When people are mean on YA does that reflect poorly on them or more on the people?

Question

who laugh and agree with them?

Answer 1

Usually reflects on them but sometimes the questions really are dumb and then it reflects on both parties. It's still tiresome and annoying to hear rude and mean answers regardless of how dumb the question is. It also seems like a lot of people forget that their are people on YA that are immersed in different cultures and have an entirely different value system. When people don't realize this or just don't care and put the questioners down that really, really, ticks me off. I wish people showed off their good/tolerant/intelligent nature more often. I know they must have one!

Answer 2

It depends on who's being nasty. There are a lot of nasty questions posted which i'm surprised are allowed to stay for as long as they do and it seems to be the same people posting them time and time again. In response to this there are usually a lot of nasty answers posted back which on occasion i can understand. In this instance the person posting the question is usually attention seeking and gets exactly what they want when people respond.

I have noticed however that there are a lot of aggressive answers to perfectly acceptable questions. I saw a girl accused of being homophobic because she asked why the rainbow was used as gay symbolism? Where did that come from?

If its discrimination then being mean reflects badly on the person posting the question and just as badly on those who agree with them, if it's retaliation to a question which wasn't read properly so wasn't understood then the people answering need to lighten up?

Answer 3

It depends what you mean by 'mean'. Sometimes answers get misinterpreted because the written word is not so easy to interpret accurately as the spoken word, we don't get all those unspoken cues like tone of voice, body language etc. There are also cultural differences, with difference nationalities posting on here.

There are also genuine differences of opinion, and people can take offence at things that aren't meant to be offensive. I think that there needs to be room for a certain amount of difference of opinion and being able to say (write!) what you feel about the questions that are asked / answered.

And if you feel someone is really being offensive, you can always report them.

Answer 4

That depends on what their remark was about. Some people in here really have a low tolerance for stupid questions. Everything is a reflection on everyone but before making a judgment call, you've got to have more context.

Answer 5

If the answers are mean or dumb, it definitely reflects badly on the people, but I have come to the conclusion that the British humour is definitely very different from the American. I am certain that sometimes things are taken to be offencive, when I just think that it's hilarious in a very clever sort of way.

After all, "sometimes we just have to keep laughing to stop ourselves from crying." & sarcasm is what keeps me alive! :)

Answer 6

Anyone who acts poorly, no matter what the venue, has that disposition as a person. Even when I am in a bad mood, I act nice. You just have to have patience with others and try a little harder to be kind sometimes.

Answer 7

I'd say "both". To someone who is being picked on, it's bad enough, but to have others join in and laugh, rather than stick up for them, is even worse! What is it about Internet forums, etc., that seems to bring out the worst in people so often?

Answer 8

That depends on your goal in who to blame. Some people are mean just to be mean. Some people are mean because they get the approval of others. I think if we stop approving of being mean, some people (the ones who are looking for approval) might be nicer.
But then my personal goal is to live in a nicer world, so I'm biased.

Answer 9

If by people being mean you are refering to people (not unlike me) who says things like they are and as they see them with no real regard as to peoples reactions it reflects generally on the knuckle dragging dribbling cretin who throws a total spassy fit because they dont get the responses they were hoping for.

It makes me laugh that people give thumbs down to answers as if its going to bother the people getting them. My all time record for thumbs down is 7 - i have to say i didn't cry myself to sleep because i got them.

Bottom line is simple - if you aren't going to like the answers you get dont ask the question in the first place.

Answer 10

I don't usually agree with the mean people. It usually just makes me think that they are a real jerk to be so mean to someone else.