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This is not specific to C-D, but for all message boards in general where there is some level of anonymity.
IRL, people generally seem pleasant, kind, helpful, etc. to one another. On anonymous message boards, I seem to see the opposite at times. A fair amount of people are vindictive, hurtful, nasty, etc., to one another. IRL, we tend to give people the benefit of the doubt. On message boards, we're always skeptical and critical of the person who presents an issue.
Do you think that this is the real person, and that the kind, hospitable person we see IRL is a public persona? Or do you think there is something about anonymous forums that brings this vitriol to light and encourages people to treat each other differently than they would IRL?
I'm curious about what your thoughts are on this.
Because you can hide a lie and do whatever you want without anyone knowing if you are portraying yourself truthfully or not. If there is any a$$hole in you, it's easy to sit behind the keyboard and do whatever you want.
I can tell you that what I portray on any message board is my true self, but only the person on the other end can believe it or not.
Until the IP Police crack down and start knocking on the doors of the dickheads who post on forums, then you join at your own risk and peril of being attacked sometimes.
I am sure I have rubbed people the wrong way and in real life I may say more than I do online. I try to think out my responses more and sometimes actually not make a post or edit it because I thought better of it. I think there are a good number of trolls and flamers on here as there are some who don't know any better. I do think some take liberties with being online vs in person but I imagine some are just as nasty in real life.
Sometimes, it is very freeing to vent my less than PC feelings to strangers. I would not, for example, say something critical about someone's political opinion in person, but I will say what I really think as an anonymous person.
This is not specific to C-D, but for all message boards in general where there is some level of anonymity.
IRL, people generally seem pleasant, kind, helpful, etc. to one another. On anonymous message boards, I seem to see the opposite at times. A fair amount of people are vindictive, hurtful, nasty, etc., to one another. IRL, we tend to give people the benefit of the doubt. On message boards, we're always skeptical and critical of the person who presents an issue.
Do you think that this is the real person, and that the kind, hospitable person we see IRL is a public persona? Or do you think there is something about anonymous forums that brings this vitriol to light and encourages people to treat each other differently than they would IRL?
It's aggravating, more to me here than most places I go online. Probably because more of my online interaction is with social media, not a bunch of people that I really, really don't know and who really do not know me.
And aside from people being just nasty, there is also the problem that tone does not convey in text necessarily. It is easy to misunderstand something that someone types, more I think than if you're face to face also getting the nonverbal cues. I've had people misunderstand what I was trying to say, and when I attempt to explain more clearly, that sets it up as though I'm just being argumentative. I've also misunderstood others, or suspected that others were misunderstanding something when they weren't. And then you have posters from various nations, who speak various native languages, and speak from the perspective of different cultures...which isn't a bad thing, it just sometimes leads to people not really being on the same page.
I imagine that many of the negative and/or unpleasant interactions here begin as simple lack of understanding among people...and that it is misunderstanding of a kind that is more native to the internet than face to face human contact.
Also, on the internet, no one will punch anyone in the face for being a you-know-what.
This is not specific to C-D, but for all message boards in general where there is some level of anonymity.
IRL, people generally seem pleasant, kind, helpful, etc. to one another. On anonymous message boards, I seem to see the opposite at times. A fair amount of people are vindictive, hurtful, nasty, etc., to one another. IRL, we tend to give people the benefit of the doubt. On message boards, we're always skeptical and critical of the person who presents an issue.
Do you think that this is the real person, and that the kind, hospitable person we see IRL is a public persona? Or do you think there is something about anonymous forums that brings this vitriol to light and encourages people to treat each other differently than they would IRL?
I'm curious about what your thoughts are on this.
I've seen it even on City Data, political forums, Christian forums, biker forums, etc...
I've seen mods channeling the nastiness to other posters, and posters attacking each other.
I sum it up that we live in a wicked world where everyone wants to be right/prideful/glorified. Given the right conditions, the true self is exposed. Unfortunately, to glorify yourself, you have to destroy others in the process. Everyone will have to give an account for their actions before God. I've changed this year, no more flaming or nasty post. Also, I wont be back to this board, or any other message board either. Life is too short for that. There is a human being on the other side of the computer, and I don't want to be guilty before God for my words hurting others.
Yeah, people think they can hide here but that is a joke because CD still has your IP address and Google or Google plus or Chrome has your Id. SO, I don't get all this "anonimity" gauze :/
It's aggravating, more to me here than most places I go online. Probably because more of my online interaction is with social media, not a bunch of people that I really, really don't know and who really do not know me.
And aside from people being just nasty, there is also the problem that tone does not convey in text necessarily. It is easy to misunderstand something that someone types, more I think than if you're face to face also getting the nonverbal cues. I've had people misunderstand what I was trying to say, and when I attempt to explain more clearly, that sets it up as though I'm just being argumentative. I've also misunderstood others, or suspected that others were misunderstanding something when they weren't. And then you have posters from various nations, who speak various native languages, and speak from the perspective of different cultures...which isn't a bad thing, it just sometimes leads to people not really being on the same page.
I imagine that many of the negative and/or unpleasant interactions here begin as simple lack of understanding among people...and that it is misunderstanding of a kind that is more native to the internet than face to face human contact.
Also, on the internet, no one will punch anyone in the face for being a you-know-what.
There is that...
BBM- People are that way whether they know you or not.
Usually people are labeled "a-hole, troll, angry, cellar dweller, racist, misogynist, homophobe, etc" because they share differing views on race, religion, social issues, politics, etc with those who think they're the smartest person in the room. It's the "If you don't share my pc views, you're a bad person" syndrome.
They're so accustomed to being surrounded by pc bs IRL, that when they read something that upsets their perfect view of the world on the internet, their head almost explodes.
Last edited by Better Than You; 01-12-2015 at 06:03 PM..
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