12

November

2009

Internet people are dickheads

Posted in : LOL, Life

One of the things I have learned in the last 10 years is that anyone who posts comments on the Internet is a jerk.

I know that’s a strong comment, but I stand by it. Remove the constraints of accountability, and even the nicest people – the grandmas next door, the mother with the adorable kid, the straight A student – will spout off, insult people, and act like a complete ass.

Sometimes, I think the sound that goes with the old dial up modem shouldn’t be the screech of electronically transmitted data, but the bray of a donkey.

What prompts me to write these bitter, frustrated comments? My job. I love my job, to be honest, but every once in a while (daily), it makes me shake my head and wonder at people.

Part of my job at Northern Life includes moderating comments by our “bloggers” (don’t get me started on the misappropriation of this term).

Most of the time, people are pretty cool. They post positive feedback, or even outrageous opinions, in a social, courteous manner. I’m just waiting for the full moon to come out, and for these nice people go apeshit.

Then there are the “angry ferrets.” It would be unprofessional of me to mention names on my personal website, so I won’t, but everyone who works here knows these people. There’s the old retired miner who is very pro-union, and bashes everyone who isn’t. There’s the guy who wants to ‘tap the glass’ and make the fishies squirm, so posts negative drivel in an attempt to keep conversation going. There are the anti-union guys who bellow about union kool-aid, and the plain out mean ones who are taunting the miners and unionists about how they are going to lose their homes.

I bet they’re nice guys outside of posting. I’d probably think the world of them outside of the Internet.

But here? Free from the penalties that come with being an asshole in the real world, they’ve unleashed their inner and rather petulant child.

It drives me crazy. How do I tell these people “be nicer?” And actually have them listen?

I’ve tried the moderate “You can share your opinion, defend your opinion, and refute the opinions of others without resorting to insults, name calling, and other generally mean behaviour” line. They smile and write back and apologize and then try to urinate all over each other some more.

Sometimes, I want to write them a letter saying “FOR FUCK’S SAKE, BEHAVE YOU IMMATURE TWATS!”

Instead, I ask them to be nice again, and bang my head on my desk.

Is basic civility that difficult?

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