Re: Strange callings in the night -- Da Message Board

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Date Posted: 17:55:43 06/29/00 Thu
Author: SpiderTeo
Subject: Re: Strange callings in the night
In reply to: hellboy 's message, "Re: Strange callings in the night" on 09:24:38 06/29/00 Thu

Hellboy, you are a bastard! Still, I got to give you props for picking up a girl like that. I tried to do the same thing, but on a televangelist's program.

Okay, about a year or two ago, some of us were bored in the dorm and was flipping through the channels. We found this preacher askign for money to save souls and some other crap. We wanted to try to get on the television by contacting one of the people on the phones in the background. When we called the number, we got a female on the other line. I tried talking with her and did some talking other than pledging money. It turns out that she was not in the studio but in some office separated from the preacher's talking. She sounded kinda cute, so I asked her where she was at. Turns out that she was a student somewhere in Tennessee or Kentucky (couldn't fault her; I was working at the dining hall at the time). Needless to say, I couldn't get a date, found out how much more of a sham televangelists are, and that this would have been better if I something more to drink beforehand. Oh well.

As for opening up on the phone or the computer screen comes from our own personal security and a social consciousness on appearance. It may be different in Australia, but in the U.S. image is everything, or at least what matters most. No one wants to be too fat, or too skinny, or ugly, or unfashionable, or too dark, or too light, or simply different. This is because there seems to be a social norm that unacceptable appearance equates to unacceptable company. I won't go into specific examples but I will assume that everyone could believe that these "acceptable images" are perpetrated through the media. Now, to meet someone irl, you have to reveal one's appearance. This can be intimitating particularly when people are not comepletely happy with their looks.

Now comes the phone or internet. Here, you get to sample someone from a cerebral viewpoint. Appearance is done away with. Now what you see is what the other wants to present. Here, one can be anyone she wants to be, including herself. Of course, this is not in the physical sense but in a mental or (for lack of a better word) "psychic" sense. You get to revela yourself, but in a different medium and only how you want to.

I did say something about security. On the Net, you have more security over your personal self (this does not mean any "personal" info that could be hiding on a database). there is no to little risk to simply "chat" with someone online or on the phone (this excludes phrackers who know how to break code and track signals; but the same could be said about stalkers of the more traditional wait-outside-the-window-and-follow-you" type.). IRL, it's wysiwyg (what you see is what you get), and your initial appearance could blow your chances with someone who would actually like your other "selves" like humor, personality, hobbies, and intellect. On a phone or on the Net, you can "control" what your appearance. Hence, less risk on meeting someone through these media. Sad, but probable explanation/theory.

Another theory is the public speaking idea. Unless you like extreme attention, or you have gotten used to it, most people are not public speakers. However, that doesn't mean that they don't know how to express themselves. I know some people who are boring as hell to talk to but can write a moving story or clear-as-crystal essay. And there are people who can't write worth as shit but they are dynamic speakers nonetheless. This could apply to phone/net speaking. People can get tongue tied when put under pressure. But given the written word, they can be expressive.

These are just my theories, and they are not well polished (but I can make a more comeplete analysis if anyone wants them) and I have not added supporting evidence so I could be wrong. I wouldn't doubt if there are other explanations, as I'm sure there are.

Actually, this makes me think about how I ended up with this motley bunch of misfits that live in Australia. I first started by finding some funny-ass stuff about Transformers lists that someone posted on his website when I first got net access. When I learned that Ratbat was the author, I was intrigued about this person's wit and humor; I fell in love. Well, figuratvely speaking. It's like when you get a hit from a drug and you want to take another hit. That's how I felt like. I wanted to see to see more of this person's humorous and entertaining writings.

A year later, when I changed schools, I looked for these lists again and have found out that Ratbat had her own website. Intrigued, I began to read through her stuff. I liked what I read and learned more about her and her crew the Recycled Virgins (especially loved the Transformers: The Movie review). Again, I had a certain urge to learn more on who is Ratbat because I really enjoyed her work. It's like when you really like a movie star or music artist because of her work. Then you want to learn more about that person and collect stuff about that person. I did the same for Enya at one time (and yes, I did think she was hot). Well, believe it or not, I was becoming Ratbat's original fanboy. That could explain some of the weird dreams that I have had (and sometimes still do).

Since then, I have stalked around on the web and found Da' Site and the rest of the Evil Bunnies. I read more, and was eventually accepted as one of them. I guess what brought me hre is the common interest I found first with Ratbat and then with the Evil Bunnies. Common interests is probably one thing what brings people together, particularly on the net. And now that we know we are somewhat similar in personality (or at least compatible) we express ourselves freely. Hell, I'm here talking about certain personal thoughts to people who have never even met me short of the web and e-mail. Hell, that's some trust right there. Then again, I could be bullshitting all of you right now and it wouldn't even matter!

Just some simple thoughts from yours truly,
SpiderTeo

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