Are Message Boards Magnets for Rudeness?
Read more articles on Life's Nuances and Let Me Share With You.November 2, 2007
Posted by Karen Amato Schwartz
November 2, 2007
Posted by Karen Amato Schwartz
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It’s been about 5 years since I began posting on message boards, and lately it seems they are becoming magnets for rudeness. Have any of you noticed?
When I first began following threads, it was on a spirituality site. One would think that such a place would attract those trying to improve their karma, but even then, a person would come along who would trash another’s beliefs. Quite often they were told to repost over in the “Debate” category; today, debates occur about every 4th or 5th post!
On a paranormal site a couple of years back, where folks posted pictures they’d taken of strange phenomenon-such as orbs or other light anomalies-I’d get really irritated when some ignoramus would criticize the looks of the people in the photo. It was then that I began thinking that people shouldn’t be given the option of “leaving a comment.” I even suggested it to the administrator, since such negativity made me want to avoid the site at all cost. In all honesty, I don’t care if John Doe thinks Mary Smith is an idiot for posting. Simply reading that nonsense supersedes any positive feeling and visiting the site becomes a waste of my time.
Recently, I’ve been on Trip Advisor boards, and have learned a great deal from people who are truly concerned about sharing valid and helpful information. It’s refreshing to know that there are many such good hearted individuals around. However, there are many that seem ready to pounce. I’m not talking about impolite comments regarding an opinion-although they do exist; I’m referring to people who actually insult others for asking what they consider to be stupid questions. Often, the original poster will stand up for himself, and others will come to their defense, but it is still discouraging. Plus, threads that have been erased by moderators makes me wonder just how much meanness people thought they could get away with.
It’s sad that people believe freedom of speech gives them freedom to be nasty and abuse others. They’d probably be too cowardly to do so if they were face to face, but with this wonderful invention called internet, everyone is on equal footing and everyone has rights, do they not?
Hah…Not those adults who sound like they are the emotional age of 12…Not those of any age who never learned manners…Not those who clearly didn’t pay attention in English class…Not those who are so close minded they put down anyone who believes differently than they do.
The world is imperfect, and nothing makes that more obvious than reading some of the message posts out there. I think, at times, we take empowerment a wee bit too far…On that note, I’m now going to read about world news-no need to leave a comment!
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