Attack of The Eons' "Sourpuss Brigade"

posted 6 months ago

It's no wonder that kids and younger adults call many senior citizens "crotchety". Just spend a couple of hours cruising eons and you'll see it in almost every group.

Damned, but I'm just as guilty as anyone for being a "sourpuss" on occasion and most of the time I am quite aware that I am being a sourpuss. But, in my opinion, most of the eons' "Sourpuss Brigade" haven't got a clue...

I guess some would say that the mass exodus from eons following the age change might be called a classic example of sourpuss-itis. (Not in my book, eons was/is a haven for the over-fifty crowd who don't want to deal with kids while social networking. But the predicted madness that the kids would bring has not materialized, at least not that I can see.)

However this week, I have witnessed two cases of attacks from the Eons' "Sourpuss Brigade". One directly affected me and the second one greatly affected my friend, laughingspirits.

I sent out about 300 invitations to join my Google Earth Users group - a marketing tool that eons encourages its group managers to do.

What happened?

A "couple of members" of the Eons' "Sourpuss Brigade" reported me to the "powers that be" as a spammer. Unfortunately, the eons employee who took the reports suspended my account. With the help of my friends, I was re-instated almost immediately and eons admitted that what I had done was not spam; but a group manager just doing her job. Only harm to me was rebuilding my friends list - and listening to the ridicule of a few friends who thought it was funny...

What has happened to laughingspirits is no laughing matter and is the classic example of what the Eons' "Sourpuss Brigade" will do when they let their fingers run wild and unfettered on their keyboards. Laughingspirits posted a thread in a couple of groups requesting that members observe "Stop Child Abuse" month by using a "Stop Child Abuse" Icons during April. And the crap that the Eons' "Sourpuss Brigade" has thrown at her makes the flap over Hillary's Bosnia "Snipergate" pale in comparison.

It's time for the crotchety Eon's "Sourpuss Brigade" to either lighten up or maybe even a better suggestion is to "get a life", folks.

Just my opinion and not that of eons nor any of their sponsors.

Comments

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1. 6 months ago laughingspirits wrote:

I would like to thank the SourPuss Brigade in their support of my cause - they are furthering it more than I ever could have alone. I am indeed grateful. laughingspirits

2. 6 months ago mowida wrote:

I think it must be one of the effects of Global Warming! The amount and severity of Tempests in Teapots has increased exponentially! I think we can expect more of the same until the eventual Great Cooldown occurs in the Long Mall.

3. 6 months ago HAE wrote:

It's sad but true. I've seen more meanness in a year on Eons then I saw in 10 years of AOL chat rooms. Now, I admit that I was in a private astrology chat populated mostly by women over 50. (Public AOL chat rooms were pretty awful. But still . . .

4. 6 months ago Michibilly wrote:

Absolutely correct! Unfortunately some of the real nastygrans have come to other sites too, and not just eons. They invade all the sites for us spreading their nasty comments and narrow, narrow, views of what's right and wrong. Well, they do have a handle on what's wrong...them

5. 6 months ago ckat wrote:

ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO I WANTED TO JOIN A HUMOR GROUP BUT BECAUSE MY PICTURE OF MY SON STANDING IN FRONT OF A CERTAIN FLAG I WAS NOT SUITIBLE FOR HER GROUP. I WAS HURT BECAUSE SHE JUDGED ME BY A PICTURE I WILL NOT JOIN A GROUP THAT THINKS THEY ARE BETTER THAN THE NEXT ONE. THE GROUPS I'VE HAVE JOINED ARE SUCH WONDERFUL FRIENDS.

6. 6 months ago ScotFree wrote:

Some people really have no life. These are the old biddies and old farts who spend all day getting into their neighbors' business. Thanks to the Internet, they can do it on their laptops from the crapper if they like. Thank you, Laughingspirits; I changed my avatar, and these busybodies can kiss my ribbon. These are doubtless the same people who attacked the young newbies from the comfort and relative safety of Eons' Advisors.

7. 6 months ago DebinAZ wrote:

The great thing about free expression is the option to just skip over what you wish to, or you may comment on it, but once you do, others will express their feelings as is being done on this blog page.

I don't subscribe to either pettiness, or censorship.

May each child never grow to be the people who complain that bringing notice to the ones suffering among their young peers is "distasteful".

deb

8. 6 months ago DebinAZ wrote:

BTW - I just attempted to boom this blog and was unable to.

Has Eons shut down this option?

I'm not familiar with how Booms work.

9. 6 months ago PtJeffersongirl wrote:

It is getting old, I have had more than a few posts deboomed on my Illegal Immigration Group, there is nothing racist at all. But some seem to relish making their ideas the ONLY ideas. I am glad you both made it back, and sorry for all that you went through.

10. 6 months ago MissPepr wrote:

I agree with DebinAZ to a point. My motto is "Live and Let Live."

Shame on anyone who is not willing to help a child! MY OPINION ONLY!

LIVE AND LET LIVE!

11. 6 months ago RobtC wrote:

These people do not realize just how lucky they are, to have a place to vent with people who are close to the same age and life experiences, and are healthy enough to still be able to do it. Allowing the younger folks to join has not done the irreparable damage that was thought, and hopefully, will be able to add some fresh new perspective to the discussions. I watched several of my older freinds become bitter, hateful, spiteful, just plain mean people, and vowed to not fall into that trap. I, also, have gotten to the point in my life, where what others think of me really doesn't bother me, and what I think of me means a whole lot more.

I am sorry that, for trying to do something nice, so much hate and venom was launched at you and Laughingspirits, but, as I have seen, some of these people must rain on every parade they can, because it is safe to do from the privacy of the keyboard.

Yeah, I can be crotchety if I need to be, and have in some cases, but I won't say something in a chat room that I would not say to your face.

MY OPINION

12. 6 months ago exedir wrote:

I don't know, but I think what we are seeing is that the EONS community maturing and getting, well, opinionated about opinions.

Since EONS began there have been dust ups, in some and in a few cases many groups about every six months or so. The general response has been flames and recriminations, some in bad taste if not bad form and then things settle down.

As the political season was worn on and on I have seemingly see more restive and testy comments and posts that are not limited to just the normal groups and there has been a spread of the sense of political correctness, opinions as victims and symbols seen whether real or imagined throughout EONS. At times it has seemed almost clinical like in the lower the EONS user age requirement.

Any of this can be taken personal and maybe should, thought most of it can be shrugged off as nonsense and poor use of time and space, however, some of it is just meant to be mean and nasty, insulting and degrading. This is the nature of cyberspace. But I digress.

I have written about netiquette on EONS and though it seems prissy and too much like in a classroom
but there is a place for respect and understanding. And as difficult as it might be, there are delete keys on most of our machines, a opportunity to preview our responses and finally leave the site to cool off or decide to use our time differently.

13. 6 months ago ChelseaLad wrote:

As a student of sociology, I have observed that once any group grows, there is an irresistable urge to develop rules and regulations. Then, there is rush to enforce those rules with vigor. I guess we could go back to communicating with smoke signals but the EPA would probably step in and regulate the activity. Can't win for trying.

14. 6 months ago Akenfield wrote:

Thank you for bringing this to our attention, Nanamarcie.

When I joined Eons, I made the assumption that seniors would be wiser and display a greater acceptance of differences in expression and ideas. However, I was wrong, but Mgdion is right . On the part of some, there appears to be some "irresistible urge" to set rules and "enforce those rules with vigor".

Whenever I express my opinion or do or say or even think something, that doesn't mean I'm right. Therefore, I don't insist I am. What's more, I am no longer horrified by the fact I can be wrong. Once a person can accept that possibility, it is less likely that conflicts such as this can occur, and more likely that they will accept the way others express themselves- whether it be with a flag or an invitation to the Google Earth group. Openness brings about an understanding that is enjoyed by those who try to be what seniors should be- old and wise.

15. 6 months ago nanamarcie wrote:

Thanks to all who have commented - and all with articulation and tolerance. And a few of you brought smiles to my face. My first stop at eons this morning - a good way to start the day!!

16. 6 months ago hbwpcfan wrote:

I didn't know there had been a change of age policy. I'm afraid that the anonimity of online posting brings out the negative and ugly side of a lot of people. I only pray they are not as negative, miserable and unkind in their face to face interactions.

Positive thinking and bright light! Yippee!

Kristin

17. 6 months ago lakelady53 wrote:

It is my hope that there is room for all us. I hope all can believe and promote what is of importance to each of us. We are old enough to agree to disagree, and follow the blogs,that are of importance to each of us, if we can find them. I enjoy folks telling me to go read a blog I may be interested in, and if I am not, I just move on. Everyone I hope can make that choice without attacking someone because they do not believe as they do. I run into blogs/booms/groups and at times go "well, this is not for me" and move on. I believe in promoting child abuse awareness, and many other things, but I am open to others to promote what is important to them, even if it not to me as it is not in my value system, or of interest at times. I guess it is just about giving others permission to be true to oneself, and to let each other be real. Thanks for letting me share.

18. 6 months ago oceanpagan wrote:

Thanks for making me aware that this was National Child Abuse Awareness month. The naysayers hopefully have done all of us who believe in this great cause a favor. Their nastiness made a wave of awareness I'm sure they don't appreciate, but we'll take it. Being a luddite, I couldn't figure out how to change my picture to an avatar for that, so put an awareness picture up in my profile. I hope Slyver and Laughingspirits come back to those who appreciate them, the others matter not a whit; let the wee bampots make each other miserable.