A (Malicious) Internet Forum Experiment

[Vance]

Alright, I was angry. There you have it, you can accept it or throw it in my face, but that's the truth. So, with no further ado, I apologize. (I actually got up from bed to do this) Well, a tired goodnight to all, I hope I didn't leave any serious mental scars... Cheers!

[Universal Mind]

Alright, I was angry. There you have it, you can accept it or throw it in my face, but that's the truth. So, with no further ado, I apologize. (I actually got up from bed to do this) Well, a tired goodnight to all, I hope I didn't leave any serious mental scars... Cheers! Thank you.

[♥Mark]

Do you feel guilty, Vance?

[dragonoverlord]

Vance you give up too easily. It was an intresting idea too.

[Vance]

@dragonoverlord You weren't helping the situation. I agree to most everything I said, still, but I did say some nonsense. As to your consent, Universal Mind, I actually expected something a bit less abrupt, with you previously calling people heartless bastards, perverts and the like. It was shrewd, but I did not mean it as a project for anyone. I am entertained by some of the things I said though, so this thread wasn't a complete waste. I was hoping to get off on a better note with you, Universal Mind, but obviously you are just happy to be proved right. And to those who are wishing to actually attempt this, don't. At least that puts it in a more graceful manner than some.

[Spartiate]

Am I the only one who wouldn't have bought it?

[wasup]

What did it say?

[psychology student]

Yea, what did it say?

[Vance]

I will not give the specifics, but it realistically simulated how news of someone's death would be found out by a forum community, and how they would feel like they caused it. Shrewd, but I wasn't condoning it. PS: I am also entertained by some of the things that the people who freaked out have to say...

[GestaltAlteration]

Basically: 1. Make alt account 2. Have the account (a young, adolesent girl) annoy a lot of people; not quite a troll though. 3. After a while a post appears in much better English assuming to the be the user's mother. The "mother" calls the forum a group of monsters because her 14 year old daughter commited suicide. 4. Record reactions. 5. Get on a few days later and tell them they were fooled for the sake of a social experiment. The problem is, primarily, that there is no useful application to the knowledge learned through it. What is more it is painfully obvious already that people do, indeed, have strong emotions on message boards (anger, guilt, sadness). From a sociologists standpoint the experiment is unethical. From an average joe's standpoint one must wonder why it's worth the risk of triggering a real suicide or feelings of dispair. Vance you took many of my posts and assumed I was directing them only at you, which wasn't the intention. Note I called anyone who would go through with it a heartless bastard, not the one who posted it. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

[Universal Mind]

@dragonoverlord You weren't helping the situation. I agree to most everything I said, still, but I did say some nonsense. As to your consent, Universal Mind, I actually expected something a bit less abrupt, with you previously calling people heartless bastards, perverts and the like. It was shrewd, but I did not mean it as a project for anyone. I am entertained by some of the things I said though, so this thread wasn't a complete waste. I was hoping to get off on a better note with you, Universal Mind, but obviously you are just happy to be proved right. And to those who are wishing to actually attempt this, don't. At least that puts it in a more graceful manner than some. No, I was really thanking you. Do you not appreciate my appreciation?

[metcalfracing]

I really wish he hadn't edited to post... I just want to know what all the fuss is about.

[wasup]

I really wish he hadn't edited to post... I just want to know what all the fuss is about. Err, read two posts up.

[Vance]

Vance you took many of my posts and assumed I was directing them only at you, which wasn't the intention. Note I called anyone who would go through with it a heartless bastard, not the one who posted it. Sorry for the misunderstanding. Alright, sorry! Thats marking another one down that doesn't hate me as of yet... (I call that progress)

[Xaqaria]

This just goes to show how there are many people in the world that are incapable of suppressing their emotional responses in order to think objectively about hypothetical situations.

[juroara]

so did you guys like.....secretly meet on aim and giggle like little school girls plotting? because this thread is full of irony o.o

[Universal Mind]

This just goes to show how there are many people in the world that are incapable of suppressing their emotional responses in order to think objectively about hypothetical situations. Your post just goes to show that you don't know what you are talking about. It is not the first one like that.

[Xaqaria]

Your post just goes to show that you don't know what you are talking about. It is not the first one like that. Always on the defensive, UM. Please feel free to tell me what it is I'm talking about.

[Universal Mind]

Always on the defensive, UM. Please feel free to tell me what it is I'm talking about. Always on the offensive, Xaqaria. Why do you need me to tell you what you are talking about?

[Xaqaria]

Always on the offensive, Xaqaria. Why do you need me to tell you what you are talking about? Because I don't know what it is, apparently. Offensive?

[Man of Shred]

Well whatever word you wanna use, but some overly unstable person who is prone to suicidal thoughts. Unstable by Who's standards? I think anyone is prone to suicidal thoughts given the right circumstances.