Internet Security, music, and Dad Jokes. And pets - it's a blog, after all.
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
A note about politeness on this blog
I know that lots of things are up in the air and that emotions are running high. But please note the message at the top of the comment box: Remember your manners when you comment here.
That also applies to those of you who email me directly.
I am not sure what happened to civil discourse. I think Twitter and Facebook have depersonalized the whole exchange of ideas. Now they censor any variations from the party line. Insults and coarse remarks from strangers seem to be the norm. How sad that it has come to this. It is like road rage, entirely unproductive and dangerous. Shall we call it Blog Rage? I don't know, but I think the world has gone crazy.
I'm always amazed, Borepatch, that people who've known me for decades, friends, feel free to spill vitriol online. Just bizarre. But of course we know why, they've been driven insane, by Satan.
The advent of social media removed and all ability to reasonable discuss anything. It is far easier to rip off a 140 character emotional barrage, hit send, and then walk away that it is to have a discussion.
The more I have withdrawn from such, the better my ability to see has been and the calmer I feel.
"When you're angry, think about what you want to say, count to 10, and then don't say it."
I blame both our "instant gratification" culture and "social networking" for the increased coarseness of public discourse.
Some feel the need to "be the first" to say or do something, and then immediately take offense when someone does or says it first. We've given out so many "participation awards" that some now expect a "pat on the back" for just being alive.
"Social networking" has widened our reach by allowing close friends to "share" what we say with others without our permission. It has eliminated the "human touch" that comes with face-to-face conversations. We no longer know who is listening... and who isn't.
Now that everything we say on social media can make its way everyone, privacy has vanished and took civility with it. Profanity has replaced discourse.
Social media is the Scourge of G_d. The people asked for a new way to draw attention to themselves, and the Lord in His wisdom gave them one...good and hard.
Amen
ReplyDeleteYes, amen.
ReplyDeleteYes, amen.
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure what happened to civil discourse. I think Twitter and Facebook have depersonalized the whole exchange of ideas. Now they censor any variations from the party line. Insults and coarse remarks from strangers seem to be the norm. How sad that it has come to this. It is like road rage, entirely unproductive and dangerous. Shall we call it Blog Rage? I don't know, but I think the world has gone crazy.
ReplyDeleteI'm always amazed, Borepatch, that people who've known me for decades, friends, feel free to spill vitriol online. Just bizarre. But of course we know why, they've been driven insane, by Satan.
ReplyDeleteThe advent of social media removed and all ability to reasonable discuss anything. It is far easier to rip off a 140 character emotional barrage, hit send, and then walk away that it is to have a discussion.
ReplyDeleteThe more I have withdrawn from such, the better my ability to see has been and the calmer I feel.
@Toirdhealbheach Beucail
ReplyDeleteYou're right. It takes time and effort to present logic and facts. It's usually more than 140 characters.
But you can fit a lot of emotional outbursts and F-bombs into 140 characters. ;)
Common courtesy seems to be increasingly less common.
ReplyDeleteOnce upon a time, my father gave me some advice:
ReplyDelete"When you're angry, think about what you want to say, count to 10, and then don't say it."
I blame both our "instant gratification" culture and "social networking" for the increased coarseness of public discourse.
Some feel the need to "be the first" to say or do something, and then immediately take offense when someone does or says it first. We've given out so many "participation awards" that some now expect a "pat on the back" for just being alive.
"Social networking" has widened our reach by allowing close friends to "share" what we say with others without our permission. It has eliminated the "human touch" that comes with face-to-face conversations. We no longer know who is listening... and who isn't.
Now that everything we say on social media can make its way everyone, privacy has vanished and took civility with it. Profanity has replaced discourse.
What a shame for everyone.
Social media is the Scourge of G_d. The people asked for a new way to draw attention to themselves, and the Lord in His wisdom gave them one...good and hard.
ReplyDelete