2 ms·

Well, to some kids (I used to be one of them), the world outside is hostile, unfair and pretty much depressing. I used to basically just have my "keyboard", an

by lynx97 2y ago

Well, to some kids (I used to be one of them), the world outside is hostile, unfair and pretty much depressing. I used to basically just have my "keyboard", and it was a wonderful way of escaping the reality and dullness of human interactions as a visually disabled kid. My "keyboard" brought me a job that I love which also pays my bills and made me indepenent. Why would you have wanted to take my keyboard away? To force me to interact with other kids that basically hated me, abused me, or were basically dull and dumb? This condescending attitude of yours almost makes me cry.

worldsavior 2y ago
I'm sorry if I have hurt you in some way, this is not my intention of course. I'm not trying to come across as a bully. In your case I guess the situation is more applicable, but for someone that is not disabled in some way, I would say go and fight those other kids. It's also a bit ironic. The internet is a much more cruel place than real life.
- lynx97 2y ago
  Well, people that judge others from a distance and immediately throw in their opinion basically always come across as bullies. Likely because they are, maybe without noticing. Ironic? I tend to disagree. While the internet and especially social media have a very bad reputation amongst "boomers" these days, it is still far easier to pick a community you actually feel welcome in then in real life. It is easy to deal with trolls, just close the window and move on... Besides, when I used computers to escape the harsh reality of younger kids, the internet wasn't even a real thing yet, FidoNet was the way to go. We had forums, sure, but communication and posting comments wasn't the primariy use case for a computer. Tinkeering, and learning how the machine actually worked, was the primary time sink. Hacking INT 21H, learning qbasic from reading the manual... All things you would have taken away from me if you had anything to say. And the result would have been an adult without special skills and a ton of job opportunities right away. I guess 10 years or going to university after school, basically loosing 10 years of income, would have been prefered by you as a parent?
  - worldsavior 2y ago
    I wouldn't take anything away, just less time on the digital world. I'm surprised that you don't think spending a lot of time on a computer isn't healthy.

by lynx97 2y ago

worldsavior 2y ago

I'm sorry if I have hurt you in some way, this is not my intention of course. I'm not trying to come across as a bully. In your case I guess the situation is more applicable, but for someone that is not disabled in some way, I would say go and fight those other kids. It's also a bit ironic. The internet is a much more cruel place than real life.

lynx97 2y ago
Well, people that judge others from a distance and immediately throw in their opinion basically always come across as bullies. Likely because they are, maybe without noticing. Ironic? I tend to disagree. While the internet and especially social media have a very bad reputation amongst "boomers" these days, it is still far easier to pick a community you actually feel welcome in then in real life. It is easy to deal with trolls, just close the window and move on... Besides, when I used computers to escape the harsh reality of younger kids, the internet wasn't even a real thing yet, FidoNet was the way to go. We had forums, sure, but communication and posting comments wasn't the primariy use case for a computer. Tinkeering, and learning how the machine actually worked, was the primary time sink. Hacking INT 21H, learning qbasic from reading the manual... All things you would have taken away from me if you had anything to say. And the result would have been an adult without special skills and a ton of job opportunities right away. I guess 10 years or going to university after school, basically loosing 10 years of income, would have been prefered by you as a parent?
- worldsavior 2y ago
  I wouldn't take anything away, just less time on the digital world. I'm surprised that you don't think spending a lot of time on a computer isn't healthy.