Internet = Hate?
 

Alright, so I've only been *really* on these forums for a couple days, but I've been listening to the show for like 5 months or so. I'm also no stranger to the internet.

I want to discuss why the Internet, and forums more specifically, breed such hate between users.

My theory is that everyone hates everyone, but lacks the balls to do anything about it unless they're safe behind their keyboard.

Discuss?

in general, or specific to these forums?

i dont hate anyone

/shrug

it's because people that post are idiots and socially retarded. they should be excised from society and sent to oklahoma.

well, in general, although this thread was sparked by certain people in here just calling each other pedophiles for no reason.

and i don't mean everyone. In fact, there are probably only a few, but they stick out like a sore thumb. It's funny, and I wouldn't change it, but at the same time I feel sorry for people who seem to get such satisfaction out of flaming people they've never even met.

neat thread.

surely it goes without saying that anonymity + audience = trollish behavior

in the case of these forums specifically, some people (like me) are going to be put off by the obscenely sycophantic fascination that people have with Keith and Chemda and their ilk, and at times will respond in kind.

additionally, i generally have a 2 to 3 year shelf life in any web community i belong to, after which time i become bitter and cranky toward my fellow forum posters. there are like, maybe five of you that i have any amount of respect for.

also, and i've had this conversation with a few of you before, but sorry: the fact of the matter is that probably 80% of you are sad, socially maladjusted, mouthbreathing nerds. and i'm not. i saw it with my own eyes when i came to the city for Keith's stand-up in april (before anyone accuses me of throwing stones in a glass house, i wouldn't have been in town to begin with had i not already made plans early on this year to stay with friends of mine that live in Brooklyn all that week)

so, you know. have fun at the next meet-up i guess. i'll be here, with my wonderful girlfriend and the absolute best friends any person could ever hope to have.

I think that it spawns candor more than hate (although the line between the two is easily blurred). I have this theory (and I'd be interested to hear Bebe's thoughts on it) that the internet and forums like this are the latest incarnation of semi-anonymous nongeo specific social interaction.

The easiest previous incarnation to point to is the CB radio operators in the 1970's and 80's. There was an initial buy in of equipment and time, but after that you could start off being whomever you wanted to be, create a handle and a persona.

Over time, your true personality or the cracks in your "cover" tended to become apparent. You could also wear out your welcome and be shunned, necessitating the reset of your persona and having to reestablish your credibility within the community. Or you could be yourself, enjoy yourself and flourish within the rules of the community.

what if your, or anyone else's particular 'self', happens to be a douchebag? internet or otherwise?

Weren't you the one who got drunk and made an ass out of himself? At least those are the stories I've been told.

Well, that's not just these forums. 80% of society are sad and misguided, internet or no.

As for the obscentity, I have no problem with obscenity. I mean, it comes with the territory. Listen to an obscene podcast, and you're going to have fans being obscene.

Saying "fuck" every other fuckin' word, and calling someone a child-rapist are two different things. But I digress. I really do enjoy seeing flamewars, and I'll join in myself. It's funny; mostly because these people don't know each other. sully_04 couldn't possibly know if you have sex with children, but he says it anyway. Makes me laugh.

totally! it was great fun. i made out with like 3 or 4 different girls, got scolded by chemda for being an asshole, got chased down avenue A by keith. lost my bookbag, which mcnally helped me find. etc.

tell you what. print out a copy of your post and mail it to April 2008, which was when i last gave a shit about what you or anybody else on here thought about my drunken antics