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Just my opinion but in real life everyone we know thinks like we do and the ones that don't we sidestep touchy issues. We can't believe there are REALLY people out there who can't see the light. So when we come upon them on the Internet, we treat them like the Martians we think they are.
Neurons that fire together, wire together.... so if you're angry a lot, your brain will more easily jump onto the anger track.
Social convention attempts to keep us "polite".
If anger has no place to resolve, it will erupt like a beach ball pushed under water, popping up where you can get away with it.
An example is the "street-angel" vs "house-devil"... those individuals who are charming in public and mean at home.
Like being behind a wheel of a car, the internet provides anonymity, and an opportunity to release pent-up anger.
A predominance of black and white judgmental thinking fuels the need for release of anger--after all, how can people be so stupid!!! (hahaha, jk)
And-I suspect-an underlying sense of powerlessness also fuels the need for anonymous anger release.
Anybody can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way - that is not within everybody's power and is not easy. (Aristotle)
Discernment is a quality of a more highly developed frontal lobe, but sometimes that does not happen in people.
If we feel like we are never heard and taken seriously (or if we are given too much free-reign) we believe that everything we think is true. Consequently, everyone else is wrong.
Then the internet is a great place to have our "place in court" and reign over how things should be.
I'm getting the impression people are becoming addicted to the emotion of hate and anger and use any excuse to boost that emotion to get that adrenaline rush that comes with becoming angry or hating something/some one.
Being nice courteous and polite has become character traits that are just too tame and really dont give much back in the way of emotional reward. An example would be watching BBC news or watching FOX news,one will put you to sleep while the other will have you frothing at the mouth with hate and rage a virtual emotional feeding frenzy.
Everyone? This is one of the biggest problems with society, people can only think in extremes. Everyone? There is no everyone when it comes to emotions on the Internet. Countless angry, happy, content and more.
Now to address why some people seem to promote anger, it is to promote their agenda. If they get others angry, they can get their point across. Like showing the massive pollution mess in America, they may show anger, but it is to get others on board.
The Internet in many ways is one big joke and time waster, but it is a great resource for research. It takes a lot of research to wade through all the mess out there, but you can get pretty good information.
I didn't get much from the article but I disagree or quasi-agree about the "stakes being so high." (from my post)
The Internet has given most everyone the entitlement that they and their opinion and so called "facts" are just as important as everyone else. They're not. Mine included. I think it all comes back to entitlement and thus narcissism...
Interesting take on what's going on.
Please note that I said people *feel* the stakes are high and ruin is at hand. I think many generations have felt that.
Because anonymous online forums (fora?) are the only places where most people (especially North Americans who are expected to be perpetually upbeat) are able to safely express anger.
We could ask the same of drivers during rush hour...
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