<p>So I just had a thought. Whenever you go to a forum, you always face the risk of being hated by some members of the forum. Of course, as any rational person realizes, most of them can’t really do anything to you, nor do they desire to do anything other than to leave you alone. This of course is the rationale behind not caring about what others think of you. But this isn’t always the case. </p>
<p>It MIGHT be risky for you to interact with others on a depression forum or a “I hate the world” forum or a forum filled with people who are generally disillusioned with the world.</p>
<p>why is that?</p>
<p>Many people on those forums are shy cynical types, the types most likely to commit murder-suicides. They often engage in such actions because they see themselves as having nothing better to do, as having no other hope for their lives. And since they aren’t particularly engaged in the world around them - they may be more likely to become obsessive with the few particular people that they may come across, and stalk them obsessively.</p>
<p>So if any of them starts to hate you and starts to stalk you, then that person is far more likely than average to sabotage your life or goals.</p>
<p>Some of them are rather interesting and have interesting views of the world (hell, I’m one of them - well, kinda), hence why some people choose to hang around on such forums</p>
<p>meanwhile, on a forum filled with successful and socially influenced types, many of them may strongly dislike you, but it is of no consequence because the only thing they can do to you is to avoid you. On the other hand, they aren’t particularly predisposed to sabotaging your life or goals - after all - they usually have something better to do.</p>
<p>Obviously a forum is going to have a mix of personalities. But obviously, most forums do have personalities, and generally do cater towards a specific group of people.</p>
<p>Of course forum interaction is always less risky than real life interaction in part because it is far easier to sabotage your life or goals in real life than online.</p>
<p>Obviously - in both cases - the risks of posting on forums are still very low. EDIT: okay, don’t take any of this as an attack on such forums or people with depression (I can easily sympathize with both groups) - since a significant number of people who have incentive to sabotage individuals or society are depressed - even though most people who are depressed are fine people.</p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>