The ghost of Christmas past
Aug. 20th, 2007 09:19 amI've been thinking about something a lot lately.
I've been on the Internet for about ten years. Mailing lists, e-mails, forums, LJ, etc.
During this time I've gotten into arguments, debates, discussions, kerfluffles, flame wars, fights etc.
I have said stupid, offensive or insensitive things. I've said things I no longer stand for. I've expressed opinions that are no longer mine. I've been rude to people. I've hurt people's feelings unnecessarily.
And this bothers me. The fact that those messages are still out there. Nothing gets lost on the Internet.
I have had a case of "slip tongue" IRL too, but there it's lost into the ether the moment you've said it. The only recording is in human memory, yours and the people you said it too, and even that tends to get sketchy after a while.
I'm sure even just by looking through this LJ that stretches back to 2002 you'll find things I wouldn't write today. I'd like to think I've gotten more sensible over the years.
I've been on the Internet for about ten years. Mailing lists, e-mails, forums, LJ, etc.
During this time I've gotten into arguments, debates, discussions, kerfluffles, flame wars, fights etc.
I have said stupid, offensive or insensitive things. I've said things I no longer stand for. I've expressed opinions that are no longer mine. I've been rude to people. I've hurt people's feelings unnecessarily.
And this bothers me. The fact that those messages are still out there. Nothing gets lost on the Internet.
I have had a case of "slip tongue" IRL too, but there it's lost into the ether the moment you've said it. The only recording is in human memory, yours and the people you said it too, and even that tends to get sketchy after a while.
I'm sure even just by looking through this LJ that stretches back to 2002 you'll find things I wouldn't write today. I'd like to think I've gotten more sensible over the years.