Social media is one hell of a drug. It’d have you swallowing giant gummy worms whole at the back of a sip’n’strut. Oh sure, the catharsis is nice, but at some point you’ll need to ask yourself “why are we like this?”
Lately I’ve been noticing how some comments make me want to exclaim “IT’S A TRAP!”. Obvious, open and quite frankly kinda basic baiting, like some disgruntled parent at a PTA, smacking his chest with his bare hand, telling another parent “cash me outside bro how bout dat?”
Like okay, this one comment was doing a set up where the intention was to either get someone to A) depose Hamas or B) defend Hamas, with the intent of jumping down someone’s throat.
Why are people like this, mommy? And why am I calling someone “mommy” on social media? Can’t we just make homemade cookies like we used to do on rainy nights, and be happy? And why is daddy always drinking the unhappy juice? I think I probably already answered that question…
Mommy, I want McDonald’s!!!
People being anonymous on the internet is probably one big factor.
Do you know of a study that have confirmed anonymity as a cause of hate or agressive speech online?
It may not be that simple, even if that sounds plausible. But there’s the argument that anonymity is helpful to protect against some agressive behaviors.
From: Online abuse: banning anonymous social media accounts is not the answer, by Harry T Dyer
Anonymity provides protection to LGBTQ+ people. Yes, of course it does!
And it also provides protection for bigots who would probably face consequences if they try 4chan talk in real life.
There it is. A knife can be used to prepare dinner as easily as it can kill a man.
Anonymity doesn’t cause hate or aggression, it enables it by removing consequences. The hate and aggression has always been there, it now has an outlet where the aggressor can be offensive without repercussion and still see the reaction from others.
I think the question is whether anonymity cause or enable hate speech, not hate itself. And as important, wether banning anonymity can be a remedy against hate speech, without causing harmful side effects.
I used to think that was the case. But Twitter and Facebook show that people can be awful with their full name, address, place of employment up front and center.