The Internet a window on the best and worst of human nature

[Roxanne Appleby]

Although I never go there I happened to see something very ugly happening on GB and weighed in with a new thread saying just this:

It's a sad fact that there will always be a minority of malicious individuals who hate because of another's goodness, and out of envy. Even more sad is the fact that, in their folly and weakness, sometimes others who are not like this lose their heads and become part of a mob instigated by the true haters, for the moment becoming indistinguishable from them.

The true haters should be reviled and shunned. In a place where the goal is to seek attention, that is accomplished by giving them none.

Within five minutes I had been told, "Fuck off cunt. We throve on other people's misery" (with two others noting how cute that was), and "Interesting contribution, please die."

AH is really a very safe place. I'm not a big social-Internet surfer, but one doesn't have to spend much time in online social places to see this kind of thing.

We see plenty of good on the 'net, too – the camaraderie, warm feelings and friendships often on display here are an example (not to mention the romances. ) I wonder if the picture seen through the screen is skewed in way that makes humans look worse than they are, though. Much human kindness in real life is just actions, with no words spoken, but hate is almost always at least accompanied by speech.


Edited to add: In hindsight, I was unfair in this. I bashed GB in general terms, when I was really talking about something very specific, which was an incident of vicious malice directed at an innocent person with no intention except to cause pain. This was the work of one very bad individual, and a small handful jumped on board, but many more rose to the defence of the innocent party.

GB has many virtues, which are well described by others in this thread. My only criticism at this point is that the rough fun that is a positive feature of the place can give cover or camouflage to the kind of viciousness that drew my ire, and which can happen in any human society - even the AH.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Although I never go there I happened to see something very ugly happening on GB (is that a redundancy?) and weighed in with a new thread saying just this:


Within five minutes I had been told, "Fuck off cunt. We throve on other people's misery" (with two others noting how cute that was), and "Interesting contribution, please die."

AH is really a very safe place. I'm not a big social-Internet surfer, but one doesn't have to spend much time in online social places to see this kind of ugliness.

We see plenty of good on the 'net, too – the camaraderie, warm feelings and friendships often on display here are an example (not to mention the romances. ) I wonder if the picture seen through the screen is skewed in way that makes humans look worse than they are, though. Much human kindness in real life is just actions, with no words spoken, but hate is almost always at least accompanied by speech.

Good Morning, Roxanne. And welcome to the GB. Do not feed the animals, be sure to watch your back and carry a loaded gun at all times.

In truth, the GB is not for everyone. The people over there tend to be a cliquish (they deny that, by the way), frustrated group who pray on each other and especially on newbies (anyone with fewer than 25,000 posts). I do a a few friends over there but I'm pretty gragarious. If you aren't thick skinned it's a good place to stay away from.

JJ

 

[rgraham666]

The internet has a major advantage for the haters. They are set free from the responsibility and consequences of their words.

The people here on the AH, for the most part, internalize their sense of responsibility. It's a part of them and so they feel badly when they act badly.

For many, who have no conscience or whose conscience is overridden by some other factor, the internet allows them to act exactly as they wish. It's the ultimate in freedom.

And so it demonstrates Edmund Burke's aphorism that Liberty must be leavened with Restraint.

 

[Aurora Black]

Within five minutes I had been told, "Fuck off cunt. We throve on other people's misery" (with two others noting how cute that was), and "Interesting contribution, please die."

How crass.

 

[Guest]

I spent the first year of my Lit life on the General Board. Interesting place.

I did make friends, still have some of them, and it was a great way to view the pack mentality at work and play. As soon as the mob senses weakness they swarm and rend flesh, quickly and ferociously, like piranhas. For thread pages and pages.

As for that thread about Killswitch? I tried to read it but only got through about 5 pages before I had to stop. Pictures of KS in a dress. And so now the pack has turned on him?

KS is a racist and a homophobe and loudly proclaims it whenever he can. He carried a quote from me in his sig line for a long time in which I said he was truly evil. I PMd him once to remove it and he just laughed at me.

Glamorilla used to start hot gay picture threads of gorgeous naked men (he probably still does) and KS would post pictures of guns, bats, and dead animals on the thread and talk about what he would do to gays. Creepy bastard.

That's probably why they are having so much fun with this now.

He's been on ignore for so long I'd almost forgotten about him.

 

[SweetPrettyAss]

Good Morning, Roxanne. And welcome to the GB. Do not feed the animals, be sure to watch your back and carry a loaded gun at all times.

In truth, the GB is not for everyone. The people over there tend to be a cliquish (they deny that, by the way), frustrated group who pray on each other and especially on newbies (anyone with fewer than 25,000 posts). I do a a few friends over there but I'm pretty gragarious. If you aren't thick skinned it's a good place to stay away from.

JJ

I've never been to the GB. Is it always a hostile place?

 

[Boxlicker101]

I've never been to the GB. Is it always a hostile place?

Always. They would eat you alive over there, and not in the nice way like I want to .

 

[poppy1963]

There are some places on the GB that many nice posters there gather at times and even will stand up against the "pack". That term is well-suited for the situation. There is a "pack" of cyber-gangsters there who are very loud and rude and hateful...but it's just a "pack"...no more no less. Many others speak of "staying under the radar" so as not to draw their attention as it's not worth the rows. I've been conducting a kind of "study" of the GB ways and find it very interesting and complex.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

For many, who have no conscience or whose conscience is overridden by some other factor, the internet allows them to act exactly as they wish. It's the ultimate in freedom.

It really goes deeper than that. The internet lets people with tiny, insugnificant lives be whoever they want to be. The hate they share over in the GB is a reflection of their true selves shining through their masquarade of genuine humanity.

We're talking about dishwashers and cab drivers (if they have jobs at all) who claim to be high class executives. The problem is they have no idea how those people act so it comes out as hatred.

 

[MagicaPractica]

The GB is a rather fickle place which I do not venture into much anymore. I far prefer the interaction here and in the Personals. I've found some very nice people in the personals. I do occasionally go into the GB but mostly to read and if I do post, I am prepared for anyone to respond in anyway that they please. I've only had a problem with one person over there so far so I guess I've managed to stay under the radar.

 

[English Lady]

I do post on the GB sometimes, but i rarely wait to look at the replies. *L*

It's not everyone's cup of tea, but then all areas of lit are home for different people. I'm a bit too soft for the GB and I sometimes think i'm a bit too soft for here even, but everyone finds a place they're happy with.

I have to say I've seen far more of the good side of people on the internet than the bad side. I am always overwhelmed by the kindness of people.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I used to go back and forth between here and the GB, but there are way too many political and spam topics over there (neither of which do I enjoy), and the regular topics get so m any replies so fast that I just can't keep up with it.

So I stopped going over there and hang out mostly in here now.

 

[English Lady]

I used to go back and forth between here and the GB, but there are way too many political and spam topics over there (neither of which do I enjoy), and the regular topics get so m any replies so fast that I just can't keep up with it.

So I stopped going over there and hang out mostly in here now.

Yay!

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

I read once that there are two kinds of person on the Internet: Voyeurs and exhibitionists. (No mystery as to which we on AH are. ) Narrowing that down a bit, I think the desire for attention is the motivation for most if not all posting in places like this.

Given that, I do wish people would give the haters what they deserve, which is no attention at all. Every post on one of their threads is a gift and a reward. The "look at me, I'll show him" urge is to be resisted in every case. The most powerful sanction possible is to not feed the haters, which is only accomplished by absolutely refusing to respond to their posts or threads, without exception.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

I read once that there are two kinds of person on the Internet: Voyeurs and exhibitionists. (No mystery as to which we on AH are. ) Narrowing that down a bit, I think the desire for attention is the motivation for most if not all posting in places like this.

Given that, I do wish people would give the haters what they deserve, which is no attention at all. Every post on one of their threads is a gift and a reward. The "look at me, I'll show him" urge is to be resisted in every case. The most powerful sanction possible is to not feed the haters, which is only accomplished by absolutely refusing to respond to their posts or threads, without exception.

Unfortunately, Roxanne, even if you ignore them they pray on each other. My experience of the GB is that a not just a "pack" but a "pack of cannabals".

 

[NoJo]

<interjection>
The eyes are said to be the windows of the soul. I always thought that was a cute saying, but then I found out it was from a book on medicine, by Paracelcus, where he kind of overdoes the metaphor, saying stuff like "the hair is the roof of the soul", and "the eyelids are the curtains of the soul", etc
</interjection>

 

[poppy1963]

I read once that there are two kinds of person on the Internet: Voyeurs and exhibitionists. (No mystery as to which we on AH are. ) Narrowing that down a bit, I think the desire for attention is the motivation for most if not all posting in places like this.

Given that, I do wish people would give the haters what they deserve, which is no attention at all. Every post on one of their threads is a gift and a reward. The "look at me, I'll show him" urge is to be resisted in every case. The most powerful sanction possible is to not feed the haters, which is only accomplished by absolutely refusing to respond to their posts or threads, without exception.

LOL...You are so right, Roxanne...about the seeking of attention. I always laugh when I'm accused of "seeking attention". I say: Well...yaaaaaaa....you think I post this stuff to NOT be noticed?

And you are right about not feeding the haters...but it's very hard sometimes to just ignore the stuff they say and let it go unchallenged. But you are RIGHT.

 

[poppy1963]

Unfortunately, Roxanne, even if you ignore them they pray on each other. My experience of the GB is that a not just a "pack" but a "pack of cannabals".

This, too, is true...

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Unfortunately, Roxanne, even if you ignore them they pray on each other. My experience of the GB is that a not just a "pack" but a "pack of cannabals".

From what I read above it appears there's an example now underway of "the pack" turning on and eating one if its own. If true, bon appetite. It's when they turn on the innocent and good that they earn my full enmity, for what it's worth.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

LOL...You are so right, Roxanne...about the seeking of attention.

Oh, I just thought of another reason people post on the net: To see someone else write, "You are so right . . ."

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Interesting remarks. I sometimes post on the GB, but have had plenty of aggravation and hostility (no surprise, given how opinionated I am). I won't say any names, but Roxy, you're dealing with people with the IQ of morons, the education of illiterate rednecks, and the mentality of street thugs. It's no shock that they show no civility in their discussions.

Most of them are beneath my dignity, hence my putting a few of them on ignore. They're punk kids and wannabe gangster types, it seems to me. I will converse with a few, but not all. There are plenty that I don't have an opinion about yet. For the most part, however, I stick to the AH (and sometimes the BDSM Forum), as well as SRP and Story Ideas. These are not intelligent, mature, reasonable, civilized adults and deep thinkers. These are immature barbarians.

 

[poppy1963]

Oh, I just thought of another reason people post on the net: To see someone else write, "You are so right . . ."

...

 

[Guest]

<interjection>
The eyes are said to be the windows of the soul. I always thought that was a cute saying, but then I found out it was from a book on medicine, by Paracelcus, where he kind of overdoes the metaphor, saying stuff like "the hair is the roof of the soul", and "the eyelids are the curtains of the soul", etc
</interjection>

Your toes are the dust bunnies of my soul.

 

[Boxlicker101]

It really goes deeper than that. The internet lets people with tiny, insugnificant lives be whoever they want to be. The hate they share over in the GB is a reflection of their true selves shining through their masquarade of genuine humanity.

We're talking about dishwashers and cab drivers (if they have jobs at all) who claim to be high class executives. The problem is they have no idea how those people act so it comes out as hatred.

I must say, Jenny, I find this comment to be offensive and elitist. What is wrong with being a dishwasher or cab driver? There was a time when I could only aspire to have a job as high class as either of those. I agree that the GB regulars tend to be assholes and no-goods, but that has nothing to do with how they support themselves. High ranking executives or professonals can be assholes and no-goods too.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

I must say, Jenny, I find this comment to be offensive and elitist. What is wrong with being a dishwasher or cab driver? There was a time when I could only aspire to have a job as high class as either of those. I agree that the GB regulars tend to be assholes and no-goods, but that has nothing to do with how they support themselves. High ranking executives or professonals can be assholes and no-goods too.

Box, I'm sure Jenny has nothing but respect for anyone earning a living in those occupations, and was just using shorthand to describe this: People who react to being alienated, unhappy or unsatisfied with their current station in life by being vicious and malicious to others. That "current station in life" could be anything.