I would say that when you begin reading a person's post on a public forum,
you already do have a certain idea about the person, at least an
expectation. For example, on coming to know that I am Hindu, you might
relate me with one of your Hindu friends, and (at least subconsciously)
expect me to behave a certain way (such as using strange flavors of
English).

About me, I am a Hindu teenager, living in India. I have been brought up in
a moderately religious family, but I rebelled and became a skeptic atheist,
but finally have come to embrace Hinduism, making it closer to my heart and
mind than anything in the world.

Knowing the social context of the person does help, but only if it is used
morally. Of course, I trust that on an intellectual forum like this, nobody
is so baseless so as to insult or mock another on the basis of religion or
nationality.

On the internet, it is difficult to tag a forum/list geographically or
culturally, although here it happens to be that most people are Americans, I
haven't seen many Europeans here. There's also the issue of privacy, most
people don't like to share much about their personal lives, and this is
especially a Western trait.

Akshay


On 10/01/2008, Steven Peterson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>
> Hi All,
>
> I am curious about the social context of the people I'm conversing with.
>
> I'd like to get to know some of you more personally. I might like to meet
> you for a beer when you are in town. I wonder how old you are. I wonder what
> you look like and what you do for a living. If you have any kids, pets, or
> motorcycles. If you are a chic, I can't help wondering if you are hot.
> Sorry.
>
> On the other hand, social context should be irrelevent to the intellectual
> quality of what you say to me, so maybe it is better for you and I to keep
> things on as purely an intellectual level as possible.
>
> What do you think?
>
> Steve
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