Rudeness and the Internet

[Solo Tremaine]

[COLOR=#503F86]I'd like to think I'm a tolerant person. But some comments that a guy left on a couple of my YouTube videos really pissed me off. Before you say it, I already know YouTube is a wretched hive of scum and villainy, but even so I just wondered why he felt the need to: 1) find my video; 2) watch it all the way through; 3) spend as much time as he did formulating his 'witty' response; and then 4) repeat the process with my other videos, which he thought equally as crap. It just seems completely pointless. Anyway, I deleted them and blocked him- all his videos seemed to be rants to his webcam about the state of politics in the UK- a favourite phrase of his that appeared on my page was 'sucking on Tony Blair's ballsack'.

I'm not one for retaliation. I don't think provocation is going to give me any greater peace of mind or sense of achievement, so unless I'm defending myself in the course of an argument or against something completely libellous I'll tend to leave it be. That said, there have been times when I've seen or read something and at least thought 'that was a complete load of crap', but not written anything down.

So, my questions are these:

[b]1. What have your experiences with rudeness on the internet been?

2. Do you get affected by them, generally?

3. Have you ever been deliberately rude to someone over the Net, and why?

4. Do you think there are times when it's justified?

5. Why do you think people feel the need to make unecessary comments online?[/b]

1. Aside from the above, I've not had that much experience with rudeness, aside from the odd Moderating issue some years ago or annoying people on eBay.

2. For the most part I tend to think they're just being idiots and leave them alone. If it necessitates a response, such as moderating or eBay, then I'll be curt but formal. It was these YouTube comments that for some reason just really annoyed me. It didn't help that they were the trailers for the films we'd made as a company, that we'd spent a very long time over and had a great time making. Granted, they're not even close to Hollywood-quality, but we're only two guys with a camera and they've had good reactions from people watching the proper, full-length film. It just pissed me off that he knew nothing about me or the films or anyone involved, yet felt compelled to make such a coarse, snap judgement.

3. I can't remember if I've been rude to anyone over the net. Probably, but nothing comes to mind. If I have it's probably been in response to something someone else has said. but like I said, I like to think I'm tolerant.

4. Well, perhaps, but there's no reason you can't be intelligent and civil in a response to someone being rude at you. If someone's being really unreasonable and gets you that angry then it's probably just the course of your emotions and you can't help it. I would only really launch into someone if I really felt they deserved it, and that would take a lot.

5. I think having the keyboard in front of you and the text coming on your screen almost illicits a sense that you're talking to yourself, so you're almost seeing someone else write up your thoughts and then going 'Yes, I agree with that', and then post it. So I reckon it's mostly done for laughs or to try and bait a response back to start an argument. The internet is a breeding ground for extreme, blunt opinions, after all :p But can you really feel passionately enough that "OMFG X-BOX IS SO MUCH BETTAR THAN NINTENDO STOOPID EFFIN FANBOI" that you need to troll every Nintendo-orientated video/blog/etc on the net?[/COLOR]

[Red]

Unlucky that you got one of the youtube crowd but as you said they're pretty much everywhere on there; I've always thought it best to ignore rather than feed the trolls, they tend to come back for more otherwise. You'll nearly always get positive comments to counterbalance the trollish ones!

Anyway, to answer your questions:

1. Moderating here/other forums & 6+ years of playing games online. The former was nothing compared to the latter in terms of volume & what was said but it was always a tad more personal; most users have established personas on forums. In games it's a constant stream of instantly forgettable people who act the same way.

2. Never, it's just the internet. I'm sure there's a fair proportion that act the same way in real life, but it's obvious that being given near-anonymity turns some perfectly reasonable people into frothing retards. Penny Arcade had a great panel that covered the transition quite well if anyone can be bothered to dig it up.

3. Can't say I've never, [i]ever[/i] done it as for most of my time on the 'net so far I was a teenager but these days while wandering around on the interweb, no. I try to avoid it as it nearly always causes any sort of normal conversation to disintegrate into acronym-laden piddling contests.

Games are a different story, winding particularly annoying players up until they completely lose it can be hilarious at times.

4. When it's flame baiting, in jest or in the aforementioned gaming situation I think so, aye. All other times, no.

5. As I said, because they're under the (false) impression that they're 100% anonymous & can say what they like without serious consequences. Manners don't matter and the person you're going after is hardly going to reach through the screen and punch you (unless you're Peter Griffin). Some are like that always but others do it just because they can.

[The13thMan]

[COLOR=DarkOrange][FONT=Century Gothic]1. What have your experiences with rudeness on the internet been?
I've had my fair share of experience. I've also encountered the moron on Youtube posting extremely rude and hurtful comments on my videos. Of course, my videos were made by me and my little brother just for the sake of fun. We posted them on youtube just to get a response at our stupidity. Though i have posted more serious videos on youtube and gotten horrible responses. The youtube crowd is notoriously wicked, they're a bunch of a$#-f*^$s. Of course there's also online gaming. Online gaming isn't at all personal. Halo 2 and 3 are just filled with jerks. But whatev.

2. Do you get affected by them, generally?
The youtube ones pissed me off immensely. They're a lot more personal because they're critiquing your work, whatever it is. But you get over it given some time and the realization that they're just trying to be mean and critical.

3. Have you ever been deliberately rude to someone over the Net, and why? I probably have, i feel like that kind of person sometimes. But it's never been uncalled for, i don't think. Typically it's someone with a ridiculously stupid opinion or just blatantly wrong.

4. Do you think there are times when it's justified?
Yes.

5. Why do you think people feel the need to make unecessary comments online?
I blame MTV.


[/FONT][/COLOR]

[Desbreko]

[color=#4B0082]Ah yes, [url=http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19][u]Green Blackboards (And Other Anomalies)[/u][/url]. My favorite Penny Arcade strip ever. (Contains swearing by the way.)

Myself, I've been lucky enough to get almost entirely positive or at least neutral comments on my YouTube videos. And I didn't even bother responding to the few flames/trolls I've gotten since I knew others would do it for me. :p

My experiences with rudeness has mainly come from online games and also through forums. I'm primarily a lurker when it comes to forums, though, so if I encounter an idiot I can just not read his posts and call it good. But in games, it's harder to ignore the idiot warrior who runs headlong into fifty monsters and dies, then proceeds to scream at me for not healing enough. And this is why I've stopped playing with random people in Guild Wars; me and a team of computer controlled party members is usually more competent anyway.

I guess that kind of answered the second question as well, since I tend to just avoid rude people. I don't let them get to me and the most they generally warrant is a sarcastic jab at their intelligence before I leave.

And yes, I have been intentionally rude to people online at times. Again, usually in a sarcastic way to show how much of a douche they themselves are being. That's about the only time I find it justified, when people just can't take a hint any other way besides experiencing the same thing themselves. Though it takes good judgment to tell when this might help and when it will only make things worse.

As for why some people are so rude online, I think that Penny Arcade strip nails one of the big points. The other one I've noticed that's especially prevalent is the almighty epeen. A lot of people?you know, people who take internets [i]seriously[/i]?love putting others down to make themselves feel better about themselves.[/color]

[Aaryanna_Mom]

[B]1. What have your experiences with rudeness on the internet been?[/B]
Not very many really. I imagine that's because I really don't visit many sites where I actually do any posting. I've gotten a few rude comments, but not much.
[B]
2. Do you get affected by them, generally?[/B]
Not really. The few times it happened, it was usually by someone who in my eyes is still a kid. It's kind of hard to get offended when a child is attempting to tell you off. Being laughed at for doing something like rpging at my age as they put it only served to make me laugh a bit. After all, you don't grow up and suddenly lose interest in discussions or storytelling or other things you found fun when you were younger.
[B]
3. Have you ever been deliberately rude to someone over the Net, and why?[/B]
Not deliberately. I've been sharp and to the point, but It was never my intent to be rude just to be rude. It just seems pointless really. When someone is too annoying or treats your comments with thinly veiled scorn by the ridicule in their replies, at that point, I simply use a function like the ignore one here. I come online to have fun, not get into silly I'm right your wrong arguments. I don't need the last word.

[B]4. Do you think there are times when it's justified?[/B]
Being rude? No. Being honest? Yes. If someone really is being a jerk I'll tell them so.

[B]5. Why do you think people feel the need to make unnecessary comments online?[/B]
Lots of reasons I imagine, the most prominent being insecurity on their part. Some inner desire to make themselves feel good by putting others down. And being hidden behind a screen makes it easier since you know you won't be facing that other person ever. I believe the saying is, if you don't have something nice to say, then don't say anything. Wise words really.

[Inculta_Bellum]

[quote name='Aaryanna_Mom']
[B]
2. Do you get affected by them, generally?[/B]
Not really. The few times it happened, it was usually by someone who in my eyes is still a kid. It's kind of hard to get offended when a child is attempting to tell you off. Being laughed at for doing something like rpging at my age as they put it only served to make me laugh a bit. After all, you don't grow up and suddenly lose interest in discussions or storytelling or other things you found fun when you were younger.
[/QUOTE]

Comments like this are why I learned to respect my elders. Real experience, patience, and being in touch with one's inner child. More than most of my generation deserve in my opinion.

1. What have your experiences with rudeness on the internet been?

I haven't experienced a lot of rudeness online. Mostly because all I really do is read manga, webcomics, and Wikipedia.

2. Do you get affected by them, generally?

It bothers me that people can be so stupid and mean. What happened to values?

3. Have you ever been deliberately rude to someone over the Net, and why?

That's up to individual perception. I don't think I've been rude, but maybe someone else does. In the end their opinion on that count is what matters. So, maybe. But it wasn't intended to be rude.

4. Do you think there are times when it's justified?

There have been times when I've wanted to be rude, but I don't think it's ever justified.

5. Why do you think people feel the need to make unecessary comments online?

Because it's the only place where these sad people have any measure of power. These people are the nerds and geeks of society that never found a warm home online and grew hard and cold in the wild expanses of the net. Pity their stupidity, for they will either end up at a dead end job their entire lives or go to prison for hacking. I'm not kidding in that last sentence either.

[Nomurah!]

[SIZE="1"][COLOR="HotPink"]1. What have your experiences with rudeness on the internet been?
Youtube of course. It's true, people will watch videos just so they can say it sucks. Ive seen too much of it, and then of course people that try and retaliate by yelling at the rude person. It doubles the rudeness. And then you have the people being rude in foreign languages on youtube, in hopes you won't know what they're saying, lol. Some people have been rude on the OB too, it's pretty much just everywhere.

2. Do you get affected by them, generally?
Sometimes. Most of the time I understand it's just an ignorant fool, prepared to make someone else's internet time miserable on sites that deserve better. Sometimes they may try and act smart, or be flashy, or go on forever until it gets to me... But only sometimes.

3. Have you ever been deliberately rude to someone over the Net, and why?
Aha, yes. Why? Mostly people that deserved it, for being rude to me as well.

4. Do you think there are times when it's justified?
Absolutely. If someone's rude to you, if you want to retaliate, that's your choice.

5. Why do you think people feel the need to make unecessary comments online?
Obesity.
People that have already seen every tourrettes guy webisode, Red Vs. Blue, and people that have beat their entire videogame collection already, or got tired because they're incapable of doing so.

This would result in anger bottling up inside.

Oh yes, these people can do some damage... Not physical... But, they have the internet at their disposal. [/COLOR][/SIZE]

[Rachmaninoff]

[B]1. What have your experiences with rudeness on the internet been?[/B]
Actually, I haven't really had to deal with a lot. However, other than a few places, I don't really do a lot online. That and when someone is clearly being a jackass, I just move on, arguing with a moron is not my idea of fun.

[B]2. Do you get affected by them, generally?[/B]
Only when it's someone I get along with, because that tends to make you feel put out that someone you would consider a friend would be rude. The rest, not really. Someone I don't really know being rude is hard to take seriously.

[B]3. Have you ever been deliberately rude to someone over the Net, and why?[/B]
If I have, it was unintentional. I prefer to avoid fighting with people period. It's a waste of energy in my opinion. I'd much rather have fun with my friends, on and off line.

[B]4. Do you think there are times when it's justified?[/B]
No. Not that it isn't necessary to be firm, but being rude? It just seems pointless to behave the same as the person being a jerk in the first place.

[B]5. Why do you think people feel the need to make unnecessary comments online?[/B]
Lots of reasons I suppose. Number one that I see or rather one of the main reasons I see people being rude for; is the desire to put others down. Like they have to feel superior for some silly reason. The others are what seems to be an inability to not correct others over trivial matters or the inability to walk away without getting the last word in. Being a jackass online seems to be some sort of character flaw for some people. Being behind that screen instead of facing the person tends to give them a false sense of security, or makes it seem like it's okay to be a jackass.

[Solo Tremaine]

[quote name='Aaryanna_Mom'][B]2. Do you get affected by them, generally?[/B]
Not really. The few times it happened, it was usually by someone who in my eyes is still a kid. It's kind of hard to get offended when a child is attempting to tell you off. Being laughed at for doing something like rpging at my age as they put it only served to make me laugh a bit.[/quote][COLOR=#503F86]That's the kind of reaction I wish I'd have, but I don't think I've grown up enough yet. I'm still quite protective of the things I do, and, constructive criticism aside, to have someone out-and-out insult it without even looking at it properly is one of the few things that really rile me up.

I'm annoyed that it annoyed me so much, because I know he was just being a pretentious arse. I guess it's naive to hope to avoid all kinds of confrontations like that, especially as I'm hoping to become a writer and/or actor, which'll lend itself to people being fanatically spiteful for little to no reason :p[/COLOR]

[Nomurah!]

[quote name='Solo Tremaine'][COLOR=#503F86]That's the kind of reaction I wish I'd have, but I don't think I've grown up enough yet. I'm still quite protective of the things I do, and, constructive criticism aside, to have someone out-and-out insult it without even looking at it properly is one of the few things that really rile me up.

I'm annoyed that it annoyed me so much, because I know he was just being a pretentious arse. I guess it's naive to hope to avoid all kinds of confrontations like that, especially as I'm hoping to become a writer and/or actor, which'll lend itself to people being fanatically spiteful for little to no reason :p[/COLOR][/QUOTE]

[SIZE="1"][COLOR="HotPink"]Think of it this way... Most people that get on the internet and tell someone they're doing something wrong in writing or acting, and act rude while doing so.... Most likely don't write or act so often anyway. So, what damage can they do, if they obviously know not of the efforts you put into your work? [/COLOR][/SIZE]

[Horendithas]

[COLOR="Indigo"][I]1. What have your experiences with rudeness on the internet been?[/I]

In the past two and a half years? Nothing that I would consider serious, I did have someone get in my face recently or at least try to, but it went no where. [[SIZE="1"]that was elsewhere, not here by the way[/SIZE]] Before I wandered over to myO and then OB, I had a site with art book scans up. Some stupid kid with no life decided to rip all of them, repost them and then claim I stole from them. Which made no sense, no one owns an art book scan since the image belongs to the original artist. But after months of nasty messages from anyone they could convince to join in, I just pulled the plug and moved on. It wasn't worth the hassle.
[I]
2. Do you get affected by them, generally?[/I]

Not really. Pulling the plug on the afore mentioned site was more of my getting involved with school and things that really are important and not wanting to be bothered with the nonsense. Ironically, the idiot got their site taken over by someone else and now that's a non-issue anyway. It was annoying in the sense that they were so unbelievably stupid over the whole thing.

There was also a forum that is no longer around that I ran into problems. Mainly because I knew many of these people in real life. But that got yanked from the net too, over three years ago. I just quit visiting it once it became clear the people running it lacked any maturity whatsoever.

[I]3. Have you ever been deliberately rude to someone over the Net, and why?[/I]

I can imagine that I have, I tend to be blunt and like anyone else I have times I misunderstand a situation. I wasn't consciously thinking... [I]oh, I'm going to be rude just cause I can[/I]... though. It was more of a... [I]could you be any stupider? [/I]

[I]4. Do you think there are times when it's justified?[/I]

I like to think there isn't, though at the same time some people no matter what you say, they're going to think you're being rude. After all, they are more interested in putting you down, not realizing that they look like an utter fool by doing so. So naturally being told you're an idiot is going to not only be on some level justified, but rude as well, even if it is the truth.
[I]
5. Why do you think people feel the need to make unnecessary comments online?[/I]

Anonymity. Online communications reduces a person's sense of his or her own identity, thus providing the means for some to be rude and aggressive when they normally wouldn't be in person. Social psychologists have known for decades that if people reduce the sense of their own identity, they are less likely to stick to social norms. It's like being at a party really, they don't necessarily expect to be taken seriously and the social rules are fairly relaxed. And yet, because comments appear in cold text without important cues like friendly body language, they can easily seem more offensive than they would otherwise.

Though there are some that fit into the being a jackass just because they can. Much like the person you mentioned at your youtube page. [/COLOR]

[[Sound_Nin]]

[QUOTE][COLOR=#503f86][B]1. What have your experiences with rudeness on the internet been?

2. Do you get affected by them, generally?

3. Have you ever been deliberately rude to someone over the Net, and why?

4. Do you think there are times when it's justified?

5. Why do you think people feel the need to make unecessary comments online?[/B][/COLOR][/QUOTE]

[COLOR=Navy][FONT=Book Antiqua]1. Mostly pompous ******** who think they're vastly superior because they can spell correctly. It's nice to see a well-written sentence, honestly, but they get so full of themselves trying to impress their e-buddies who are all equally obnoxious. The ones that are like 'omg u r such a fagt' don't bother me at all.

2. I get frustrated. Especially when I have other, more important things to do, and this guy is just going to go on and on because he has nothing better to do.

3. Yes. I do it more than I should, but I'm sure most of it is just brutal honesty anyway.

4. I do. Especially when the freedom of opinion is misconstrued as the ability to blather nonsensically for shock value.

5. They have no life, I'd imagine. If they did, they'd be off doing more productive things with their life.
[/FONT][/COLOR]

[Sabrina]

[FONT="Tahoma"][B]1. What have your experiences with rudeness on the internet been?[/B]

Uh... none really. I tend to spend my spare time doing other things instead of hanging out online. At least at places like OtakuBoards. I have seen a lot of others being really rude, all one has to do is read comments over at YouTube to know what I'm talking about.

[B]2. Do you get affected by them, generally?[/B]

Well other than to be surprised that people can be so utterly stupid, not really.

[B]3. Have you ever been deliberately rude to someone over the Net, and why?[/B]

No. But then like I just said, I don't really spend a lot of time online talking to others. Though I see that trend changing... it certainly has in just the last week. :catgirl:

[B]4. Do you think there are times when it's justified?[/B]

I can only imagine that there are times when it is justified. I mean in real life, some people only listen when it comes in the form of a verbal smack that is by it's very definition... rude.

[B]5. Why do you think people feel the need to make unnecessary comments online?[/B]

(insert Indi's response here)[/FONT]

[Gavin]

[SIZE="1"]Hmm, never noticed this thread before.

[B]1. What have your experiences with rudeness on the Internet been?[/B]
Thankfully negligent, the sites I'm a member of either have quite mature member-bases like OB, or I don't post stuff on them, like Youtube, so it's win-win.

[B]2. Do you get affected by them, generally?[/B]
I tend not to really, the few barbs I've had thrown my way have come from people I'd consider to be complete idiots, so it doesn't bother me all that much.

[B]3. Have you ever been deliberately rude to someone over the Net, and why?[/B]
Off the top of my head, I can't think of any times recently, although I probably have. I've been on the Internet since before I was a teen, so at some point, somewhere I've probably sent some flak somebody's way. As for why, well I'm not the kind of person who'd be purposely insulting for no reason, so I can only assume it was retaliatory.

[B]4. Do you think there are times when it's justified?[/B]
Not really, I think A_M summed it up nicely, if you're being honest, you should be able to tell someone when they're being an ***.

[B]5. Why do you think people feel the need to make unnecessary comments online?[/B]
Anonymity, anonymity, anonymity. If people feel they've got anonymity with the Internet, some of them are going to act out like brats because they think they can, and it's funny to them. It's sad and pathetic really.

On second thought, that comic in Des' post says it much better.[/SIZE]

[Kenso]

[B][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1][COLOR=black]1. What have your experiences with rudeness on the internet been?[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/B]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1]Thankfully, I haven't any recent issues with rudeness on the internet. When I first joined, on a forum called Planet Community (Cheat Planet's forum - that incarnation died about a year and a half after I joined), I had huge issues with rude people. Anytime I posted trying to learn about something in an area of the site I didn't know anything about (back in that time, I wasn't much into any games but Zelda, and it was definitely gaming-heavy), someone felt the need to be a complete *** instead of providing any real response.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1]The worst was on a small xsorbit forum I was on. I met a girl on there (who has since passed away), and we spent lots of time talking, etc. But one of the admins, for whatever reason, seemed pissed about any signs of a relationship between the two of us. He didn't bother me at all (probably because he invited me to join the forum to begin with), but he started harassing the girl, calling her a whore, etc. Of course, I tried stepping in, and then it turned into an all-out war. Unfortunately for him, after I took the time to compile every time he posted something deragatory (sp?) about her and throw it all out in the open with links, the entire board fell apart.[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1][/SIZE][/FONT]
[B][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1][COLOR=black]2. Do you get affected by them, generally?[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/B]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1]For the most part, not really. Stupidity annoys me, but outright rudeness I tend to blow off. The only rudeness I've responded to on a very personal basis was on that forum mentioned above.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1][/SIZE][/FONT]
[B][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1][COLOR=black]3. Have you ever been deliberately rude to someone over the Net, and why?[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/B]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1][COLOR=black]See above. Beyond that, not really intentionally. However, I am something of a smartass, and horribly, horribly opinionated, so chances are I've done it unintentionally quite a bit.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][/FONT]
[B][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1][COLOR=black]4. Do you think there are times when it's justified?[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/B]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1][COLOR=black]Not really. Even in my example above, there were better ways for me to handle it than letting it boil over like that.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana][/FONT]
[B][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1][COLOR=black]5. Why do you think people feel the need to make unecessary comments online?[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/B]
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1]I think, for the most part, it's just because the can. There's far less fear of repurcussions, and that gives some people balls they wouldn't have otherwise.[/SIZE][/FONT]

[Magus]

[COLOR="DarkRed"][SIZE="1"][b]1. What have your experiences with rudeness on the internet been?[/b]
Heh, where to begin? I've had my share of rude folk on the net. Mainly anime and videogame forums. I've had my share of wars. (Eye for an Eye XD) I've actually toned that down though.

[b]2. Do you get affected by them, generally?[/b]
I don't think that I've actually ever been affected. Like Moy, I hate stupidity. Even back when I was one of those idiots (hey, I was 16 XD), majority of my comments were combatting stupidity. Now I just let people say whatever, even though there's been a lot of things I hold back on, (no, higher authority really don't mean much to me XD) because a lot of people are overly sensitive, and I have a sharp tongue.

[b]3. Have you ever been deliberately rude to someone over the Net, and why?[/b]
Hehe, yes. To be blunt. I was an idiot. Much like your very own gone and probably not forgotten, Altron Gundam, (I know him as Sanosuke) I used to play ccg's. We'll just leave it at that XD. But on the bright side of all this, I never did start any of it. It just ended with me ending it. Then other times I was just responding to stupidity. (real blunt back then)

[b]4. Do you think there are times when it's justified?[/b]
No. For some unforseen reason, I was never warned or banned. And like any other 16 year old with an ego back then, I just went on with it.

[b]5. Why do you think people feel the need to make unecessary comments online?[/b]
To feed their ego. (I have other words, but I'll leave it alone XD)[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[PWNED]

1. What have your experiences with rudeness on the internet been?

Heh, there is a certain theory about the internet bringing out the worst in people.
It was something along the lines of [QUOTE]Average person + Internet + Anonymity + Audience= Jackarse[/QUOTE] and I encourage you to take a look on the IGN/ gamefaqs boards and try to be critical and mature. I myself have given up on IGN because I was given tons of crap about analysing major issues in Smackdown vs RAW 2008 then just stating that you cannot justify buying it yearly.

2. Do you get affected by them, generally?

I refuse to be affected by them because all they are doing is trying to get a reaction.

3. Have you ever been deliberately rude to someone over the Net, and why?

When I was new to the whole online ettiquete thing, I would argue with people and would you choice words if they were being offensive.

4. Do you think there are times when it's justified?

At times it can be justified if sticking up for yourself but most of the time I'm opposed to it.

5. Why do you think people feel the need to make unecessary comments online?


[QUOTE]Average person + Internet + Anonymity + Audience = Jackarse[/QUOTE]

[SunfallE]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"][B]1. What have your experiences with rudeness on the internet been?[/B]

Depends on the context. For places like OB, not a lot. For past jobs that included doing online customer service work... I've run into a lot of rudeness, but I'm not sure if that's the same thing really.

[B]2. Do you get affected by them, generally?[/B]

Most of the time I am not affected. Since usually it's someone that as A_M put it, I see as a kid. I am in my thirties after all so It's really hard to take a teenager mouthing off seriously. I just see immaturity instead of real rudeness.

[B]3. Have you ever been deliberately rude to someone over the Net, and why?[/B]

I'm sure I have. I try not to, but in customer service, sometimes it's rather appalling how rude adults can be. Though it's probably more of me pointing out what an idiot they are instead of just being rude. It doesn't happen a lot. Fortunately.

[B]4. Do you think there are times when it's justified?[/B]

I think there times when to be frank, it's unavoidable. I learned that real quick in customer service, there will be people that being a bit rude in return or rather pointing out what a jackass they are is the only way things get resolved or to get them to knock it off. Most of the time, I think there is no justification though.

[B]5. Why do you think people feel the need to make unecessary comments online?[/B]

I think Crystia covered that one the best. The being behind a screen and therefore not immediately accountable for one's actions... gives people a sense of the words on the screen not being their own but something they agree with. Since I imagine many of them in real life, wouldn't say it in person. [/FONT][/COLOR]