Disagree Without Being Disagreeable (or Doxing)

OPINION

The way people interact or talk with each other has changed over the past few years. 

Social media has made it so people can talk from anywhere in the world without having to meet face-to-face, and this has led to people feeling braver to speak to others. This could be a good thing, but it can also lead to some pretty bad takes.

There isn’t much need to show yourself online as it doesn’t matter who you are. 

Online, you can be whomever you want – real or imagined. 

You can stay in this space or head to another metaverse. 

Of course, there are places online designed to reveal exactly who you are (maybe to harvest your data). Yes, Facebook has managed to entice nearly everyone over age 30 to share every detail about themselves (or their kids). And yes, Facebook can have questionable posts that have sent their leadership to testify before the U.S. Congress. Still, if you are searching for some of the worst examples of false bravado and rugged independence, Twitter should be your destination. 

No one would ever speak to their family or friends the way so-called adults do on Twitter. 

If Marian was Twitter, there would be a never-ending line to Mr. Crossley’s office. 

It’s not just about people disagreeing but how disagreeable they become with so little provocation. And it doesn’t look like it’s gotten any better since Elon Musk took over bring everything including the kitchen sink with him. 

People tend to be exceptionally disagreeable with there is more a touch of anonymity. The more anonymous the tweeter, the more likely that person is to spew some of the vilest slander and character assassination possible. “People” – whoever they are – are likely to say anything and everything to get their point across. Even a vicious argument in person couldn’t compare to what’s said there. 

No, you can’t get into a physical fight online unless they dox you and arrive at your house.  

However, people are definitely braver and definitely more illogical when they won’t have any consequences for their words.

Then again, though we are moving into a brave new technological world, maybe “brave” isn’t the right word to describe the hate speech and unbridled anger online. 

Yes, there are trolls. Still, one must factor in the amount of dumb people willing to say outrageous nonsense if they don’t think it will be tracked back to their real lives offline. 

If you disagree with what I’m saying, then please have the courtesy to include your real name to any comment.