I'm not an angry or argumentative person. Truth be told I generally try and avoid conflict wherever possible. I'm far too laid back to start picking fights. That said, I ended up in the middle of one last night on Twitter!
It all started from one single tweet I made in order to spark some debate. Recently I've noticed a difference in the way a lot of men and women edit their images. Female photographers seem to use a lot more photoshop textures on their images when compared to their male counterparts. I figure we all have the same eyes, so why should a woman's approach to editing be any different... hence why I pointed out my observation on twitter and asked for peoples opinions.
Well what followed from one individual (a female art nude photographer who only shoots on film) was shocking to me! I was called sexist, ugly and that my comments were degrading to women! This then resulted in an argument rather than healthy debate, despite my best efforts! This individual seemed to think that I was saying women can't take a good photo and rely on photoshop to make a good image, when in actual fact I was comparing the different editing styles and the way that women often create more 'arty' images than men. At no point did I say I think one is better than the other, or that either sex had more photographic skill. It was purely a style based observation! Another comment that she made was that it was sexist to compare men and women... Well surely to deny that there are differences between us is to deny our individuality, and if we're all the same, think the same, make the same images, what's the point in trying to be creative?
What I found really interesting was the effect this had on some of my other twitter followers...
I'm always very careful of what I say online. Much like in life, I try and avoid getting into heated arguments as I don't think they can do much for anyone's reputation. That said, I found that a lot of people were re-tweeting my comments and agreeing with me. I was getting direct messages and replies from people I had previously not heard from in support. I also gained about 15-20 new followers during the few hours that this went on. Now I wouldn't recommend being argumentative as a good way to improve your social networking following, but with billions of people interacting across the internet every second, there are bound to be conflicts at some point. The key is how you handle them.
So what have I learned from this little online fracas? Well for one, if you want a peaceful life... keep quiet! More importantly I've found that sometimes it's good to defend your point of view, and not to stand for personal attacks from people on the other side of the world who have never met you and don't know the first thing about you!
5 comments:
Yes I couldn't agree more. Shame some people have to be so sensitive and make a mountain out of a molehill. Especially when it was a topic of healthy debate and not sexist at all. Very silly indeed!
If you want to be a spineless doormat, not a quiet life at all then keep your mouth shut folks. Hardly an option for someone whose work inspires others and begs for comment, no matter how polemic it might sometimes be. I am often quite argumentative and evangelical about things I have a passion for. Whilst respecting that others have opinions that differ from my own, I don't have to roll over and publicly agree with them or leave inaccuracies, disparities and misinformation unchallenged. If I wanted empty rhetoric I'd ask for a politician. I've come to expect a direct and sometimes blunt dialogue with Jay and it cuts to the chase, is void of any superficial bollocks and is generally agreeable - as is his taste in ties.
Who was it Jay, I'll get em for you.
Seriously, you will always encounter situations like this and sometimes without going looking for them. Losing the ability to reason shows the battling party was already on the backfoot. It is their problem not yours. However, being controversial is a surefire way to lure folk in. That's not wrong either.
Jay,
I don't know you, but I'm not on the other side of the world. Nor do I wish to 'attack' you. I don't like fighting either.
However very much like my friend abroad, if I have an opinion I am happy to voice it. I don't do it to "spark debate", I do it because it's what I believe.
I find what you said offensive, and I see no wrong in what was said to you what so ever. Maybe you didn't expect some one to stand up to what you said, but they did, and you don't like it. But they weren't rude or insulting to you as a person, no personal attacks were made. Comments on what you had stated were made. That includes the 'ugly' comment.
Everything we say can be argued by some one else. Get over it. You're hardly quiet on twitter, at least for once you said something really worth while, something you actually thought rather then some joke or chitterchatter. Just so happens that some one disagreed with you, but at least it had more substance then alot of your posts.
You may have gained some followers but you've certainly lost some now too, along with any respect that I had for you.
This isn't a right wrong situation for me, it's a matter of opinion but it's how it's handled that can be judged and you and this blog have well and truely fallen short of what I'd expect from any adult.
Thanks for sharing the behind the scenes. It shows just what a great guy you are and how vulnerable we all are from cyber attack.
I feel stronger and will be more ready to defend myself if I suffer the same abuse.
Thanks, Damien.
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