Does it ever seem to you that people are ruder now than before the Internet came along?
Do you, or someone you know, react differently to someone on the Internet who disagrees with you than you would to a friend or acquaintance you were talking to in person?
Most of us would agree that the world is an angrier place than it was 20 years ago. What do you think? Your comments are welcome, but keep them constructive and respectful.
It’s basically the anonymity that the internet affords that makes some people feel free to say the first thing that comes to mind without the filtering that would take place if they were face to face with someone.
I have found that the actions of keyboard warriors bear little resemblance to how people act in real life. Truthfully, how many of you have actually had someone physically in your face over political issues, calling you names such as “snowflake, idiot, left/right wing nutjob, libtard, trumptard, etc.? I see that all the time online, but have never had someone act that way to me in person.
People are internet tough guys because there are few consequences, but they would likely be laid out flat if they actually spoke that way to someone in person.
Don’t take too seriously what you read online.
in My home we call them keyboard terrorists, saying whatever they rant and spew to extreme and hiding behind the keyboard. It’s easy for them to get a little crazy when a person doesn’t look them in the eye, civility goes out the window. Our society would be better off without the (anti social) social media I think.
The internet isn’t the culprit. Yes, anonymity does make it easier for some to be mean, but it shows you who you are inside.
Unkind people just are. Maybe it’s a good thing the “unkind” folks are in their RV polluting the internet, instead of outside polluting a great campsite. 🏕
Absolutely! The lack of human contact is unforgiving. 10 years ago when we began this journey ..people on the road were altogether..
NOW you can park next to someone at a park and like home…you neVer see them. kids playing with their phones and not participating in anything called FAMILY TIME! IT IS SAD!
Anonymity brings out the worst in people. They will write stuff that they would never say face to face. On the flip side it is also very easy to misinterpret someone’s intent in a written comment, where you’re missing all of the non-verbal cues that are a part of human communication.
Nasty people have always existed, the internet just gives them a bigger microphone. I’m often misunderstood, so I try to be polite and smarter than most online folks – good folks get my point eventually, often listening just because my “voice” is different. Insults aren’t productive discussion even when the other person IS a tuckus-bolo extremus. You usually can’t educate, but you dont have to roll in the mud with them.
Ignorance has always existed; the internet makes “guesses from the couch” seem on par with experts speaking from authoritative knowledge. I am often challenged by loudmouths claiming their feelgood opinion is just as valid as my 30 years hard experience with my subject.
Someone said kids aren’t taught to be polite anymore… MINE sure are, and people notice almost every day – a little kid asking a waiter “Excuse me Sir, may I please have mustard, when you have a moment?” gets attention. My son *running* to hold the door for elderly gets attention (and sadly, some suspicion?). I raise gentlemen, even if they are rare.
You can blame almost anything but the lack of good parenting is the big problem. Unfortunately both parents work most of the time out of necessity and it leaves little time with the kids to teach values and manners. This is the job for parents and grandparents not teachers as they don’t have time and it isn’t their job.
I see this as a “road rage” type of scenario. Thousands of people walked down crowded sidewalks and bump into each other; but never say a thing except, “excuse me”. Get these people in a car and they’re a raging lunatic. Being face to face has a lot to do with it and if your removed from situations “lunatic” comments on the internet will result. Being face to face, they just might keep their mouths shut.
With or without, people are still people…. the ratio will never change.
I have watched people get really nasty on social media because they believe they’re anonymous and won’t ever have to face the people they’re being rude to. I have also seen people I know who are just nasty people be more openly nasty online because they’re not in the other person’s presence.
As a society, we’ve become more disconnected from each other than we’ve ever been. There’s little or no “community” anymore. It’s easy to be mean to someone you aren’t face-to-face with.
I marked “yes”, I think people would be kinder without the internet. Most of the comments are referring to the writers opinion of others.
I marked yes because I think that I am less kind because of the internet. I sincerely believe that I was a much more tolerant and nicer person before the internet allowed all the dumbasses to constantly show me how really stupid they are.
Some social platforms and forums seem to attract more trolls than others. If I find myself involved in one that sees a lot of negative commentary, I just unsubscribe. It would also probably help if people were required to use their real names rather than “nicknames.”
Since everything we now do or post is being tracked, it would be nice if only those who are rude could have their internet privileges revoked and leave the internet available to those of us who never use social media but depend on the internet for so many of the valuable things in our lives.
People being rude to each other started before the internet. Parents STOPPED teaching their children to be respectful in the late 60’s
The human ego decides around 11 years old to become an individual … if you’re a parent, you know what I mean … and that young ego begins to test ways to enhance its sense of self worth. Its normal for this developmental stage to attack all the other little egos around it to lower their self esteem in a attempt to enhance their own. Its the source of bullying in middle school. Some adults get stuck back there at 11 years old and use the anonymity of the internet to mentally shelter in place while they struggle to feel worthy to be a human being. Its kinda like trying to make America great again by bad mouthing other countries.
Social media has allowed people to voice anything on their minds without social filters once used. It’s certainly a recipe for some of the social ills we’re witnessing.
Do you remember when Mothers’ used to say; “if you can’t say something nice, say nothing at all”? Social media, sadly has left the wisdom of Dear Old Mom crying quietly amongst forgotten shadows. She is being replaced with a thumb symbol signifying “likes or dislikes”. Personally, I prefer one-on-one, and Dear Old Mom. I have never signed up with Facebook, and there is no purpose or value by inviting a “thumby-thingy” into my life. A wise old Pastor once said that “Satan will give you a cup full of truth, to encourage you to swallow an ocean full of lies.” Therein, lies the truth.
I agree. Nasty people have always been there. They were just limited because not that many people hung around with them. Now they can be nasty to somebody in front of the whole world.
The internet has too many false stories that people believe, and the people who believe these false stories are the ones who will act out in a bad way