Has the Internet made us all jerks?

Question

It's so easy now to voice our opinions -- click a few times, type a few works, and voila! We've just judged a fellow human being in the snarkiest, most critical way possible. Or maybe just slammed them with pure, hateful venom. But we don't really know them and we've never met them, but that doesn't stop us from putting our blistering critique of that person out there for all to read.

Is this what we've become? Did the Internet make us this way?

Or have we always been this mean, this judgemental, this vile, and the Internet is just communicating our true, ugly thoughts for the very first time?

Are we much more polite in real life? Are we just anonymously venting some pent-up frustration at easy targets?

Is there a way to bring some civility to the Internet without removing the fun and humor?

Let me know your thoughts.

Walter E -- You're welcome. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Answer 1

I think the internet does take away that sense of accountability we feel in real life. We don't have to be responsible for the actions we take on the internet, whether it be surfing exploitative websites or saying nasty things to strangers. I don't think the internet makes us more vile, but it does give us an outlet for that vile behavior that already exists in us.

Answer 2

I can't tell you how timely your question is! I was on what I'll call a "chatroom" recently asking a question in a particular area in good faith and had my character assassinated in a blatant way by EVERY person in the "room" at the time.

I do not think the Internet created this phenomenon - I think some people have always been this way and now have a way to vent without being caught. I would like to see provisions in the law to prosecute slanderers, libelers and people who defame another's character or make bodily threats - kinda like you'd be told upfront by each site that if you go to far you're going to go to jail. (Yahoo! has this to some extent but the site I was on does not.) Maybe that would stop the part that gets out in the world, but from a realistic side that would still do nothing to solve the underlying issue which is that, unfortunately, some people are so insecure they cannot look good without putting someone else down. Perhaps they should have been aborted as fetuses (and I'm against abortion in general - see! even I am doing it!).

Thanks again for asking this question. Answering it is making me start to feel good again and is helping to restore my faith that most people are really not like that.

Answer 3

Get a Grip! This is the Real World at it's finest. People are
people where ever they go. Speaking via the net is only a vehicle
People have felt the same way as always. The Net has enabled
those who were shy to have a voice. I've always said whatever
I wanted to anyone anywhere. But some people have trouble
saying what they truly feel in person, so the Net helps.
As far as what you're talking about, maybe you've never been
brutally honest with others. Maybe you can't handle the truth.
Maybe you are only trying to speak for others You have missed the mark.(point).
No one is mean. Just because no one Amens you doesn't
mean you are right or wrong.
We are entittled to our opinions, no matter what or how You
perceive it.

Answer 4

The answer to you question is NO! and you explained well why not. Jerks exist by their own accord - they choose to be so. They can not blame others, or the Internet, for their behavior. Jerks are product of poor education, no family or cultural values, low self esteem, social insecurities, pent up anger and frustration, you name it....none an excuse to be a jerk.
The issue of Internet is another thing - it has become the most powerful mean for open communication. It is just great! - it is almost 100% discrimination free for the user - Internet is truly blind to color, religion, nationality, sex, age, and other individual characteristics; all one needs is access to a computer connected to the web. However, it would be nice if Internet would evolve to such a level to include "engines" that can block jerks and creeps, based on the language they use (Anti-jerks/creeps artificial intelligence). This, of course, would be a violation of the freedom of speech for those who think that everybody knows how to exercise their freedom - a complex subject for more questions and debate.

Answer 5

The internet did not make any of us do anything. As with anything else in society, it's humans (like us) who mold the clay.

The web still retains civility and integrity if you apply the tool in this way. The internet is an absolutely fabulous resource (imagine being without it) but some people have found it to be an easy way to vent and hide simultaneously.

I want to believe that most users are really not the character they have invented for interacting on the web and hopefully we're not in near as much trouble as it so appears.

Answer 6

Thats very interesting. I was just thinking something similiar. I find it funny that people are asking questions on here and most people reply with some type of insult. It maybe something as simple as a girl asking "What color best goes with red?" but the people that reply instantly voice their opinion followed by an insult. Typically the word "stupid" is thrown in. Is that really necessary? To insult a stranger for asking a question? I prefer to actually try to help when I answer questions on here. I wouldn't like it if someone instantly put me down or criticized me for asking something.

I don't think there is any way to bring things to a civil level on here. The internet is a wonderful way for people to communicate....most people just choose their way of communicating by discriminating and insulting others for their own egoboosting.

But thats just my thoughts :)

Answer 7

It has if we LET it. Humans are so easy to fall prey to things. Always looking and searching for the easy way out, or faster,faster,faster and never going anywhere. I think what started out as a "potential" good thing- like a lot of other things, went bad. Not ALL but most! Just look at all of us here on Yahoo Answers- time wasting! Yahoo knew exactly what they were doing! People "love" to give their opinions and to show their "knowledge" and for what? Points!? Points that don't matter? Hmmmmm.. If you won something maybe it would be worth putting more effort into it and not receive smart wise-crack answers.

Answer 8

You're right. I see sad questions on here and I can picture someone sitting at their computer in tears because of some horrible thing happening to them and other bashing them over it. There are people here saying they want to die and other responding of ways to commit suicide (you know, to help them out). I agree with you. I can also see a young teen girl sitting there reading a lot of these answers and this young teen girl is alone at home, feeling sad and getting answers that you would not want your teen daughter hearing because it would hurt her more. It's sad. I guess there are always "bad apples" and not much you can do about it. My guess is they aren't that nice or happy in their own lives -- maybe they've been hurt before and this is their way to do a "pay back" except getting back at the wrong person. I am not a young kid so I take most of the "crap" with a grain of salt. You have to "remember the source." We have to give the good people out there credit though too. I mean, I've received some very good information on here myself. Quite helpful.

Answer 9

It gives us an anonymous avatar and screen name to hide behind. In some cases, I'm sure people are much more harsh than they would normally be.

I'd never get onto Christians/Atheists for their continual debate about who is right in person, but on the internet, we are granted the freedom to compose our thoughts (or for some people, write in the meanest insult they know) and post them for the world.

Being civil on the internet is more an example of maturity--I know that my opinion is just that--MINE. I don't have to try to commute someone to my way of thinking, and that's okay. Therefore, my answers show just that--"this is how I feel, and I wanted to share that, but you aren't unjustified in your own beliefs, either." That's where the real civilty lies.

Answer 10

Nope. Humanity, by it's very nature, sucks. The internet has just provided ease of exposure. Because let's face it: What's the use of being an @sshole if you can't act like one?