It’s so easy to immobilize yourself by the technologies that you’re aware of, but you don’t know. The person that asks you if you’ve tried Y when you’ve just barely gotten a handle on X. But if I’m immobilized by that, nothing gets done and my ideas (amazing or not) stay just that, ideas. I have a feeling a lot of good work never sees the light of day because of this. What a shame.

If I should’ve built it for millions of users, and I didn’t, that’s a problem I want – haha.

I’ll admit, it is always incredibly bittersweet for me to hear others experiencing these feelings. Part of the reason that I stopped blogging over a year ago was the fear that I had to continue to maintain the impossible. Impossible numbers of articles, at impossible lengths, on subjects my readers would always care about/agree with.

It used to be that if you wrote about or created something that moved someone (either positively or negatively) that they simply (and respectfully) let you know by constructively adding to the discussion. Even in discourse, respectful conversation improves the topic for everyone involved. Sadly, this is not always the case any longer. I’m thinking of the time when I was inspired to write a short movie review, rather than blog about CSS that day. Or the time when everyone thought Bryan Veloso was dead!

Some of it is to be expected. Those who are thoughtful, respectful and innovative are usually the ones that start and grow communities. They are the type of people that inspire others and share themselves. As communities grow, people aspire to join them. Sadly, those who join are increasingly not as thoughtful, respectful and innovative as those that came before them. You get to a certain point where there are more members of the community relying on the other members than there are those that are still innovating. It is my opinion that this codependent relationship is exactly what fosters the sense of entitlement that is unavoidably displayed these days.

Pretty ironic if you ask me. If there is actually anything owed to anyone in any of the communities out there – I’d wager that they would be things like like:

1. A higher level of respect for those that came before you

2. A higher level of appreciation for the fact that you even have a community to be involved in

3. A higher level of realism

4. A higher level of contribution from the community at large

Well, I guess it would be nice to have a thwarting stick that allowed you to magically silent the stupid as well.

To add to your conclusion, I would say this – as members of any community it is the responsibility of each individual to maintain it. Bashing someone or something via a comment is no different than talking trash on the playground when you know you’d get your ass kicked if it escalates. It is easy to dismiss someone or something. It is much more difficult to do it better yourself. I dare everyone to try it. You’ll not only accomplish everything on my list above – you’ll undoubtedly experience some of the negativity we’re discussing in your own community. Hopefully, once you’ve experienced it, you’ll never participate in it ever again.

In a nutshell – If you don’t like the way it is, change it yourself. If you can’t do that, constructively add to the conversation. If you can’t do that, go away.

Keep the thought-provoking posts coming, Matt. Perhaps I need to start up that blog thing again!

Cheers!