The news has been replete recently with commenters fed up with the "keyboard critics" who cower behind their computer anonymity and take vociferous issue with the world. They are loud, critical, and insulting. They can afford to be because they are ensconced in the cocoons of faceless obscurity. See Anonymity and Emotional Intelligence (July 2022); Suing Social Media (January 2023). It is troubling to see the trolls come out to play.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) recently reported on the sinking of a New Zealand ship. Apparently, the keyboard courage crew responded to that event with a rousing and stupid blame game for the ship captain. That is not to say that she bears no responsibility. An investigation will, in time, determine cause, effect, and perhaps fault.
But, it is and will remain clear that her gender has no bearing on the discussion. The ship did not flounder because of the captain's gender. The defense minister took issue with "'armchair admirals' for suggesting that a female captain’s gender was to blame." She noted the need for investigation, but noted "The one thing that we already know did not cause it is the gender of the ship's captain."
The minister is patently disappointed that there a people in our world who would jump to such bile. She criticized "people who are sitting there in their armchair operating a keyboard making comments about people that they do not know, about an area they do not know." It is, without a doubt, easy to be a Monday-morning quarterback.
Earlier this fall, Paralympic contestants had to be cautioned about their social media postings. Swim Swam reported that athletes were engaging in "social media posts targeting other members of the team." These were deriding or insulting. That was not the only Olympic-related example. See Cyberbullying Reminder (August 2024).
One news story focused on the grammatical and similar corrections seen in social medial posts. The Daily Star noted that what begins as a grammatical or scientific suggestion often "evolves into a heated debate on climate change and flat Earth theories, and somehow, ends on whether pineapple belongs on pizza." How can you have such a disingenuous and banal discussion? Everyone knows pineapple does not belong on pizza (that will drive some criticisms).
The Star point is essentially that every interaction becomes a free-for-all. There is no end to name-calling and insults. The common decency of human interaction erodes rapidly online into a degrading and damaging assault. People (presumably - though I know you bots are out there) can be so very disappointing, disparaging, and frankly desperate.
The heady days of the internet's birth are well behind us. Even the upstart social media has evolved into adolescence. The anonymity remains until you perturb someone with skills who decides to hunt you down and dox you before the world. However, it is then likely some corner of the web will in turn attack the doxer. It is reminiscent of a mob incited to a spontaneous riot, often with no hope of determining source or precipitant.
The fact is, life is too short. Your hatred and vitriol is unwarranted and unwanted. If you cannot state your argument, facts, beliefs, without demeaning or insulting someone, I pity you. I will skip over your comments, posts, and pictures. The most frustrating thing for a blowhard is the lack of audience.
Put simply, I don't need or want you. Go forth. Be well. I hope your outlook and anger improve.
