Internet (anonymity) brings the worst in people

[OkRad]

Also the idea that people can express any inner thought . And without interruptions. They can ramble on about anything that their mind issues without having to think about it first. Odd place, this online world. I don't really have it all figured out, either. Some prefer it, some hate it........

 

[Nervous Rex]

I agree that anonymity means people think they can get away with stuff they wouldn't do face-to-face. That is Reason #1.

I think that Reason #2 is: The internet and social media are echo chambers. You join like-minded groups where everyone agrees with you, and the feedback between everyone magnifies and concentrates opinions. Gradually, this makes everyone in the group less tolerant of outside opinions.

There actually very little of face to face thing going on there mostly text chat room, there's voice chat rooms, but they mostly empty.

You've found Reason #3: Without face-to-face interaction, it's more difficult to actually perceive the other people as people. When all you see of someone online is, "I want to talk about this-one-topic", then it's too easy to stereotype them and forget that on the other side, there's thinking, breathing being with thoughts and feelings just as complex as yours.

I've seen it a lot at work - someone from another department will start complaining about one of our internal projects, but when we meet them in person and say, "Tell us your issues, and let's talk about a solution," they suddenly become a lot more civil.

I think Reason #4 is: It's hard to communicate your mood and tone of voice on the internet. If I say, "I think X is true" you could read it as contemplative or a an absolute declaration. I think this leads to escalation of arguments.

 

[pamelaperejil]

Indeed, and the "freedom of speech" laws, especially in North America, mean that anyone can say and post almost anything they like with no comeback.

Completely wrong on several levels IMO.

Those pesky freedom of speech laws.

 

[OrdinaryCitizen]

Nervous Rex good points.

You've found Reason #3: Without face-to-face interaction, it's more difficult to actually perceive the other people as people.

I have this too all i see is a bunch of letters on my monitor i don't even feel like i talk with people be it forum or chat room, avatars with pic helps, but they can be fake many times so i don't really pay much attention to them. This is reason i prefer voice communication because i don't really feel i have spoken with someone when its just text. Plus emotions are impossible transmit "smiley faces" do terrible job i don't even know what most of them mean.

Those pesky freedom of speech laws.

I think freedom of speech is its just on paper now.
After this SJW thing you cannot publicly call things what they are anymore otherwise you will be shamed and finger pointed.
"how dare he call Mexian, a Mexican, he needs to use term Latino or Hispanic" so "Mexican" is like a insult now i assume.
Another one you cannot guess person gender anymore by look you got to whats their "sexual identity" is.

 

[Mr Allen]

I have an account on Twitter, but I hardly ever use it, too much trolling and because of the US "freedom of speech" laws, it's pretty much "anything goes" on there, same on the comments section on YouTube.

 

[Sid Delicious]

I think the internet tends to bring out the indiluted honest thoughts and feelings in humans, which is good or bad depending on the individual concerned. The conversations on this forum, for example, are far more rational and considerate than the majority of the internet. Even when people disagree strongly, I can't recall ever seeing a torrent of badly constructed, overly emotional, extreme abuse used in response. I'm sure it must happen sometimes, but it certainly isn't the norm. I think that reflects the type of people that hang out here. I'm fairly certain I would enjoy or at the very least tolerate spending time socialising face to face with people here compared to a random segment of the population.

I find socialising in VR an interesting experience. Although I logically know it's virtual and technically no different to the 2D internet, the fact that I have an interactive 3D avatar and can 'see' myself and other players makes me far more aware of my physical presence in relation to others and therefore more aware of my social behaviour. Other players seem to experience the same level of awareness. For example, people will move out of the way to avoid walking through another player's avatar, even though they don't need to. And they tend to be far more willing to interact and help other players in a game. You get the odd drunken moron ranting at people, but on the whole everyone makes more of an effort to get on despite being anonymous. The fact that you feel as if you are actually there definitely has a positive effect on behaviour. Either that, or VR just attracts more polite people. So I'm looking forward to a fully 3D internet in the future, as we can keep the anonymity but regain some of the positive social pressure that comes from face to face interaction.

 

[Tom]

Yes, it lets people embrace their inner butthole.

 

[Bronzelincolns]

the internet doesn't make people stupid, it just gives stupid people a voice.

 

[NicolePfisher]

I have been looking to find a place to connect with people online for a while since i have no idea how to do it in real world.
Not really big fan of typing or reading on the forums so i look for a voice chat room or something meaningful to talk about.

What i found so far is terrifying people online act like bunch of weirdos i been checking Discord since its gained popularity recently and regardless where i go autistic server or NT's i see all the same behavior Nonsense in text chat, Porn, Hentai, Anime, Gamers, (NPHAG) i understand its mostly younger people and this is terrifying what internet turns them into.

I think main problem is anonymity and that people copy behavior of others to be accepted in the group, and yeah fooling around sometimes cool, but this thing going on in there 24/7.

Is this new sub-culture or what you think causing this?

Nope. This is nothing new. The Greek's even had a legend called "the Ring of Gyges" about it. Plato used it in one of his books to ponder whether people would act moral or not in the absence of potential consequences.

I know it's easy to get depressed about it. The interweb can be a real dumpster fire. Just look at 4chan! Anyways, don't let it get to you. There is no law against be a jerk, but these kids don't act like that in real life because of the social consequences and because most of them are decent (I know it's hard to believe) and would not want to hurt somebodies feelings? Why do they do it online then? Trolling and getting rises out of people is fun. Little boys used to harass the neighbors or their sisters--because pushing peoples buttons is just an inexplicable joy to young boys that for the life of me I will never understand. Frat boys like to do it too, but they shouldn't count as representatives of any demographic.

But seriously, don't worry about it too much. Gen Z is also the same generation that is getting a kick start on political activism with gun legislation. They watch 13 Reasons Why and have very thoughtful conversations about it that, frankly, I find a little embarrassing only a tv show could bring up. And just like any kid in their age range, interest in sitting at a school desk might be dwindling but there is still a desire to go out and experience and discover the world.

 

[tlc]

Same and thus, I stopped "associating" with ones I know in real life, online, because for one, they would say: wow, you are so confident etc and then, when I see them in real life, all that goes out of the window and it was way too surreal to me, so I stopped that in its tracks ie associating online with them.

The very few times I met ones I had met online, it has gone really bad for me and thus, I rather keep online "friends" online.

Back 20-22 years ago there was an online chatroom for northern Michigan. They occassionally had "chat meets" which were a gathering so you could meet the real person. I went to a few and it was just as awkward as going into an anonymous party, but there were a couple of them I got along with. One was likely AS. I was tlc back then too, as it is my initials. But many people said it was fitting for my personality.

the internet doesn't make people stupid, it just gives stupid people a voice.

I agree, I don't think most people are much different online than in real life. I live in a small area, and many times around here I know the person behind the post. Nice caring people post similar things. People who nose into your business and try to control people's lives tend to post things like that. People who would beat someone up if looked at wrong tend to pick on people and post mean things. And so on.

Many of us are uncomfortable at gatherings but are very comfortable in a setting of one or two other people. For me it's like that here, I feel like I am posting to people who are similar to me, not wide open to the scary world (and yes I do realize this forum is public). When I do talk, I do tend to use a lot of words to describe things, just like here.

 

[Nauti]

I stopped using fb after it was used to bully me by a neighbor. I don't go to reddit or places likely to be frequented by unmonitored, or ill monitored, socially immature and ignorant people.

We have freedom of choice to go with our freedom of speech, the onus is on us to use it.

We are SO LUCKY to have freedoms. Here's a suggestion, let's be responsible and avoid net spaces that engage in alienating discourse (not intending to sound condescending here, just thoughtful).

Rather than call for more laws, we should use our freedoms wisely (ideally, if we are wise, the problem is, so often, we are not), so that we don't become responsible for freedoms removed from us.

We really need to advocate for responsibly, to go with our freedoms.

Calling for censorship is a slippery slope to an ever oppressive regime, instead, open discussion and the choice to click "ignore" or to avoid hurtful conversation is ours and by God, I appreciate my freedoms and I won't abuse them, coz I don't want to lose them or contribute to an oppressive society.
If you think it can't happen, just look back to the USSR not that long ago, or to Nth Korea, Saudi Arabia (for women, especially) or China, still.
Please don't try to shut down free speech, because shutting down opinions, no matter how ill thought through or hostile, is still oppressive in principal. Instead, (my request, is to) encourage people to disregard and to not empower ill will towards others, as all that that kind of talk is, is a sign of insecurity and a poor sense of self, and all too often, a knee jerk emotive response with little thought behind it, or else some kind of mob rule bullying and group think behaviour.

What can you do about immaturity? Not a lot, really, we breed a never ending supply of immature individuals and we can certainly be that, ourselves.

The onus is on us to model mature behaviour and the key empowering virtue in combatting the unpleasant, belittling and hostile is DISCERNMENT.
Just my two cents, take it or leave it.