Where is that line for you? Do you find it easier to be polite or honest online versus real life?
It should be easier for us to be polite. We SHOULD be able to keep scrolling when we see something we would be inclined to have full honesty about. Yet, there have been studies that show the opposite. Hmm, after searching for the last ten minutes, I can't find the study I read on it some time back, but I did find these two articles talking about rude behavior online. Computer World and Wall Street Journal.
I know for me it's the final theory of the Computer World article. I get the pub feel when I'm online, probably because I don't get out with people very often anymore sans kids so this is my little bit of adult interaction I get in a day. I've kept my facebook friends trimmed to those I feel are good friends and I feel like we know each other well enough to gab and poke at times without anyone getting their feelings hurt.
Lately the conversation as a whole has turned negative and I realized, the negativity of some people on my feed caused a shift in my demeanor online. When I return to facebook I will be on a headhunting spree to cut out the negativity even if they are people I truly enjoy being around or view as old friends. Yes, that includes people who don't realize the things they post are rude or can be demeaning to groups of people. It's time to inject a little more politeness back into my facebook world.
Which do you feel is easier? Do you ignore people's posts that hit a nerve? Or do you find you are more likely to say things you wouldn't in real life conversations?
I never found the honesty/polite quote on pinterest, but I thought this one was fitting:
I find it's easier for me to be brutally honest in places where there isn't a name attached to what I say. For instance, on Facebook I don't tend to say or show anything I wouldn't otherwise. My rule for Facebook is to remind myself that my youngest sister sees whatever I put up, and if I'd be ashamed for her to see it, or tempted to hide it from her, it doesn't belong on the internet. In places like message boards where I'm not linked with my real persona, it's easier to get into an argument when something makes me angry.
ReplyDeleteWell I'm not being ashamed of what I said. It's more of a, I can't believe I let what someone posted bother me enough to respond when it does no good to either of us. I'd say there's not a place on the internet where I am not findable. All of my accounts everywhere are linked in one way or another. I don't attempt to hide it and I know some people can find me on any forum I am on. There have been a couple of times my fingers have gotten the best of me, but those occasions are rare. Most of the time I am at peace with what comes out of my mouth.
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