Why do people attack others on these boards

[canwegosoon]

Could this thread be about this thread?

Anybody get a speeding ticket on Disney property?

I passed on replying. It seemed like to many people with direct posting styles came together.

With everyone speaking passionately about it from their professional point of view. Which after our views on Disney and family are the things that have the (probably) most impact in our lives.

Just in case and a couple

We all have gotten several rude comments to things that we have posted on the boards in the past, but I feel the positive far out weighs the negative.

Then when I was reading some of the responses posted by the OP on this thread on the transportation board I figured it out.

 

[magicmouse2]

I think the worst attacks are from the obvious trolls and hackers who re register every day , giving the moderators hell, advertising free stuff when trying to track your ip, claim they are god and deliberately stir up an argument. Why do this on these boards ?

 

[dallastxcpa]

I think it has to do with life experience and education. I have always felt it imperative to provide educational opportunities to all people with the hope that they will learn. After all, we all pay the price for the havoc caused by stupid people.

For example, how many times have you gotten into the express line at the grocery store (10 items only!) yet see someone unload 20 items from their cart? You have to pay for their stupidity with your time.

How many times at WDW have you seen people walking through the parks smoking? We all pay the price because we have to smell their tobacco smoke. It's just ignorance that causes these problems.

How many times at a WDW resort have you had to listen to inconsiderate "neighbors" who decide to party all night? Again, stupidity is the problem.

How many times have you had to listen to some DVC member try to explain what a good deal they got with their membership?

Basic education is the cure for these problems, but alas, the cure will never get to many of these people.

I agree with most of what you are saying about following the rules. However, I consider my vacation a time when I can stay up and party. I like drinking, I like hanging out with friends and family on the patio, and I like staying up until 3 or 4 AM. I have never seen a rule at Disney resorts that says that the curfew is 10AM. I shouldn't have to go to bed early just because you want to. And to imply that someone is stupid because they have a different life style than you is offensive.

Oh wait, I forgot I did get that CPA license out of that Cracker Jack box..... what was I thinking.

 

[tjkraz]

...stupidity is the problem.

Well, at least I agree with part of your post.

 

[DVC-Don]

One can hide behind ones logon name in cyber world and it is impersonal. We have a dude from the main headquarters we sell for that comes across in emails as a rude tyrant. When you meet the guy in person he is just a little meek older guy. Every now and then the company tells him to tone it down and he is OK for a few months, but then it starts again.

 

[SueOKW]

We have a dude from the main headquarters we sell for that comes across in emails as a rude tyrant. When you meet the guy in person he is just a little meek older guy. Every now and then the company tells him to tone it down and he is OK for a few months, but then it starts again.

Too true - one of my favorite people that works for me is exactly the same way! In her case, I think she is just being blunt, but it comes across as if she is being forceful and stubburn. She really is helpful and nice!

I do the same thing every once in a while and tell her to tone it down. The good news is, for the most part she has - but she got quite a reputation for a while there.

 

[DrBond007]

I think part of the problem is posters who think they have all the right answers and post as if they were the absolute factual authority for every situation because they are a DVC attorney, they are convinced DVC management reports directly to them, are determined to have the last word and for some reason are not able to recognize or admit when they are wrong or the answer is not as cut and dried as they claim. Other times is seems to be the "stick to every single letter of each and every stated or imaginary rule especially those they have selectively decided to advocate for when it doesn't impact them or when it benefits their own personal family situation" and they dissagree with others like those who advocate moderate flexibility which directly impacts their own family's situation, or those claiming complete anarchy from any rule and don't understand why everyone doesn't enjoy the wonderful benefits things like inconsiderate smoking (certainly not all smokers, just inconsiderate smokers) and the abdication of responsibility and common courtesy/respect can add to one's life.

So you get the occupancy debates, the smoking debates, the trash in the halls debates, the selling off Hilton Head and Vero Beach DVC resort debates, the OKW slide debates, the quiet pool children's behavior debates, the taking SAB away debates, and reserving pool chairs with towel debates. Some of those issues have a strong impact on a family's vacation that they have heavily invested in, like a nonsmoking family of five with little kids where the family hasn't been able to sleep and is sick because of the previous smoker ruining the non-smoking room, tripping over trash in the halls trying to get to the pool where there are no pool chairs left because everyone has a towel on it. Many people's personal family situation is very different from this example and they aurgue strenuously towards rules they feel personally impact only them, like a couple without kids who wants to save chairs by the pool to quietly read a book or take a quiet nap, and feels kids should only be allowed in designated areas and that their personal mission is to lecture others on inaccurate conclusions about DVC rules. They may aurgue with a family where the parents feel monitoring the behavior of thier children is too much a bother especially on vacation and would interupt their cigarette smoking time (certainly not all smokers), they are imune to loud noise, and that pushing others belongings off a pool chair while they are in the pool shouldn't be a problem, speaking very loudly using profanity while at the pool to announce all thier conversations to everyone who may remotely be within earshot, and all they have to do is yell and scream at any CM to break any rules they wish and get extra services, they should be given the exact room they choose as the best, cutting in lines helps save time, others can take thier trash our for them, and abusing CMs is for thier own personal amusement, after all everyone else should recognize they are more important and their DVC ownership is more special than other's DVC purchase and everyone else should readily accomodate anything they choose. Of course there are mixtures and variations on everything above and more.

"Can't we all just get along..."

 

[kathleena]

Getting scaa-wee here......................

But it's like a car wreck - just have to look.

 

[DrBond007]

One can hide behind ones logon name in cyber world and it is impersonal. We have a dude from the main headquarters we sell for that comes across in emails as a rude tyrant. When you meet the guy in person he is just a little meek older guy. Every now and then the company tells him to tone it down and he is OK for a few months, but then it starts again.

Sounds like it is kind of a little big man's complex kind of thing, some acting all tough and overly macho behind the safety and non-reachability of the internet saying things they would not be brave enough or could not get away with saying in person. Seems to happen.

 

[jarestel]

Sounds like it is kind of a little big man's complex kind of thing, some acting all tough and overly macho behind the safety and non-reachability of the internet saying things they would not be brave enough or could not get away with saying in person. Seems to happen.

If one plans to physically assault everyone who says things one doesn't like, this may make sense in a primal sort of way. I don't think most of us are going to let someone's disagreeable comments bring us to blows though. I suspect most of us would probably end up liking the people we disagree with if we were to meet them face to face. Even if they DO have the audacity to disagree with us!

 

[DrBond007]

If one plans to physically assault everyone who says things one doesn't like...

Of course not. Didn't mean to imply that was the recommended course. But I think the little big man's thing develops back pre-high school, they never got over it, and it becomes more overt behind the internet wall. Some may be acting out to compensate for all those school yard confrontations where they backed down and have never gotten over it.

In person-to-person, or more specifically male-to-male in person conversations I do think there is a change in dynamics because the potential for a physical interaction exists, be it raising voices, hand gestures, facial expressions, an assessment of physical strength, simply non-verbal communication of when one is going too far. It doesn't have to be a physical fight for the dynamics to change, those are very rare, and shouldn't occur. A heated verbal aurgument is much different in person, as are male's level of bravery with verbal comments. And I would go so far as to submit that while it should never occur, and I do not advocate for it to occur, the very remote rare possibility of a punch in the nose changes things.

 

[jarestel]

Good points! I don't tend to volunteer opinions to strangers ( this includes hand motions to other drivers on the road ) unless I'm asked because you never know how someone will react. I don't mind having a discussion about a topic in person, but I draw the line at rolling around in the dirt to prove a point. However, on a public forum, I just naturally assume anyone that posts an opinion is asking for thoughts on that opinion.

 

[DrBond007]

In person-to-person, or more specifically male-to-male in person conversations I do think there is a change in dynamics because the potential for a physical interaction exists, be it raising voices, hand gestures, facial expressions, an assessment of physical strength, simply non-verbal communication of when one is going too far. It doesn't have to be a physical fight for the dynamics to change, those are very rare, and shouldn't occur. A heated verbal aurgument is much different in person, as are male's level of bravery with verbal comments. And I would go so far as to submit that while it should never occur, and I do not advocate for it to occur, the very remote rare possibility of a punch in the nose changes things.

I would also go so far as to suggest that in person to person, male to female interaction the dynamic changes because of the very rare remote potential for a completely different type of physical interaction to occur. I confess, right or wrong, a beautiful woman who is physically attractive and/or beautiful in spirit and character is much more likely to win an aurgument with me in person through the use of non-verbal communication, or at least stop me from pressing my point. I can be a push over in those cases....(sigh)

But let's revert to some facts to explain the difference. What is most important in message communication?
Body Language (55%)
Voice (38%)
Words (7%)
as determined by a research study conducted by Albert Mehrabian in 1971.

 

[WDW LOVR]

Personally I feel like this is a simptom of our times. Flip channels on the tube any night and you get the same, "if you don't agree with us, you're a moron" talk. Ditto talk radio. What ever happened to civilized debate? Just because you disagree with someone doesn't mean you're right and they're wrong.

I remember Ronald Reagan (the scion of the right) saying that he could debate issues with Tip O'Neill (the hero of the left) and then go to dinner and have a drink with Tip and have a great evening. It seems like we've lost that in this country.

I also remember watching Phil Donahue once years ago when Ralph Abnerathy (one of Dr. Kings associates in the civil rights struggle) was on with one of the leaders of the skin heads. This skin head guy was rippin on everyone, not just African-Americans, but Jews, Italians, Catholics, and on and on. And Mr. Abnerathy sat there an let the man talk. A young African-American lady in the crowd asked Mr. Abnerathy how he could sit there and listen to that kind of talk and not say anything? His response stays with me to this day. He said "I obviously don't agree with what he is saying, but I'll defend his right to the death to say it. I didn't get my head beat in with a billy club in Alabama for someone to be able to tell me what I can and can't say".

And I say amen to that. We could us a little more of that in our world!

 

[Laurajean1014]

I think it has to do with life experience and education. I have always felt it imperative to provide educational opportunities to all people with the hope that they will learn. After all, we all pay the price for the havoc caused by stupid people.

For example, how many times have you gotten into the express line at the grocery store (10 items only!) yet see someone unload 20 items from their cart? You have to pay for their stupidity with your time.

How many times at WDW have you seen people walking through the parks smoking? We all pay the price because we have to smell their tobacco smoke. It's just ignorance that causes these problems.

How many times at a WDW resort have you had to listen to inconsiderate "neighbors" who decide to party all night? Again, stupidity is the problem.

How many times have you had to listen to some DVC member try to explain what a good deal they got with their membership?

Basic education is the cure for these problems, but alas, the cure will never get to many of these people.

 

[danny1649]

Still happy 4th to all. Danny

 

[bicker]

I remember Ronald Reagan (the scion of the right) saying that he could debate issues with Tip O'Neill (the hero of the left) and then go to dinner and have a drink with Tip and have a great evening. It seems like we've lost that in this country.

I think you've hit closer to the mark than perhaps some would acknowledge. Until Ronald Reagan, politicians supported and opposed various things, but hadn't actively worked to subjugate minorities to majority wishes since the McCarthy Hearings.

It is interesting to speculate about the effect the behavior of our legislators is possibly having on our society as-a-whole.

 

[SonicLogic]

As I stated in my previous post, lack of education has a lot to do with why some persons attack others on these boards. I have often observed members attack other members just because the attacker doesn't agree with the facts or opinions presented by another member. The attacker is not able to engage in civil discourse and instead resorts to various ad hominid attacks in their attempt to discredit the member with which they disagree.

This strategy, of course, always fails because it reveals the attacker's lack of knowledge and also demonstrates their general ill will.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

As I stated in my previous post, lack of education has a lot to do with why some persons attack others on these boards. I have often observed members attack other members just because the attacker doesn't agree with the facts or opinions presented by another member. The attacker is not able to engage in civil discourse and instead resorts to various ad hominid attacks in their attempt to discredit the member with which they disagree.

This strategy, of course, always fails because it reveals the attacker's lack of knowledge and also demonstrates their general ill will.

I'm sure Leopold and Loeb would prove your point.

 

[DVCconvert]

...lack of education has a lot to do with why some persons attack others on these boards. I have often observed members attack other members just because the attacker doesn't agree with the facts or opinions presented by another member. The attacker is not able to engage in civil discourse and instead resorts to various ad hominid attacks in their attempt to discredit the member with which they disagree.

It is equally true that often time 'posters' make posts which are (to any reasonable person) intended to inflame, insult or otherwise enrage people.
Hardly a form of civil discourse.
Those same 'posters' speak to the readers in a very condescending, demeaning and belittling fashion. These 'posters' are usually amougst the first to take on a "Holier Than Thou" self defense, peppered with an aire of academic elitism.

This strategy, of course, always fails because it reveals the attacker's lack of knowledge and also demonstrates their general ill will.

How true