Mystery of a Shrinking Violet

musings, reviews, and writings of Barbara W. Klaser

10/13/2004

Real World Behavior for the World Wide Web

Filed under: — Barbara @ 7:57 pm

I have a complaint, and it may seem a bit hypocritical, because it’s about complaints. No, not just complaints. Crass misuse of the wonderful gift we have in this ability to share our words with others in the blink of an eye.

I’m not referring to anything I’ve seen here (my kind visitors are all much better than that), but elsewhere on the Internet. People seem especially cranky online these days, and they make no attempt to keep it under any sort of constraint. It occurs especially on news and political sites that invite discussion. I see a lot of communication break down into name calling and flaming, and even belittling of entire groups of people for the actions or opinions of a few, rather than logical discussion and sharing of perspectives.

Name calling and flaming aren’t new, they’ve been around since before I began writing on the Internet. But what I see recently seems especially-well-rabid. When did we all become so divided? Where did all this hatred come from? What is it about the anonymity of the Internet that makes people think it’s acceptable to be mean-spirited and blatantly bigoted in their expression?

I watch Yahoo news, when I’m strapped for time, because I can access it quickly and get a handle on anything big that’s happening in just a few minutes. Sometimes I go into the discussion areas. I’m often appalled by the activity there, essentially a free-for-all, online stone throw. I’m put in mind of cavepeople clubbing one another. I find it difficult to think of some of these people as my neighbors on the Internet.

Anyway, I find it sad, and I hope it’s not something that will continue to grow and explode like a cancer in human interactions. I’m very grateful for the havens I’ve found online, where I can converse calmly with thinking, like-minded people, such as the blogs I visit and link to here, and a few discussion lists that have been judiciously and attentively moderated to harbor considerate people.

Am I just an Internet prude? I never had the desire to enter a beauty pageant, but I can sympathize with all those gals in Miss Congeniality who just want world peace. I would add, if I were queen for a day, that should include the World Wide Web.

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4 Comments »

[T] Comment by Mark
10/14/2004 10:18 am

Like every avenue of freedom ungoverned by fundamental values, the lowest common denominator floats to the top.

[T] Comment by Margaret Marr
10/20/2004 4:03 pm

You’re not alone in this. I’ve noticed a rise in crankiness on the Internet also. It’s gotten to the point where I don’t even want to socialize here anymore. However, I do have a few Internet friends that are more like me than most, so I hang in there for them.

[T] Comment by Barbara
10/21/2004 1:38 pm

Agreed, Mark. Personal values, whatever shape they may take, tend to lead to more restraint and consideration of how our actions impact others. There’s a kind of drunkenness in anonymity, when values don’t factor in.

[T] Comment by Barbara
10/21/2004 1:45 pm

Margaret, welcome!

You hit on a good point, that of crankiness. I sense a lot of this in the world in general today. There’s so much going on that tends to divide people rather than bring us together. I’m hoping after the election we won’t see so much polarity. It’s much nicer when we can see our sameness as kinship, and our differences as interesting variety, or a jumping off point for learning something new. :)

BTW, I’m enjoying exploring your site.

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