Why are people meaner on Yahoo Answers than in real life?

Question

Or are they? Do you usually act like jerks to other people's questions? Just reading some of the archived ones makes me feel ill....ugggh.

Answer 1

people are meaner and more truthful in yahoo answers because it's always easier to write something to someone than it is to look them straight in the eye and say it. i'm not sure why, but it just is. i think it's because when ur in person, looking in their eyes gives you a sense of accountablility for your words. you don't have that on here.

Answer 2

I think people are probably meaner on here than they are in real life for the following reasons:

1) You know that the person isn't going to come hunt you down and beat the poop out of you
2) Some people, it makes them feel better to be degrading to people... Because they have low self-esteem...

In the end, it's like the old saying goes: "Don't fight over the internet, because it's just like the special olympics; even if you DO win, you're still retarded.

Answer 3

sometimes. it depends on the question like earlier some guy asked something about chickens. I had to say his imagination sucks and i had to give him something that could be more imaginitive. I really act more of a jerk in the real world personally. I made guys at lunch i used to sit with go to another table cuz they were scared i'd hit them-i'm very violent in school-so now i sit with girls at lunch and we have more fun than ever.
But i'm not always a jerk online.

Answer 4

Just reading the poor unchecked spelling of English, and grammar depresses me. Some answers are outright stupid, and some are rather rude. But some are helpful. So there are a few sincere, helpful, learned people answering.

Answer 5

I think there are a lot of good, altruistic people on Yahoo! Answers, too. You just have to look at the right places.

But, in general, it's easier to be a raging a**hole on the internet. You can't see the people, you can't see their reaction, they can't punch you in the face, and they don't know where you live to take vengeance.

I hope there's such a thing as karma, though. I think the bada$$es get themselves into a lot of trouble most of the time.

Answer 6

They're practically anonymous, so they don't care what they say; expressing the repressed anger, prejudice and hate towards others. I've noticed that too... usually question or answers degrading other people beliefs or race, it's quite sad to read.
But, if they're as*holes here, it's pretty sure they're the same way in real life.

Guess we just gotta ignore (or flag) who ever is not worth paying attention to.

Answer 7

You go to Hell! You go to Hell and you die!

Nah, I'm just playing with the question a bit (and I love quoting Mr. Garrison). I think it's because we all have a little anonymity here with our little avatar masks to hide behind. I usually try to be nice unless someone pulled out their claws when writing a question or posting an answer. If they're nasty, they I may sometimes fight fire with fire.

Answer 8

I think that it is easier for some people to say rude, hateful things behind the anonymity of a computer screen.

Answer 9

Are they? Lately people seem pretty mean everywhere...It's just the cowards who are mean because they're anonymous. That's too bad, 'cause this is fun, and hopefully sometimes even helpful to someone. I hope you find more pleasant responses here.

Answer 10

I think it is easier to be rude when you people don't know who you are. Too me, I've always thought that it was a weak trait of those who weren't strong enough to voice their rude opinions one-on-one, so they feel empowered to do it on the web.