Is the Internet a hive of scum and villainy?

[Vyvyan Basterd]

For your sake I hope you never, ever decide to track a troll down and punch him in the nose.

For his sake? Riiiiiiiiiiiight.

 

[athos]

[MENTION=6750039]Zombie_Babies[/MENTION]

If the shoe fits...

 

[Homicidal_Squirrel]

As long as there are no negative consequences for acting poorly, people will act to the lowest common denominator.

There are plenty of "negative" consequences for behavior. The problem isn't that there aren't any, it's that they aren't effective.

In a game store, if someone said something highly inappropriate, you could ask them to step out into the parking lot, but on the internet, they are completely safe. This safety from a punch in the nose, allows those that are small and angry to lash out at anyone with no fear of reprisal.

People still act like jerks off the internet. Physical aggression may serve to keep you from doing something, but there are plenty of people that won't be deterred by the possibility of a fight. In fact, there are some people that look for that, so it's quite possible that by becoming physically aggressive, you are in fact playing into what they want.

In fact, I think they save up all the anger they have from real life where they are too timid to do anything and then vent it out into the internet. That is why you see "nerd rage" over silly things. People that are secure with who they are act the same in real life and on the net, people who are afraid in real life, IMO, are the ones that get really stupid on the internet. So unless you can get therapy for all these angry anti-social people, they are going to continue to act tough where they are safe, the net.

Behavior is far more complex than that.

 

[Kramodlog]

Behavior is far more complex than that.

Them be fighting words!

 

[Serendipity]

Not any more so than the naked face of humanity itself, no.
Of course, you might infer a bit of realism-*koff* pessimism as some would have it from that but whatever. The internet isn't any worse than the species using it, IOW.

 

[Gonozal]

It's the Gabriel Internet ****wad theory: A normal person + anonymity + an audience = total ****wad.

I don't think that's true. Of course anonymity does a lot to encourage all kinds of scummy behavior, but a normal person on the internet still usually acts like a normal person. It's the minority of attention-addicted or scummy people that loose all inhibitions on the internet and find it hilarious to insult others

 

[Vyvyan Basterd]

I think some of it comes from what would be considered joking ribbing with friends. It's easy to get caught up in a community like ENWorld and forget that 1) most of the other posters aren't your friends; and 2) the body language and tone you use to joke with friends is lost on the internet. Add into that subjects you wouldn't joke with your friends over because you know they take the subject seriously and/or sensitively and you have a hidden minefield of unintended offense to deal with as well.

 

[STIGMATADOR]

I bet nobody would mess with Gurkhas on the internet.
They would track you down and lay waste to you and your kin!

WOOT!

 

[STIGMATADOR]

For his sake? Riiiiiiiiiiiight.

Correct.
I'm sure ZB would hate it if that guy went looking for someone who made him butt hurt on the interwebz, and ended up getting his ass whooped.
Although I would find it hilarious, ZB might not.

 

[Zombie_Babies]

For his sake? Riiiiiiiiiiiight.

Yeah, internet tough guys really scare me.

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If the shoe fits...

So how's that shoe feel? Your toes nice an' comfy?