Online comments

I like to spend time on  the Internet reading, following links almost at random, jumping from one subject to another and another. What I find as a maddening constant throughout is the quality and the tone of the comments.

There doesn’t seem to be any interest in civil interaction. Or worse, it doesn’t even appear to be an option. Nearly everything I see out there, at a common site like YouTube for instance which draws heavily from the 30-and-unders from around the world, is an insult about either someone’s looks intelligence, or lifestyle. And it’s not dismissable with, “Oh, kids can be insensitive.” This is firmly rooted in the culture of the next generation. Everywhere, all the time.

Take, for instance, this comment I always remember…someone had posted a thought that was obviously based on a misunderstanding, and there were 4 or 5 comments after it that had just ignored it, but then came the comment, “I can’t believe nobody’s buried this guy. Don’t you see what he said?” Like that’s what we’re supposed to do. We’re missing an opportunity! We weren’t following the rules, and this poor guy wants to know, “Am I missing something?” Yeah, you are.

Or this one…I don’t remember which actress was mentioned in the article (plus I wouldn’t say anyway) but the comment was, “When is she going to get a boob job? What’s she waiting for?” Again, the assumption: like that’s what she’s supposed to do. Like everyone should, or will. Like he’s insulted that she hasn’t, because he thinks those are the rules, and how dare she not follow along. As if we’re owed that. And the arrogance of the constant clinical discussion of women in that manner is disgusting, and so very wrong. Sad.

That’s the common persona, people looking for any “wrongdoing” in order to blast and dismiss the offender, based on such superficialities.  Comment sections are combat zones. They should be communal, like sitting around the campfire. They’re places to discuss ideas with your peers from around the world. What an opportunity…in my dreams. Sure, some good stuff goes on, but not a lot. With everybody hiding behind an alias, they’re free to act any way they want to, and you know what happens then…people don’t exactly give their best.

What a waste.