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Perceptions And Conflict
March 4, 2013 09:39:35 AM
Most often conflict arises due to miscommunication and an altered perception. Perceptions can be changed by things like hunger, sleepiness and other mood altering conditions. When you’re online the ability to have the wrong perception is heightened because you can’t hear the person’s voice meaning your own mood can color the way you read a post. If you feel like you’re being attacked, take a moment to review your own mental state. Using the H.A.L.T.S method can be very effective.
Are you:
Hungry
Angry
Lonely
Tired
Sad

Any of these things can make you read a post a little differently. Let me explain. Many people when they are hungry are prone to be a little more on edge than normal. If you’re one of those people, you may want to keep that in mind. Anger is obvious. When you’re already angry, things seem to get tinted with the same angry brush. Harmless things can become hateful. When you’re lonely or sad you most likely feel a little more vulnerable and are apt to have heightened emotional sensitivity. Tiredness can cause a range of emotions from exasperation to crankiness to even a feeling of wanting to cry. Keeping all these in mind can make a huge difference in the way you read someone’s post.

Nonetheless there are times when conflict happens. It’s an unfortunate part of life and a fact of being in a community. With so many different opinions and factors affecting everyone in one way or another, it can be difficult to remain objective and to remove earlier events from the current situation. Handling conflict when it comes about is almost an art form. The best remedy for conflict is communication.

If you have an issue with someone that needs to be addressed, the best way to go about it is to talk to them in private first. Don’t go in guns blazing and attacking them. Let that person know what it is they did to upset you and then explain why that upset you so much. That way the person you’re trying to communicate with will know exactly what’s going on and why, giving them a better chance to explain and hopefully rectify the situation. Once you have tried this approach and if the second party is still causing you problems, you can always block them from messaging you. If they still find a way to cause you grief, you may need to involve a game moderator and let them know exactly what is going on but that should be a last resort if an amicable solution is just not possible. Through all of this, there is one very important thing you must never do. You should never, under any circumstances, post your grievances on the messages boards for all to see. This often causes discord not only among those directly involved in the conflict but with those that become involved because of the post. It is counterproductive and never ends well.

When all is said and done it is best to T.H.I.N.K before you post.
Is it:
True
Helpful
Inspiring
Necessary
Kind

**Although I may make one note here; if you feel it’s true but it’s definitely not nice, you really shouldn’t post it.**

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