The nature of Internet discussion forums

[andrew]

If you sample any active Internet discussion forum, you will find that the majority of the posts are belligerent and disparaging. This does not surprise me one bit because many (if not most) of our interactions with others will not be sweet. Given the lack of consequences towards disagreeable actions on the Internet, I'm almost positive that the incidence of such behavior rises significantly (even amongst people who are generally considered even tempered).

The reason I bring this up is because human behavior on the Internet fascinates me. Anyone else interested?

[Cuete]

Definitely, in a forum or a chat people write things they would think twice before saying in person.

Lack of physical interaction, no eye contact, inability to rise the tone or be object of a violent reaction, you can pretend to be whatever or whoever you want... ANONYMITY is the key.
¿How many people in ths forum are in disposition to give their real names? Very few.

Misjudgements are often made because of this anonymity, and people can be as crude as they want. Although the negative factors, is the perfect environment if you want to be judged for your ideas and not for your looks or your past.

[John Galt]

If you sample any active Internet discussion forum, you will find that the majority of the posts are belligerent and disparaging.

Utter rubbish, you moron. :wink:

[SkinWalker]

I've reported your trolling behavior to the administration. (you should be receiving that email shortly ... just delete it).

[andrew]

If you sample any active Internet discussion forum, you will find that the majority of the posts are belligerent and disparaging.

Utter rubbish, you moron. :wink:

[That Rascal Puff]

A singularly deliberate utterance of moronic rubbish does not a majority make.

(Nonetheless, an astute counterstatement.)

Surprised there aren't more replies.
This is a potentially humongous issue.

Anyway, Cuete says what I wish I woulda said, if he hadn't said it first?

(I'd make a sandwich, if I had two slices of bread and some mozarella?)

[DaBOB]

If you sample any active Internet discussion forum, you will find that the majority of the posts are belligerent and disparaging.

I agree that many things on a forum are disparaging but, that would happen anywhere. I do not agree with people being belligerent. Maybe in a computer game chat room or something but, not here.

The reason I bring this up is because human behavior on the Internet fascinates me. Anyone else interested?

Yes it is interesting. I find that it shows the true nature in some people. They express on the internet what they would not express face to face. Although, some people express the same thing either way. I think this is how most of the people here are.

The anonymity thing is interesting also. I see nothing wrong with it though. If we were to meet in real life I would have no problem telling you my name (my real name is almost if not more common than my 'internet name' ). Something about telling the whole world your name is just not appealling to some people.

People call me Bob in 'real life' sometimes anyways.

(I want a sandwich too)

I personally love using yahoo as a perfect way to observe theists and other types of people. Really, interaction between ideas both forum wise, and everything else interaction based, is both conducted violently and ignorantly in the majority case. Fortunately or unfortunately for here, that's not USUALLY the case when a person isn't a total idiot. There also tends to be a lack of research with most people. They believe THEIR side so correct they never view anything else. Personally I wish people would USE the internet to it's full information bringing purpose once in a while (especially those on yahoo. I need someone intelligentish to observe dangit!).

[Imaplanck.]

If you sample any active Internet discussion forum, you will find that the majority of the posts are belligerent and disparaging. This does not surprise me one bit because many (if not most) of our interactions with others will not be sweet. Given the lack of consequences towards disagreeable actions on the Internet, I'm almost positive that the incidence of such behavior rises significantly (even amongst people who are generally considered even tempered).

The reason I bring this up is because human behavior on the Internet fascinates me. Anyone else interested?

Have you known of someone named 'Brad Coe'?

[Imaplanck.]

Im having fum with this.

It could be a coincidence, but the inclination to not capitallize the 'A' in andrew, no second name, no numbers before or after the name. This together with a deal of apparent intelligence and education in atleast one of the sciences. All lead me to suspect we may know of one another.

[wretched]

Maybe being anonymus works out at the beginning but the ego wins and when finding empathy or attaction to other users you start letting go more of yourself and show who you are, mainly in small forums with little active users. From my experience you devolop a certain personality, more close to who you are and then when you move talking with other members to msn everything changes completely. I used to hang out at this Forum a lot, till it ended up in just the same members, the smart one, the slut, the evil one (that would be me), the hero, the hunk, making discussion imposible, since one hated you, the other loved you... pretty weird.

About being rude, it depends on the forum, some are so fascist even the wrong Emoticon can get you a notice or a warning and in that kind of atmosphere you don't feel free to express all you have in your mind and chest, thinking about bein PC all the time, it sucks. But this is a cool Forum, not being around too much but starting to recognize some users, knowing when time comes some good debate can show up...

oh the show offs.. pff, dont need that, I'm hungry...

[kimosword]

I find it fascinating too. This is a good article I found


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.rider.edu/~suler/psycyber/disinhibit.html


The Online Disinhibition Effect

You Don't Know Me (dissociative anonymity)
You Can't See Me (invisibility)
See You Later (asynchronicity)
It's All in My Head (solipsistic introjection)
It's Just a Game (dissociative imagination)
We're Equals (minimizing authority))
Personality Variables
True Self?
Self Constellations Across Media
Altering Self Boundary

[jackson33]

sometimes i have to wonder why some folks even bother to use forums, then some one comes up with an honest question and gets several good replies. most of these good replies come the same people that give the worst examples of arrogance.

i suppose the answer lies in where the person that replies feels the motive of the question is intended to go. when a subject is in your study field or of interest it may be difficult to understand everyone isn't at your level and the question though posed with a sincere desire, may seem child like or out of place.

there are a few that are simply contrary and the waste of time is in their corner. i wouldn't worry about them...

[kimosword]

I agree, there's a lot of arrogance behind the use of forums. My personal experience is that I can learn adn test my ideas with people from different nationalities and backgrounds. But I agree with you.

Forums are so powerfull, I guess if properly organized can do a lot of good to unite people and learn from each other. Most of my learning about tolerance and compassion I learned at forums.