Judging personality on writing style

I think fundamentally we're all more similar than we think. I've noticed here through experience and observation that those who are very good at getting to the heart of issues, being vulnerably human, honest, objective, and open-minded, are those who tend to be regarded most warmly by others. That's because they're darn good writers & thinkers, and they've got plenty of life experience under their belts.

On the other hand, think of people the likes of Lucas, Jennifer1...you know, the handful of people who've gotten some flack here.

For those of you who've given them flack, did you ever think to consider that they may still be honing their thinking / writing skills? Or maybe they're still on a journey to figure out who the heck they are? Perhaps they've gravitated toward blogging as a growing tool. Or an outlet for socialization. Maybe they're lonely which has given them some quirks that come out in their ideas.

Notwithstanding rudeness & lying...if someone needs to be rude, I hope they're just in a bad mood and need to get it off their chest. True, some people can be in a bad mood for a solid decade or more (I've been there). Or if they're liars I'd like to at least give them the benefit of the doubt that they're just playing around to conduct some sort of social experiment. It's their loss. And a bit of wasted mental energy for those who devoted too much time to listening to or caring what was said.

I also think of some religious writers here who seem to come off as a bit self-righteous. Well, I sympathize with how they feel and how they're treated. It's hard presenting your innermost convictions (however unpopular they may be), and your most idealistic experiences or wishes. Yet sometimes we really need to express it. For people who enjoy writing, it feels good to express everything on our minds. The hard part is withstanding the onslaught of nay-sayers and skeptics, or those who try to sway the conversation to get the person to question their faith. In some ways I feel that the questioners seem inconsiderate, while another part of me thinks that if the writer is up to it, analyzing one's religion is a fantastic way to test & build those spiritual muscles.

As for me, I've seen enough meanness around here in my two(?) years of joe-ing, that I've learned to keep it to myself unless I'm ready to fight for what I said.

Random thoughts. Nothing in particular sparked this idea other than a barrage of random memories over the past couple years.
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Reply #1 Top
All in all, Angela, while I understand where you're coming from with this post, I have to disagree with the 'just let 'em slide' philosophy expressed here.


Hmm, I guess what I was trying to say was more along the lines of ...If people who write weird things are simply ignored, then they'll have less fuel to carry on with their nonsense.

But on the other hand, I understand what you said that we (or those who have the time & energy) would be doing such people a disservice by letting their nonsense slide.

You might consider discovering the truth a waste of mental energy, I find it satisfying. There's nothing quite like that "Gotcha" moment.


Heh, yeah, I've seen you make some pretty funny "Gotcha" moments.

So all the power to you. You've got a lot more mental space and energy than I do! ::

Growth hurts. Coddling stunts growth. JU is real community of souls, real people behind these keyboards. The lessons learned here can be valuable in real-life. If one is rejected by this community, one needs to examine the reasons why and make a decision. The decision entails deciding whether to change their behavior in order to avoid future 'flak' or to carry on, not giving a damn ABOUT the flak.


Well said. I know I've grown quite a bit here for just those reasons. So let's all carry on...

And while attacking the liars, maybe it can be done so in such a way that they're reminded what their lies and nonsense are doing to their personal character, and then encourage them to grow rather than bashing them down further. Just a thought.
Reply #2 Top
P.S. You may have noticed that this article disappeared soon after I wrote it & you commented. I hadn't noticed that it generated any comments when I went back to mark it for "Just Me." I often change my mind about articles so that I can think some more on it. , whether I think it's really a worthwhile topic. Today when I noticed your comment, I brought the article back.

P.P.S. Just edited it from "Philosopy" to "Writing." That fits a little better.
Reply #3 Top
So that's why I hadn't seen it yet.

KLF and Lula?

Yeah, KFC and Lula do go on a bit, but it's helping them both in apologetics, I think. So it may actually serve a purpose.

As for me, I take it as it comes. If people are lying, I'm going to be the last to know. It doesn't really make me mad, life is too short to worry about people lying about who they are. Unless it directly affects me, like if someone tried to be my friend under another name after flaming me on another. It's just rude. What kind of friendship can you have if you can't even apologize for what you've done wrong?

I realize some people are growing, but LW's right. Without constructive criticism, which is what most people give, you're not going to grow in your writing and/or thinking. Especially if you ask questions then specify you only want one answer.
Reply #4 Top
And while attacking the liars, maybe it can be done so in such a way that they're reminded what their lies and nonsense are doing to their personal character, and then encourage them to grow rather than bashing them down further. Just a thought.


Blessed be the Peacemaker.

On a side note, I think you put your finger on exactly what makes human interaction so interesting. Not everyone is built to be a peacemaker. Sometimes life's circumstances keep them from the ability, sometimes its just plain old personality.

Everyone deals in their own way. Some situations call for peace, others for war. It's up to the individual to draw the line.

For example. I personally didn't have much time for fighting with/replying too Lucas. I didn't want to be sucked into the game for lots of reasons. But some of the posts I watched......I thought LW's tough love approach was good for him. He seemed like a mama's boy who maybe didn't get any tough love at home.

I believe its possible to gain wisdom from all kinds of personalities and life experiences. When I think of my own life...most of the truth I've discovered about myself (my flaws) has come to light in moments of tough love from other people.

Reply #5 Top
It sucks that God disciplines the ones he loves, but that's what's best for us. Discipline/tough love is the greatest tool to use towards growth. Sadly, discipline/tough love is slowly being outlawed.
Reply #6 Top
Hi AngelaMarie. been a while.
when I first came to Joe I was beaten on constantly for my poor English, spelling, grammar, sentence structure to the point I deleted all 80 of my articles and wrote a fare well article and left.

after 2 weeks I thought to myself "hey? I liked that place and I ain't gonna let anyone run me off" so I came back and learned how to use spell check and grammar check till I hardly make any spelling errors any more. My sentences structure is still a work in progress though.

I am sure some folks think I am the meanest mofo ever to breath. Others think I am a sweetie pie. Somewhere in between lies the truth.

To try and figure out what kind of person it is behind what kind of articles they write is folly.