The Internet, is completely separate from real life Options

[Comptine]

You know how when cB sees drama, a lot of people like to butt in and say how pathetic it is that people get so worked up over the internet? Like, the eDrama/eAnger/eWhatever is stupid and people shouldn't be concerned about it cause it's online and not real life?

But, I always thought that didn't make sense because whether or not it's offline/online, people are still interacting with one another, talking about stuff, exchanging opinions/ideas. Also, some of the stuff can easily escalate (verbally) worse than IRL because people think the computer screen can protect them if they something truly nasty. And an insult/racist comment/jab is still an insult/racist comment/jab online as it's in real life.

I mean, if a random person you don't know walks up to you and insults you and then runs away before you can do anything about it, people can't just tell you to forget because you don't know the person, etc. Just like how you can't really do anything about online drama but it still affects you.

I'm bored, cB is kinda slow today.

[queen]

it's difficult for me to understand why people are such asses online. and the whole "because i can" excuse is stupid.

why is it so hard for people to act the same way online as they do offline?

and why are people asses offline as well?

humans suck.

[*souperstition*]

it's difficult for me to understand why people are such asses online. and the whole "because i can" excuse is stupid.

Well, that is the excuse. They can. People can say so much more behind a computer screen when they aren't looking directly at someone, when they have no intention of ever meeting this person face to face. It's not that they're different, it's just the fact that online, they say what they want to say, whereas in person, most of the time people are a little more reserved and keep things in. There's also the fact that people type much differently than they speak. Their personalities definitely don't perfectly translate from online to real life.

Or you could be like me and just hold almost everything in no matter what situation you're in. *shrug*

[queen]

People can say so much more behind a computer screen when they aren't looking directly at someone, when they have no intention of ever meeting this person face to face. It's not that they're different, it's just the fact that online, they say what they want to say, whereas in person, most of the time people are a little more reserved and keep things in.

yah, but why? why would anyone want to be mean, period?

[*souperstition*]

yah, but why? why would anyone want to be mean, period?

Most people have thoughts they keep to themselves, because they're taught not to speak that way. It's not that they don't WANT to say those things, it's just that they're taught that they shouldn't. Online, somehow it's different because they have this anonymity factor which somehow makes it okay to talk however they want to other people. I'm not saying it's right or that I act like this, I'm just giving a reason as to why others do. It feels good to say what you want to say, and it's easier to do it when you're not looking at the person face-to-face.

[queen]

Most people have thoughts they keep to themselves, because they're taught not to speak that way. It's not that they don't WANT to say those things, it's just that they're taught that they shouldn't. Online, somehow it's different because they have this anonymity factor which somehow makes it okay to talk however they want to other people. I'm not saying it's right or that I act like this, I'm just giving a reason as to why others do. It feels good to say what you want to say, and it's easier to do it when you're not looking at the person face-to-face.

hrm, well i could understand when people have opinions they would want to express bluntly. but it's different when people intentionally start drama just for fun or because it makes them feel good making others feel bad. heh, i guess i answered my own question, but i still don't understand how a person could feel good making another feel bad (given that the said person was never wronged by the other in the first place).