Looks a bit
odd, doesn’t it? After almost ten years on various social media sites, watching
the decline in manners, decency, and intelligent engagement though, I think
social media is the most anti-social realm I’ve ever seen. Most days it’s a war
zone for many, and you have to wonder when we, as a society, got so far removed
from humanity that everything in front of us on a computer screen has become a
battle cry for someone. When was the last time you logged in on your favourite
social site and didn’t see horrors, or people calling each other the crudest
and rudest of names?
In the past
week alone I scrolled through commentary on a YouTube video that was
essentially a very positive message about body shaming. A thirteen year old
girl spoke up, and a man claiming to be an adult with children not only trashed
her opinion and laughed at her, he then went on to shower her with what
amounted to a sexual assault with words as he told her in great and crude detail exactly what he would do her given the chance. She was thirteen for God’s sake, and
perhaps not as articulate as she would have liked, but that didn’t make her
opinion any less valid than the asshole who attacked her, repeatedly. If I’d
been that girl’s parent and saw that I’d have wanted to call the police to have
the bastard charged.
A day
later, on Facebook, a political discussion. When did people stop remembering
the way to certain annihilation on the internet is to open the conversation to religion,
politics, and sex with strangers? It was like watching a train wreck. The
hatred, and ignorance, and verbal abuse some people dish out hidden safely
behind their computers, it’s horrendous. If the people who engage in this kind
of verbal abuse are even remotely like their online presence, we’re in a world
of predators who are not only illiterate, they’re dangerous. Is it really up to
anyone to say who God will judge and what that judgement will be? When did a
differing opinion make someone deserving of assaults? It’s really astonishing,
and more than a little frightening.
We have to
endure the idiocy of celebrity antics on a daily basis, and most of us do
subscribe to some social media now. It’s just hard to understand why everything
has to devolve into such ugliness all the time. Of course, people like this
have always been part of society, but now they have an open field of prey and
apparently plenty of time to spend finding targets for their miserable
existences to prey on. I’ve met some truly amazing people because of the
internet. But I’ve also been the target of an online predator, slander, and
defamation from assorted crazies. It never ceases to amaze me how fast people
can go from love to hate in this make believe world.
The
internet should have been one of man’s greatest achievements, and used properly
it is–an incredible conduit of information and access to people everywhere.
Instead, as we become more connected via this web of technology, we become more
divided. We are connected to other humans, but lose our humanity… If the future
is here, I think we’ve lost much more than we’ve gained at this stage. Until
the new world grows up, the general internet population is certainly proving it’s
in its infancy–with all the childish tantrums to prove it. Am I the only one who'd like
off the ride now?
Image via Pixabay
It's truly a double-edged sword. Good post, Denyse.
ReplyDeleteI agree, it is, Miriam. So much good, but so much ugly as well... I wonder if the day will come when we get back to the basics of being human and compassionate, instead of constantly at war with life and those who share it with us.
DeleteI wholeheartedly agree with your opinion. The internet can be access to an astounding amount of information and people seem to do little more with it than watch porn and bash others. Many times I've wanted to call my internet provider and cancel my services, just wanting some distance from that craziness. But our careers are oft-times tied in with social media, we depend on it too much to abandon it. And as you've pointed out it can also be a conduit for contact with amazing friends you would not have met otherwise. What is a person to do? I'm not sure. I suppose all we can do is ignore the crazies, stop fuelling their idiotic behaviour by responding to them, and wait for the day when people can act respectfully online. With any luck that day will dawn.
ReplyDeleteI think Penny made the best observation - until people ignore the trolls - which effectively takes away their "power" and makes them impotent - we'll see this kind of behaviour.
DeleteAnonymity makes them brave. And we live in a time when people think Free Speech means they can saw what ever they want without consequences. We have a lot of rights given to us under our Constitution but only as along as they don't infringe on the rights of others. People forget that part. I try to surround myself with positive people. Negativity and anger I turn off and if it means I have a few less people in my life, that's fine by me.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Melissa. On all counts. I've had the "free speech" card thrown at me, along with "it's a free country" catchphrase. And, yes, it is - just like Canada - but honestly, if you use that to justify your behaviour, just go away and grow up.
DeleteI feel this way a lot. Every time I log on, I feel slapped in the face by some of the worst posts. I hate all the negativity. I'm pleased to have made some good friends, but it definitely adds negativity to my life that I don't want.
ReplyDeleteIt's a real trick to navigate the turbulent waters, isn't it? We keep to the people who bring us light, and try to avoid those who don't - it's all that can be done, really.
DeleteMy internet and social media experience is happy, thoughtful, and with the occasional exception, quite enjoyable. When shit gets ugly, I bail. When the fun writer's group turned into a bunch of mean girls laughing behind newbies' backs, I found a new group. That simple. If someone clogs my newsfeed with drama, hate, and prejudice, I unfollow, block, or delete them. My online space is like my home in the real world. Certain behaviours aren't tolerated within my walls, and I won't hesitate to eject rude and ignorant people. I think if more people respected their spaces enough to not allow the trolls, eventually the trolls wouldn't have anyone listening. They'd either learn to be respectful or shut up. Sadly, our society seems hellbent on responding to the idiots, and that's exactly what keeps the idiots coming back.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely true. I spend less and less time on social media now, preferring to talk to the people who really are part of my life. Thankfully we have private messaging and email, right? I've been through the negativity and had it almost take away my sanity and creativity. I much prefer happy and positive folks. Like you, Penny. :)
Delete"We are connected to other humans, but lose our humanity…" Well said, Denyse. All I can add, is that unplugging is healthy, for the eyes and the soul.
ReplyDeleteI experienced some of this on a different FB last week. It's so difficult sometimes to respond with kindness and not react in kind, but we must not lose our own humanity due to the ugliness around us. I reminded myself of this yet again. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDelete