Sybmolism is so cool like that--that we have words and little context and fill them in. Internet is not a context starved domain. So Changstar has its own histories of what is acceptable atop those just normal from everyday life. Because there is no universal authority or immediate danger. So drama.

Its so useful for me when people fight online, especially if they are well informed. Even a well-informed, well-self-thought person because by the time its over, the conclusions about the product or service and reliability of the authors becomes apparent and it helps me identify patterns in the future.

But getting into fights myself. I try to avoid them but sometimes its like its to easy and fun to just walk into it and see the other person pissed off. And then realize why the hell their pissed off and feel sorry about it, slightly, and then nod it off. I once got my fingerprints on a multithousand dollar 270 mm yanagiba (sushi) in Beverly Hills at one of the two japanese cutlery stores there. I was trying to feel the consistency of the grind and polish of the knife, since I could still see hammer marks and kinda swirly marks from a kinda okay polish job. Note that the metal was damn hard, about 64 rockwell, and it was honyaki, the most esteemed of the knife constructions, and a sushi knife, the most esteemed of Japanese knives, and that I went there right after work at a CNC lathe (I smelled like coolant, oil, sweat, dirt, burnt metal).

So. Yeah. They guy, who was from Japan, and a smith himself, was pissed. Wiped the knife down furiously in tsubaki oil and took it to another building, separate from the store front. He, in that passive aggressive enemy for life kind of Japanese pissed.

That's the kind of asshole I'm like. In pursuit of knowledge, wisdom, and experience! (and in concession to the consequences!). Especially where there is little cross analysed conclusions and only traditional (or figureheaded) authority.

This thread is stupid. It's unavoidable being an asshole to some thing, some person, some animal. I'm sure the Pope is an asshole to somebody. The Dalai Lama is an affront to the Chinese. CEE TEE tries not to be as asshole, but I'm sure the somebody on the Internet thinks he's an asshole when he (CT) runs over that person's base in Clash of Clans.

The point is, if you actually manage not to be an asshole to anyone, then you are probably a spineless piece of shit.

FWIW, if you want to play nice, here is a good place to go: http://headphone.guru

There are advantages and disadvantages to the approach you choose. Just pick the right one for you.

Asshole is OK, just don't be a fuckhead.

TL:DR

Examples:
1-Little kid sucks at piano but westerners tell him how awesome he is and how he could one day be the next Mozart. Same kid, but easterners tell the kid he sucks something awful and needs more practice or suicide likely leading to multiple beatings with a cane.

2-I use the word 'gay' and some western person flips out as it is now magically inappropriate so all usage in any form must cease immediately. I use the same word and most easterners will make weird faces and gestures, and say gay people have mental problem, must have brain operation or shock to genitals.
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Interesting perspective, but I think there is a difference between mass media and interpersonal communication. US media (print, TV, etc.) is definitely more laissez-faire than Asian media which tends to be more govt. controlled or focused on how the 'whole' is represented culturally in a positive light (face). The US has absolutely no shame as a nation and airs every bit of dirty laundry for the world to see. Satire is actually a necessary tool for most western democratic societies to ensure the people retain their level of dominance and superiority over a monolithic govt. that could be used for oppression. However, on an individual basis on the micro level things change. The US is much more 'sensitive' about how people interact with each other with the exception of some alpha male type organizations like sports, military, etc. or straight up jackholes which every society has.

This points to key differences between what is considered culturally significant to different parts of the world. The West is more concerned with the individual, especially the US. So everything keeps being increasingly centered on interpersonal eggshells (see our Lachlan thread for more). The East is concerned with the whole of society, so you won't get the same level of social satire and critique as you would in the West. But on an individual basis, I've found pretty much any comment, embarrassing observation or verbal assault is good to go in most Asian societies (Japan and Singapore are outliers where politeness is strenuously enforced and expected. Japan is slowly losing that among newer generations IME, however.). Most Asians will say whatever the hell pops into their head at any moment in front of strangers they've never met without hesitation. I'm not even sure if most Asian languages even have a word for 'tact'. Maybe it looks like a Chinese symbol for person with duct tape wrapped around its head.