The reason this question intrigues me is that I have noticed a deep comradery among many of the members of Joeuser. Is this unusual? I have not blogged much at all (in fact, this is my first blog post), but the dynamics of the joeuser group are.....are.....like a family it seems. Some members are very parental (both maternal and paternal), some are children (both brothers and sisters), some are comedians, some are totally obnoxious, and some are totally outrageous.
So why would we come online to be part of a family when we all struggle with our own families already? Are we trying to find a place where we are more accepted than in our current families? Are we attracted to a place where it appears that people will listen to us? Or to a place where we can say things that our family wouldn’t accept, or wouldn’t have time for?
I thought perhaps I could pin it all on our need for acceptance, but how does that explain the feelings of mutual dislike of certain contributors to the site? I actually feel good about feeling bad about some people, knowing that many others on the site feel the same disdain. If everybody was kind and polite and unopinionated, this would be a less colorful experience, and in fact it would not mirror real life at all.
Well, I’ve asked more questions than I’ve answered, but I’m curious to hear input from those of you who have been around awhile.
In the mean time, what’s for dinner?