There are two parts to this question. One on the online community, one in the real life observations.
Online:
This is a problem I've been having with the Voat community. Everyone seems so passionate about arbitrary things, and yet, I see hardly anything being done to create, or amend the issues. We're not technically a community; in fact, it's a strange crossroads of communities that happen to all be residing in the same space.
I got here three months (well lurking, I think my profile says 1) ago. When I joined, I felt like I found home. People would argue with each other, reach a compromise, all without downvoating. I met some great friends, all of us passionate about writing. And now, a good majority of them have left due to the culture change.
Instead of discussion, I find more and more "Fuck you faggot you SJW cocksucker" sort of deals. They didn't like this. They left. I took a hiatus for awhile. But I notice more and more this mindset of witchhunting, hive minded anger, without any solution but to ban users (Not in Particular @She but also many, many others). I feel like we could be better at open discussion, without the name-calling. It weakens arguments --- granted, I've seen several good arguments going on, but it all revolves around downvoats instead of null debate.
In Real Life:
More and more, people get angry. They're angry about everything. And They offer no solutions, not feasible ones anyway. I'm pretty laid back. I try to not get angry these days, though sometimes something gets under my skin, but everyone seems to make it a black and white issues (sometimes literally) without ever seeing the facts.
My question to you, voat, is that.....
How do we take our passion and make it into something constructive? How do we regain control, and instead of only being angry and passionate, we become motivated and passionate?
I apologize for rambling. I'm getting fed up with anger with no constructive direction.
EDIT: This discussion is amazing! I haven't read through everything yet, but I'm so happy you all are really getting into this! thanks!
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[–] PuttItOut 0 points 34 points 34 points (+34|-0) ago
I watched them tearing a building down,
A gang of men in a busy town.
With a ho-heave-ho and lusty yell,
They swung a beam and a sidewall fell.
I asked the foreman, “Are these men skilled,
As the men you’d hire if you had to build?”
He gave me a laugh and said, “No indeed!
Just common labor is all I need.
I can easily wreck in a day or two,
What builders have taken a year to do.”
And I tho’t to myself as I went my way,
Which of these two roles have I tried to play?
Am I a builder who works with care,
Measuring life by the rule and square?
Am I shaping my deeds by a well-made plan,
Patiently doing the best I can?
Or am I a wrecker who walks the town,
Content with the labor of tearing down?
— Unknown
[–] OllieQueen [S] 0 points 5 points 5 points (+5|-0) ago
Thanks, PuttPutt. That was wonderful.
[–] TheBuddha 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
If only I were gay... You want to come play video games while I watch and amuse me with pithy sayings? I'll give you room and board and you will most certainly be entertained. Hell, I'll give you a stipend so you can concentrate on Voat. But you have to supply me with witticisms and be receptive to my man-crush (no homo). Also, you have to keep your beard. You can bring Atko with you. I reserve the right to give him a new nickname though. I also traipse around the house nude at times, again - no homo (not that there's anything wrong with that). I will try to stop doing that but I am not properly house broken. I can, and do, pee on my lawn.
Hmm... I think that is all the conditions I can think of. I'd demand a witty reposte and brilliant insight (not on command, I am not a task master) and a reasonable level of hygiene. I eat dead animal, grow my own veggies, and live in the middle of nowhere on the side of a mountain. I do have broadband with enough bandwidth to keep you amused. I do have some small, older, "big iron." We can virtualize your entire setup locally.
I don't drink any more but I have alcohol. I'd want a reasonable sane drunk though. Other assorted drugs are not actively encouraged but they are tolerated. Unless they are for your beard. Your beard gets a free pass on such things. Alternatively, blame Atko. We can make the dog sleep with him just to amuse ourselves. Also, I am visited by a group of strange characters, they are real humans and not in my head. You should be nice to them, it is not required but they were here first. Still, call them out if they are dicks.
Also, you must be a US citizen. Not for any good reason but simply because they won't let you stay unless I marry you. I doubt I can claim you as an H1B. That did not work with my last batch of Lithuanian boys. (I keed, I keed...) Also, no homo.
We'll have to make some sort of plan if you're a cigarette smoker. You can smoke, others do, but do try to keep it cleaned up.
Hmm... Also, I do not really like furries but, well, it would be kind of awesome if you wore a furry suit from time to time just to screw with people. I am not stuck on that rule and am open to the costume. I'd settle for a superhero costume too.
Musical talent would be nice but is not required. No, it is kind of required. Otherwise you have to be nice to those that do even if you don't like it much - feel free to be honest though.
There's a dog. He's a Golden Retriever. He is nice. We needn't talk about ranking or anything but let's just say he's really important to me. He's also smarter than some of the humans I know. He is smarter than some of the people who visit. Not one of them will sit still while I leave a steak in front of them for an hour and then look at me like I am doing them a favor when I tell them it is okay to eat. None of them will come put their head on my lap when I am taking a poop either.
Oh well... LOL I am sorry, I could not resist. I am gonna post this anyways.