|
It may be worth noting that, even with people who are generally perceived to be polite and intelligent, a discussion about a subject that they do not happen to agree with, even when not directed at them, is nevertheless oft-times perceived as a personal attack, meriting a more aggressive response from them. This is just a natural aspect of human nature, though clearly not everyone reacts to the same degree.
I have noted many times in which generalized and reasonable discussions (on these and, yes, other forums as well) degrade to direct and vitriolic assaults upon others. The isolated nature of the web allows people who would otherwise simply step away from such a confrontation, to jump headlong into one instead, knowing as they do that they cannot be physically attacked, and that they can simply disconnect and walk away when they'd like.
Human nature demonstrates that when people are in a position of strength (i.e., cannot be physically threatened... a situation similar to being backed up by a group of your peers against inferior numbers, or being protected from superior numbers by a fence or barrier), they tend to become emboldened and therefore more aggressive in stance. The web allows just such protective isolation, and therefore the corresponding emboldenment. It is important to note that, in situations where people who use web forums also spend physical time with the same people at other times (say, in school), forum conversations tend to be much more polite and reserved, in avoidance of the possibility of later physical confrontations.
|