Is 'The Game' a place for people to open up?

The ClubHouse: The Game - Discussion Room: General : General - Archives: Oct. 6-16: Is 'The Game' a place for people to open up?

Enb

Saturday, October 07, 2000 - 10:58 pm Click here to edit this post
I've noticed Arreal is really opening up about some very personal stuff in the topic that was started about homosexuality.

I have some experience with small, intimate discussion boards where you begin to feel close to others even though you don't really know them. I've felt that way a bit on the ClubHouse discussion board, but not as much.

All joking and bashing and having fun aside: Is the Game an arena for these people to open up? Might there be some therapeutic stuff happen throughout this? I don't minimize the ability of people to get to know each intimately through this medium, in fact I believe it to be a very good one for communication.

Digilady

Saturday, October 07, 2000 - 11:38 pm Click here to edit this post
Seems it might be! I surely hope that Arreal doesn't regret her openness, and that her fears of being "under public scrutiny" have lessened.

I too have a LOT of experience with small boards... quite a family develops. The dynamics in that gay thread were/are interesting, for example: one BG went after another, and several posts later was offering to send her flowers.

Be great if some actual good came out of this Game. Letting things out is one way of dealing with them, and where better?

Jayavy

Saturday, October 07, 2000 - 11:50 pm Click here to edit this post
I think it's a combination of two things:

The Internet provides a sense of anonymity, which allows people to let down their guard and say things they would never--or rarely--say in a face to face interaction.

The Game provides a setting in which to open up to others. The participants have a purpose: they must interact. And they are using their imaginations to put themselves in a setting based on something (Big Brother) they have recently been witnessing. They share that experience and have begun to emulate the interactions they witnessed. In other words, BB provided a model for them. On BB, the House Guests opened up to each other in varying degrees. I think we will see the same thing with the Board Guests on the Game.

Ocean_Islands

Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 04:20 am Click here to edit this post
Yes but Arreal/Kearie already opened up quite a bit on the "Josh is Depressed" thread, which went on and on forever. I don't think there's much left to reveal.

Adven39

Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 08:00 am Click here to edit this post
It's her choice, but she might be wise to keep some of this personal stuff to herself. This board can give the illusion of intimacy and the sense you are among family, but, the bottom line is, you aren't. The internet is an extremely public forum. If Arreal/Kearie is a person who has no qualms about sharing some of the more personal details of her life and doesn't really care who knows, that's one thing. If, however, she is just a guileless person who doesn't give it enough thought, she is leaving herself wide open - to threats to her privacy and to potshots from some fringe posters who enjoy being nasty.

Enb

Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 08:11 am Click here to edit this post
Haven't read the thread, but here it is. All the threads about Josh's mental state were combined together. From Josh's mental health to our own

Wcv63

Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 11:56 am Click here to edit this post
I don't see the harm in opening up about private and emotional personal situations in the anonymous setting of internet message boards. As a matter of fact I think it's kind of cathartic in a way. And if hundreds/thousands of people know the details of your private life so what? They don't know you. And as far as getting hurt is concerned, it's easier to walk away from a board than it is to walk away from real people.

Adven39

Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 12:46 pm Click here to edit this post
It's potentially less anonymous than you think.

Wcv63

Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 12:51 pm Click here to edit this post
Well if someone who lives 2000 miles away from me finds out my true identity then bully for them. I don't fear "being found out" and the truth is I can always turn off my computer and live in the real world at any time.

I think the only dangers that exist on the net are the predators (that also exist on the outside) and I would hope people know how to protect themselves in this case, and identity theft. This is one reason I don't use credit cards either on the net or in real life.

Sara

Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 02:15 pm Click here to edit this post
Ocean, there's always more to reveal. Interesting people are bottomless pits of wonderful things.

I wish folks like you, who tend to the negative, would be more like them.

I was going to say that before we both leave this board, I was going to get you to be more than occassionally cheerful, but I'm not sure that's possible. But, a worthy cause to be sure. :)

Pluckypanda

Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 02:42 pm Click here to edit this post
Ocean is a bottomless pit of a lot of things, harboring many secret marinelife, a lot of them funny creatures that bring a smile to our faces on occasion...and Sara is very nice and supportive, the world is brighter because of the efforts of people like her, and both are very much appreciated because they make the world go round, without all the unique individuals out there the world would be square...thats why I'm not sure about asking people "being more like them"...just be yourself :o)

Digilady

Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 02:46 pm Click here to edit this post
Methinks Oc is usually very cheerful. He has a blast on here. Don't have to agree with his sense of humor (at times) to see that.

Ocean_Islands

Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 05:00 pm Click here to edit this post
I've seen some writing on the wall--
'Being honest means you can't have a ball'--
When you speak your mind,
People possibly find
That you're negative, and not fun at all.

Chatman

Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 07:53 pm Click here to edit this post
I think opening up on the board can be very therapeutic! I am learning so much about these 10 people, who seem to be spilling their innermost deepest secrets, without any hesitation. I'm liking it!