Internet anonymity and douchebaggery.
 

In a bit of an offshoot to the adult conversation thread...

Has the ability to be totally anonymous online, given people the ability to be complete a-holes and just vile humans in general?
You see it on forums, YouTube comments, etc.... They know the chances of repercussion is 99.9% negative. Hence, where your anonymity is basically not allowed, you tend to see pretty positive and friendly interactions.
I see comments by people that, if you would say to someone in real life, you would get your face kicked in without a second thought. Typical pussy keyboard warrior stuff.

I have a friend of mine that is on the same boating related forum. He is probably one of the nicest people you can meet. Would do anything for anyone. When he gets on the forum he turns into Jekyl and Hyde. A total d-bag. Us who know who he is, are like WTF? When confronted, he says he just likes to get a rise out of some people, but who knows.

One of my online rules is, I wont say anything online that I would't say to you face to face.

But, then again depending on the platform, I don't hide who I am online. No need to be secretive about it, especially on Pelican. Iv'e met plenty of fellow Pelicans in real life. They know my name, where I live, ( a couple have been to my home..) Where I work, some have my phone number#. Ive been to their home, etc, etc... So I tend to be pretty cordial for the most part.

I just see it getting worse and worse.

This place is not exempt unfortunately....

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I like these threads because they tend to personalize, help, the forum in general. My take, anyway.

I have met at least ten folks from this place and have helped, been helped, many more on specific stuff. There are others I have not met or corresponded with outside the BBS I genuinely admire.

I try to keep that in mind.

Best, Vin.

The internet doesnt give you anonymity, it makes the target of your crappy behavior seem anonymous to you.

A one star rating..

I rest my case.. :D

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Agreed, Vinny. IMO, though, PP is generally much more civil and orders of magnitude more helpful than many/most other forums or platforms.

Only thing I'd add is that while many of us wouldn't post anything online that we wouldn't be willing to say face-to-face, I fear that way of thinking may be on its way to extinction. When I think of how so many people have grown up as digital natives --- most/all interactions mediated by screens of some kind, not what I'd view as truly interpersonal -- I see that behavior change. You, I, and many others here apply our standards of in-person courtesy to our online behavior. I increasingly see so many others, however, do the opposite -- they apply their (generally fairly low) standards of online behavior to in-person interactions; the recent explosion of 'Karens' comes to mind. Truly sad, and I don't see it getting any better.

aNd only when I haVe One StarrEd Every ThreaD iN GothaM will I Rule tHe World!!!!!! Muwhahahahaha!!!!!!!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1650129397.jpg

lol.......

Just FYI for everyone for the ten millionth time

You don't have to be a member or be logged in to rate a thread. You don't even have to be a human.

thread ratings are worthless and have nothing to do with you or the even with the content of the threads.

SmileWavy

Completely agree!.

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I know. I Couldn't care less just, making a point! ;)

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Heck, I like being one starred. It sort of a badge for conservatives and libertarians, and makes it easier to spot threads I like.

This town needs an enema!

Right character, wrong actor. Not necessarily meaning PP or PPOT, just in some ways, society in general.

Society, the people that I run into when I'm out and about, seem fine. As stated, it's online. It's not surprising when it's kids. They're *******s in person too, so not much surprise that they are as bad or worse online. But adults do it too. I'm guessing it's unhappy people, or people that feel a lack in their real lives. Maybe they were picked on when they were younger and are now enjoying being able to do the same to others. Maybe they were twats when they were younger and never really grew out of it.

It is weird. And It's weird that sometimes you interact with folks online for long periods where they seem fine, and then they seem to snap.

It reminds me of something that I once read. A lot of folks will get angry and vent. The theory is that they are "letting it out" so it doesn't "build up." I get it, that makes some sort of sense. But I've read that from a psychological point of view, being angry like that gets to be a habit and becomes normalized and is more likely to become a part of their personality.

If I get a one-star on a thread...I give it a five-star. :)
If I don't get any stars...I don't give it any.

Yes as long as you realize that's an imaginary thing you've created there. Nothing wrong with it. :)

Anger certainly can get hardwired. I struggle with that.

When I see someone get angry at something I have 'conquered' not being mad at, I either laugh at myself at how far I've come, OR I actually get mad for them not being able to control their emotions like I have so superiorly learned.

At that point, I realize I haven't learned a damn thing. :D How that for some screwed up thinking!?! :D

definitely a lot of tensions boiling over lately- I see a lot of drivers yelling at traffic, and then 10 minutes later, I'm doing the same thing...

We have reached the stage of humanity where we have robots demanding that we prove we are human online, so don’t forget that.

.... all I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I’m fine.

For the record: I try to be kind. I also try to see the best in everyone. I know, very PollyAnna of me. But if how I word things sounds harsh, it's probably a post done in haste and not intentional.

That's the whole thing, if you are brave enough to talk all tough and insulting in real life, face to face, at least there are actual consequences. When you come online and do it, you know nothing will come about. I see posters on here and other online sites, talk smack about genres of people, that there is no chance in hell that they would ever do it in real life. If they do, they are suicidal. Again, hiding behind their keyboard.

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