Why.
Why, why, why, why.
Why?
Why do I read the comments?
It's not like I'm ever going to be pleasantly surprised.
I must just like to torture myself.
I'm reading an article, watching a video clip, looking at a blog. My head says NO but my rebellious finger scrolls down the page anyway to view the comment section.
Horrifying insults. Disrespectful words. Vile language that few would have the guts to say to anyone's face.
The internet is typically a pretty cool place. Information. Shared ideas, words, creativity. Easily accessible. You can say what you want to say. Everyone has an audience.
But. People are so quick to type out a scathing opinion. So eager to engage in a pointless argument. So ready to gang up on someone with a different point of view.
We all know bullying is wrong. Parents, teach your children to be nice! Be polite! Use your manners! The golden rule!
But I'm not reading comments by children. I'm reading comments by adults.
People who write those comments: Is it brave, what you do? Is it sticking up for yourself? Is it helping someone understand?
It's teaching someone a lesson. It's belittling someone's point of view. It's stepping on someone's feelings.
It's setting yourself up above someone else. By pushing that someone down. That's bullying. It's always been around, but now it's different. It's online. It's fast, it's easy, it's widespread, it's anonymous. Mocking, biting sarcasm that not everyone is strong enough to withstand.
People are killing themselves after being torn down online. Kids are growing up typing, hammering out their blunt feelings on issues because they are learning that they are valuable and important only at the expense of others who are not as coolsmartfunfashionablesexy as them.
This should not be okay. THIS SHOULD NOT BE OKAY.
Why, why, why, why.
Why?
Why do I read the comments?
It's not like I'm ever going to be pleasantly surprised.
I must just like to torture myself.
I'm reading an article, watching a video clip, looking at a blog. My head says NO but my rebellious finger scrolls down the page anyway to view the comment section.
Horrifying insults. Disrespectful words. Vile language that few would have the guts to say to anyone's face.
The internet is typically a pretty cool place. Information. Shared ideas, words, creativity. Easily accessible. You can say what you want to say. Everyone has an audience.
But. People are so quick to type out a scathing opinion. So eager to engage in a pointless argument. So ready to gang up on someone with a different point of view.
We all know bullying is wrong. Parents, teach your children to be nice! Be polite! Use your manners! The golden rule!
But I'm not reading comments by children. I'm reading comments by adults.
People who write those comments: Is it brave, what you do? Is it sticking up for yourself? Is it helping someone understand?
It's teaching someone a lesson. It's belittling someone's point of view. It's stepping on someone's feelings.
It's setting yourself up above someone else. By pushing that someone down. That's bullying. It's always been around, but now it's different. It's online. It's fast, it's easy, it's widespread, it's anonymous. Mocking, biting sarcasm that not everyone is strong enough to withstand.
People are killing themselves after being torn down online. Kids are growing up typing, hammering out their blunt feelings on issues because they are learning that they are valuable and important only at the expense of others who are not as coolsmartfunfashionablesexy as them.
This should not be okay. THIS SHOULD NOT BE OKAY.
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2 comments:
I agree. Any comment we make we should be willing to make it face to face but no comment need to be made unless it's purpose is beneficial. Otherwise your intent is evil. We should not let being anonymous make us someone we do not want to be. We should not let our anonymity allow us to be a sniper; taking shots at whoever we want. If so then the shame is on us.
I agree. Some people haven't really grown up.
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