Just Chat Reviews

I’ve just read some of the reviews and they made me laugh. They tend to concentrate on the negative aspects of Just Chat for the most part, but that’s what motivates people to put cyber pen to cyber paper and vent their spleens. And there is a recurring theme in those reviews that does seem quite accurate to me.

There is a lot of hate in the community that leaves me somewhat dumbfounded. Those few idiots that constantly perpetuate the racism, sexism, other bigoted attitudes and just a general lack of respect, disproportionately affect the mood of the room.

But what those reviews don’t seem to acknowledge is the camaraderie that is to be found within the chat room. I get frustrated by the idiots and trolls and occasionally put my head above the parapet when I think enough is enough – and I know I’m not alone in this as I have witnessed many others offer supportive words to virtual strangers who are experiencing all sorts of difficulties, and we all know a virtual hug and a kind word can be just the tonic when things are getting you down.

And true friendships have been fostered in JC that extend past the confines of the online world. I know some think that the meets are nothing more than opportunities for people to get naughty, but I have noticed that after every meet one of the most common themes of the following chat is that people say things like the people that they met were much lovelier than they had thought, or they are much funnier, or didn’t X make a fool of themselves on the dance floor and wasn’t it such a hoot. And that hardly sounds like the typical gossip of a den of iniquity to me. Incidentally, if anyone has a particular kink for a firefighting six form teacher who can help you with your PAYE forms or the legalities of your divorce, then let’s hook up at the next meet.

I get the point about people announcing that they are going to put people on ‘iggy’ and it can be irritating to see, but I think it is often used as a shorthand/non-offensive way for people to let others know that they think a particular person is a troll or an idiot (and we have our fair share of both) . I have also seen it stated as a supportive gesture, eg: ‘ignore the troll, X, he/she is just trying to get you to react.’

The idiots spoil it for everyone. It’s difficult for the new users to discern the good from the bad when we are responding to the flamers and trolls, for example, and then they may conclude the room is unwelcoming. And that’s an argument that doesn’t hold much truck with me, my personal experience when I was a ‘newbie’ not so long ago could not be more contrary. Right from the very beginning I found people willing to engage with me. I remember that Soulsista in particular happily chatted away with me in the lobby and many others did too. I’ve had many a good chat in JC, with many a good soul and they have tolerated my rather pathetic sense of humour and desire to talk about obscure songs or play Youtube song tennis. Sure it can be cliquey, but people migrate to people they like and they don’t have to talk to everyone.

The biggest issue I have with JC is that we have our regular trolls/idiots and their sole aim appears to be to puncture any harmony in the room and they use it as a platform for their own nasty brand of hate, the most notable offender being A Revisionist*. If he is allowed to do this with impunity is it any wonder some people will conclude that JC is an awful place? I’ve gone into detail about this elsewhere on the boards and I won’t bore you with this again, except to say there’s a footnote to this post.

Oh, and some people seem hell bent on having silly arguments about silly things. But like Satre said, ‘Hell is other people’ – and each one of us happen to be another person’s idea of hell. Sometimes people react to the digs and distasteful comments, but that’s life.

Oh, and another thing, why are do some people have such a prurient interest in other people’s sex lives? Surely as long as people are not doing whatever they are doing to you unless you want them to do whatever they are doing to you.

* Now out of mild curiosity, I only went and had a peek at A-revs’ facebook page
the other day. And, cor-blimey-love -a-duck, I was…. well truth be told, i was quite
dejected by what I saw, because our resident woman-hating racist doesn’t look like
the face of evil. He looks like the average man of the street; he looks like he could be
my dad or, dare I say it, yours. Hardly the Aryan ideal. And using the same flawed
logic that he uses, i.e. non-existent, I have now contented myself that his hair is
fighting to be an afro, and thus he’s the product of miscegenation. Our rev is part of
the rainbow nation. Those of you who would like to make you own mind up on this
burning question can have a looksy here:

https://www.facebook.com/raeto.west/photos

There you see, I’m just as guilty as fighting back at the idiots as anyone else might be.

Thought-proving post by the way, Ang.

Only had a good time on JC, as I did on any other site. :D

Racist, homophobic, sexist, cheating, bullying and obviously lying chatters should always be welcomed with open arms. They can only add to the whole chat room experience, should never be iggied or barred, and I am completely mystified as to why anyone could feel differently.

Where’s the fun in that ?

oh p.s ive met quite a few people on meets,and they have all been fantastic
if i can just say this i met snugzzz once at a meet with tin tin
anyway we were all chatting away and snugzzzz says to me
“are you sure you are stoneman”?,i said “yeh why”
she said “oh its just that you seem really pleasant,i hate you in chat”
bless her
so not everything you see in chat is necessarily true
as the saying goes
its just banter innit/?

and it was a good post by rusty, even though Gorecki doesn’t float my trawler

@rogue trader wrote:

iggies rusty,kenty and skep :D