I think the fact that some people are just assholes plays into it as well

the simplisity and brilliance of that statement made me laugh out loud.

there is a danger in being too accommodating and nice. I like it that Buffistas.org is somewhat sarcastic, and not politically correct, and doesn't suffer fools gladly. I like it that people get called on their bullshit, and that intelligence and command of the language are not merely encouraged, but at least by implication demanded.

Tim posting here brought me to buffistas, but this is what keeps me here, Matt. I've tried other boards, and have enjoyed intelligent, insightful and fun conversations on them. But buffistas is consistently intelligent, snarky, and polite respectful caring. The crap ratio on the other boards I've tried has just overwhelmed me after awhile.

I think the fact that some people are just assholes plays into it as well

the simplisity and brilliance of that statement made me laugh out loud.

I've given a version of that statement to children in grade school. Mostly my nieces and nephews.

I generally get annoyed at the blanket "They tease you because they like you" crap well intentioned parents babble out.

Its amazing how well children take an honest "Some people are just going to be mean to you and not like you. You can't do anything about that. Just find the ones who do like you and play with them."

ETA: Which is sort of how the Buffistas work as explained by Matt, really.

I don't think this applies to the situations you've been talking about, but... negative attention from people you don't identify with is almost equivalent to positive attention from people you do identify with. That's why people go to sports bars and boo the home team.

And then for some people, maybe the negative attention is a side-effect, and the goal is more seeing the reaction than caring who it's aimed at. If that makes sense. It's impersonal, like poking an anthill with a stick. You don't want to get bitten, but you do want to see what will happen.

Not that I've ever done anything like that. But I've heard stories.

Oh man, that was an excellent post Matt. Of course I then went on to skim the rest of that conversation. That was a rough couple of days.

It's impersonal, like poking an anthill with a stick. You don't want to get bitten, but you do want to see what will happen.

I have only heard stories of doing things like that as well. I am far too classy to poke at anyone with a pointy stick so I could take pictures of a meltdown.

So I can keep your stick?

Of course! It's not like I have a vast collection of sticks or anything.

Is it a rain stick?

DEAR GOD. There was just a commercial for the Clerks 10th Anniversary Edition DVD.

I AM SO OLD