended the same school, the same job or even the same nightclub scene doesn’t mean you have an unbreakable bond that like some Hollywood movie will defy all odds, especially blatant racism.
There’s been people on my facebook that have joined groups such as “Scum sucking, tax dodging Polish should fuck off back to their own country” or “Why the Islam4Uk should not be allowed to happen”, ” If you don't like England then fuck off somewhere else!” or even the well thought out group title which is labelled as a ‘just for fun’ group (that’s JUST FOR FUN) “Immagrants adopt our beliefs or fuck off” Seriously, that last one has been created for fun. I’m not sure if they mean Famous five have ripping yarns in Cornwall fun and Hitler youth Ayran nation and Holocaust fun.
When they do join these groups I really have to ask myself whether they are people I need to know anymore. We have obviously got to a point in our lives where we are extremely and diametrically opposed in views and now it has got to a point where staying friends repulse me rather than igniting feelings of nostalgia.
David Mitchell put’s it so well in his Guardian article where he discsusses people’s mindless inbred intolerant knee jerk reaction to this Islam4Uk march that is being planned. Some of the things he says, and it’s worth reading the whole article alone
Apparently, my history teacher was wrong and Voltaire never actually said: "I despise what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”......While it's an important sentiment, it should also, in a mature, free country, be an obvious one. It's not complicated – it's a truism, not a paradox........
The thing about freedom of speech is that people are allowed to say offensive, indefensible things; that we needn't fear that because we're sure that wiser counsels are more likely to convince. "Let the idiots and bullies speak openly and they will be revealed for what they are!"
I thought initially I was fickle with my view point, but now I think I’m just trying to be clear to myself when I respond to what people are telling me when they make these statements for everyone to see. When such strong allegiance to the inbred insular demographic of Britain is displayed, one which will drive this country to a social low point to be ashamed of, it makes me feel dirty that they are even on my friend list. And while they have the right to their point of view and I would never try and tell them why I feel they are wrong, I equally have the right to be offended and make my statements how I feel fit.
It’s an easy solution once you realise, as good as it is facebook and all this social networking is transient and should hold no real importance in real life. I’ve surived the first 30 or so years of my life without wearing a badge of how popular I am by the number of friends I have, I don’t think I’m going to start now. If this happens where someone joins a group or expresses an opinion I think is slightly distasteful or falls under the grouping of “things that make me sick and ashamed” then I will block delete the person without question. Let them have their opinion with the inbreds that will support an encourage them rather than have any association with me
It reminds me of the lyrics by They Might be Giants from the album flood (the one you’ll probably know for Birdhouse in your soul)
“This is where the party ends
I can't stand here listening to you
And your racist friend
I now politics bore you
But I feel like a hypocrite talking to you
Out from the kitchen
To the bedroom to the hallway
Your friend apologizes, he could see it my way
He let the contents of the bottle do the thinking
Can't shake the devil's hand
And say you're only kidding”
Your racist friend by They Might be Giants
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