Anonymity Empowers Valley's Worst (California: 2015, theater, teach)

[Magritte25]

Anonymity empowers valley's worst - Opinion - Citizens' Voice

I don't know who wrote this piece but I wish I could shake their hand. The longer I am in this valley and the more I meet people who are not from here, I realize some of my observations about the population here weren't as far off the mark as I'd thought. There are many grumpy, nasty people in this area. People who can't be bothered to even say hello back to you or return a smile. It should come as no surprise that people respond in such an inappropriate and hateful manner towards something like Valley Santa. I often wonder how many of those commenting call themselves Christian.

[theatergypsy]

Many years ago, I mean many, I was involved in the newspaper business. This was, of course, long before the advent of the internet. The paper was always happy to publish anyone's POV, even when sometimes in direct opposition to the paper's own.

When someone wrote a Letter to the Editor, it had to be signed, with an address and a phone number. The latter two were not published, but were there if the POV was so extreme that an editor decided the writer should be contacted to make sure that the vitriol was, indeed, what the writer intended to say.

It would certainly cut down on some of the bashing that takes place when the bigots can hide behind a screen name. Sometimes, humans can be so disappointing.

[DavidWebb]

Originally Posted by theatergypsy

Many years ago, I mean many, I was involved in the newspaper business. This was, of course, long before the advent of the internet.

Actually, the Internet has been around for a very long time...not as long as newspapers but longer than most everyone thinks...it's only since the early 90's until now that it's become as popular as it is today...

History of the Internet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[auntieannie68]

Originally Posted by Magritte25

Anonymity empowers valley's worst - Opinion - Citizens' Voice

I don't know who wrote this piece but I wish I could shake their hand. The longer I am in this valley and the more I meet people who are not from here, I realize some of my observations about the population here weren't as far off the mark as I'd thought. There are many grumpy, nasty people in this area. People who can't be bothered to even say hello back to you or return a smile. It should come as no surprise that people respond in such an inappropriate and hateful manner towards something like Valley Santa. I often wonder how many of those commenting call themselves Christian.

I would guess that many of those nasty posters are regular churchgoers---having met quite a few of them before and after mass---some of them even teach chrisianity to young ones

[DavidWebb]

Originally Posted by theatergypsy

It would certainly cut down on some of the bashing that takes place when the bigots can hide behind a screen name. Sometimes, humans can be so disappointing.

Just noticing that now?? Been that way since humans learned how easy it is to do that via electronic means...

[theatergypsy]

Originally Posted by theatergypsy

Many years ago, I mean many, I was involved in the newspaper business. This was, of course, long before the advent of the internet. The paper was always happy to publish anyone's POV, even when sometimes in direct opposition to the paper's own.

When someone wrote a Letter to the Editor, it had to be signed, with an address and a phone number. The latter two were not published, but were there if the POV was so extreme that an editor decided the writer should be contacted to make sure that the vitriol was, indeed, what the writer intended to say.

It would certainly cut down on some of the bashing that takes place when the bigots can hide behind a screen name. Sometimes, humans can be so disappointing.

Originally Posted by DavidWebb

Just noticing that now?? Been that way since humans learned how easy it is to do that via electronic means...

Please explain what you mean by "just noticing that now??" What is the "that" that you think I'm "just noticing"? And what is it that makes you think I never noticed "that" (whatever it is) before?

[DavidWebb]

Originally Posted by theatergypsy

Please explain what you mean by "just noticing that now??" What is the "that" that you think I'm "just noticing"? And what is it that makes you think I never noticed "that" (whatever it is) before?

what you said:

"It would certainly cut down on some of the bashing that takes place when the bigots can hide behind a screen name. Sometimes, humans can be so disappointing."

nothing new on the 'Net...

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by theatergypsy

The paper was always happy to publish anyone's POV, even when sometimes in direct opposition to the paper's own.

I've given up writing letters to the CV, I've written plenty of them and they are rarely published. My guess is they are well thought out with a conservative point of view so they don't publish them. They certainly find plenty of space to publish letters from that religious nut bag in California...

[Abundantly_Above]

I'm not sure how this could be construed as a reflection on the people in any particular area. People in general tend to behave in horrible ways online when they can hide behind their screens. You'll find the same type of nastiness on every news site in the country.

CNN has some of the most vicious trolls I've ever seen, even with multiple paid moderators working around the clock. It's no wonder that so many sites are shutting down comments.

Why We're Shutting Off Our Comments | Popular Science