When the Internet Gets Personal

Most of the time, the internet is a safe haven where people can loosely hide behind an online handle. People exchange ideas, discuss, battle it out, but in the end, all is well because we go to bed in real life knowing that our realities are still pristine. This, of course, would be the ideal case. Some people, like myself, choose to unveil the cloak of an online handle and use our real names. Its not that big a deal, if you ask me, but it tells people that I have nothing to hide.

Of course, in doing so, things can get personal very quickly as the internet now has a door into your real life outside the computer. Such is the case with the ongoing dispute over Michael Heilemann’s Kubrick WordPress template between an outspoken critic who calls himself Root and the author of said template. Although I have just happened upon the ongoing spat between these two people, it is apparent that the mudslinging has degenerated to both sides.

Clearly there are some lessons to be learned over such disputes:

1. Most matters are trivial, even those we hold most dear. Realize that and you can stop reading this list.
2. Escalating issues, whether personal, interpersonal, technical, or whatever, usually causes only more escalation and is not constructive.
3. To point out a mistake is one thing. To verbally assault a creative work-in-progress without offering pointers or other help is of no help to you or the larger community.
4. Channel your envies to create, not destroy.

1. Use criticisms to your benefit, improving yourself. Although the ego may have taken a bruising, fix things and move on.

   I hope this can be resolved for the sake of the larger WordPress community.