Crucifixtion in Cyberspace

[marc anthony]

When I first started participating on this board, a favorite escort of mine was victimized here by a cyber-stalker who persisted on posting nasty and false accusations about this boy. Naturally, he wanted to respond. "Look at all those nasty things he is saying about me!" he lamented. I countered, "He is saying those things about (escort alias), not about (escort real name)." Taking my advice, the boy let it lie... and between the stalker frying himself (as most flakes will) and defense from satisfied customers, the barrage ended, the boy came out smelling like a rose, and he became and is still one of the most successful escorts of the twink genre.

 

Now this was an escort, whose alias was being attacked. Granted an alias, but to the escort, that alias is livelihood. Even so, he saw the wisdom of restraint.

 

For other posters of this board, who come here for recreation and fun, and create an identity that is different in some ways at least from "day job" identity, the argument is even stronger. Attacks on this board upon you are attacks against your contrived image, or your latest view. It cannot be a personal attack unless you are posting with your real name and the attacker actually knows you, and the whole package which you represent.

 

If someone attacks Marc Anthony, they are attacking the frivolous, twink escort loving, continent hopping, horny, kinky, paternal top who comes to this board to talk about fucking, spanking, and some cute boy's ass. Believe me, if you ever met me in person in the context of my real profession, that is NOT the same impression you would get.

 

So attack away at Marc Anthony, and you will get a response as long as it is fun. When it ceases to be such, I'll just move on to the next thread. Attack (insert my real name here), and you will get a fight to the death.

 

My point? When attacked in cyberspace, have some thick cyber skin. You'll feel a lot better. And to escorts whose cyber image is important, remember that most reasonable people have brains and can sort out truth from fiction. Hysteria is NOT attractive.

[Guest WetDream]

B R A V O !!!

[OneFinger]

I learned long ago from a good friend not to become part of a cyberspace controversy. As he so wisely put it, "It's like a bucket of shit -- the more you stir it the more it stinks."

 

Marc, you are 100% correct. The truth will eventually come out and very little is achieved by attacking each other or getting caught up in the thick of thin things.

[Guest BenDover]

Couldn't agree with you more, MA. Well said. But, I must admit that I do miss some of the bitchy cat fights. They were fun to ignore.

[Guest 7Zach]

Interesting point. People have a choice on how they use the anonymity allowed by these boards and the use of an alias. So, I imagine that some people take that and create an alter ego, or instead "spin" their personality in a way that is different than their public personna with attached name recognition in the day to day world. It's just a way to express oneself that is not otherwise available in the real world, or at least on a 24/7 basis.

 

What I think some missed, in regards to the thread on Emillio and the client here on the board, is that perhaps Jon is the same on these boards as he is in real life. A couple of his comments seemed painfully truthful. If that's the case, then his responding at all, and in detail, makes sense. Maybe he just wanted people to know he was telling the truth, or at least his perception of the truth. And that he puts some value in his public face on these boards as being truthful.

 

In regards to others - Do I really think a couple of the posters on these boards are really as ponderous and self-righteous in their thinking in the real world? Absolutely! I don't think people like them out there anymore that I do in here.

 

Similarly, do I think Truthteller is as argumentative in the real world as in here? Maybe, however I think a lot of what is said here is just his view of cyberspace, as he has explained it, and done just for entertainment. The balance is often thoughtful, perhaps offensive, funny, or whatever.

 

There are no rules here really, other than the three or four Hoo posted regarding privacy. The balance is what you want to make of it. So, it can be an outlet to express oneself in a lot of ways, including that of adapting one's personality to suit what one's needs are.

 

But I disagree with some of the comments made in here that it allows us to say whatever we want or in whatever way. Sure, it can be funny, but often times people take it more seriously than the other posters do. And the only response anyone has made on this point is to get a thicker skin; that these posters are incredibly childish or overly sensitive; or that the persons complaining are essentially losers to care what anyone in here says about them. And I just don't think that's true - we all have a feel for some of the regular posters, and they don't seem to fit into any one particular mode. Their personality, or at least their board personality, always shines through, adding nuances to our perception of their personality.

 

In hindsight, Jon would have been a lot better off using a different alias in his review. Then I suppose the anonymity would have insulated whatever he truly felt about the escort's response.

[Guest JT]

>When I first started participating on this board, a favorite

>escort of mine was victimized here by a cyber-stalker who

>persisted on posting nasty and false accusations about this

>boy. Naturally, he wanted to respond. "Look at all those

>nasty things he is saying about me!" he lamented. I

>countered, "He is saying those things about (escort alias),

>not about (escort real name)." Taking my advice, the boy

>let it lie... and between the stalker frying himself (as

>most flakes will) and defense from satisfied customers, the

>barrage ended, the boy came out smelling like a rose, and he

>became and is still one of the most successful escorts of

>the twink genre.

 

>Now this was an escort, whose alias was being attacked.

>Granted an alias, but to the escort, that alias is

>livelihood. Even so, he saw the wisdom of restraint.

 

 

Hi Marc,

 

Your first example indicated that you know the escort "well" enough that you're certain the truth was on his side. Are you telling us that you also happen to know the "escort" being attacked now? That you know the truth is on his side? That he is a victim of lies? Please enlighten us with your wisodm and insight!

 

JT

[Guest tmbg]

Marc I am not certain of the specific reason behind your post. I have read some of your other posts and found them, informative as well as fun. This post "Crucifixtion in Cyberspace" is right on the spot. I thank you for such a well thought out message.

 

Viva l'amoureux de twink

 

Cheers! Ritchie

[marc anthony]

Huh?

[Guest Les]

Hi Marc,

This is too schizoid for me.

Take care, Les

[phage]

Excellent post – particularly with regards to “board personality.” While I do think it is silly to get your panties in a twist over anything said on an anonymous message board, I can understand how some guys take it more seriously than others. After you post for a while, you become somewhat invested in the cyber handle you have created. Especially on this board where credibility is often questioned and newcomers are sometimes treated like petulant children.

 

I can’t imagine what anyone could say that would make me feel bad after I log off, but I can understand why people would feel compelled to respond to a “personal” attack on their cyber personality. It’s the ones that get so worked up that you can just picture them mumbling about the thread as they drift off to sleep that I worry about.

[Guest jeremyred18]

HEY MARC, I LOVE YOU BABY!!!!! I got your back!!

[marc anthony]

Thanks for getting my back! Now give me your ass! hehe

 

I love you right back, you cute thing! Be successful in your endeavors, and fulfill all your dreams.

[Guest 7Zach]

re: mumbling, that was so funny...and I think it's true, too.

[Guest JT]

>I can’t imagine what anyone could say that would make me

>feel bad after I log off, but I can understand why people

>would feel compelled to respond to a “personal” attack on

>their cyber personality. It’s the ones that get so worked

>up that you can just picture them mumbling about the thread

>as they drift off to sleep that I worry about.

 

While I haven't lost and will probably never lose any sleep over some posts in the MC, there're good reasons why people feel bad and compelled to respond other than being "personally attacked". For example, there have been posters of Jewish AND non-Jewish backgrounds considered some of the posts in the MC anti-semetic and therefore, they feel a need to respond. People respond when someone or some group(s) is/are being unfairly trashed even though they're not "personally attacked".

 

 

JT

[Guest 7Zach]

And I would insert, for the record, after unfairly the words "and/or fairly".

[Guest JT]

>And I would insert, for the record, after unfairly the words

>"and/or fairly".

 

Zach, I thought you would insert "something" else, you know, something that is more fun... ;-)

 

JT