Why Are We So Rude Online?

kodiaktau writes "An article in the WSJ discusses why internet users are more rude online than they are in person. The story discusses some of the possible reasons. For example, a study found that browsing Facebook tends to lower people's self control. An MIT professor says people posting on the internet have lowered inhibitions because there is no formal social interaction. Another theory is that communicating through a phone or other device feels like communicating with a 'toy,' which dehumanizes the conversation. Of course, a rude conversation has never happened on Slashdot in the last 15 years."

Simple reason

[PizzaAnalogyGuy]

Oh, but this is simple. People are rude when, well... Well let me tell you a story of my friend called Dave.

Dave was an ordinary boy with wild imagination. He was popular with the guys for several reasons, but the fact that he and his mother let us play GoldenEye on his Nintendo64 wasn't easy to ignore. All of us guys used to gather at his house and play a few rounds of the great multiplayer experience that only the original GoldenEye gave.

I noticed that people tented to get angry during the game. They would verbally attack other players and even punch them a bit. Dave didn't - he actually seemed quite an non-aggressive fella. What was the secret to Dave's non-aggressive and non-rude behavior? Because his mother made him these wonderful home cooked pizzas. He wasn't angry because he ate well!

Who are you calling rude?

[Anonymous Coward]

...you insensitive clod!

No Shit Sherlock

[Cheech Wizard]

Leave it to the WSJ to be 15+ years behind the times in figuring this out.

Re:Who are you calling rude?

[Anonymous Coward]

What would a dumbass MIT professor know about social interaction? Fuck him and his studies. With a big rubber dick.

I don't know

[wonkey_monkey]

Now feck off.

For me, the reason...

[notknown86]

...is that my computer screen doesn't punch me in the face when I talk about the sweet, though slightly twisted and, depending on your geolocation, illegal relationship I had with your mother...

She was great, by the way.

fuck you

[gl4ss]

the same reason youtube's flash player sucks more as time goes on: fuck you, that's why.

Why?

[Psychotria]

Because 99% of the people online are stupid.

Actually, 99% of people in real life are stupid as well. Maybe I am just intolerant of idiots and being surround by them.

Not you, of course.

Thanks

Re:Obligatory memes....

[mwvdlee]

1. Be rude online
2. ???
3. Profit

Re:For me, the reason...

[Opportunist]

Necrophiliac bastard!

Re:Not rude

[mwvdlee]

So you're saying we should hook up the Slashdot moderation system to an electric shock collar?
Let me be the first to say "-1 Great idea!".

Re:Obligatory memes....

[Opportunist]

*bow*

You win one internet, sir. But you have to put in your own tubes.

Re:Who are you calling rude?

[kokoko1]

Here you go why are you so rude even you don't know this dumbass professor?

Re:Simple reason

[Anonymous Coward]

Go suck a cock and have a cactus shoved up your ass you worthless sack of shit. We don't like rude fuckers like you around Slashdot, so fuck off if you aren't going to be fucking polite.

Cocksucker.

Dave

Re:Anonymity & the nonverbal

[rmdingler]

Like texting "You know your shit!" versus "You know you're shit!"??

Re:Obligatory memes....

[Talderas]

I'd rather be doing a beowulf cluster of Natalie Portmans.

I read "Why Are We So Nude Online?"

[blindax]

That was really interesting... who cares about rudeness :-)

rude?

[Anonymous Coward]

I hate your face!

Re:Simple reason

[Mathness]

I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.