Why do people attack others on these boards

[HappyLawyer]

oh my goodness, i have read, argued and debated more on these boards lately. Why is it people stirr up things, rude comments and attack others, a person cannot even make a statement without getting their head bit off-lol i have been in arguments that i did not start but it just made me mad that people attack other people, please please tell me why

 

[Par8hed]

I would think a lawyer would relish such behavior! ( Just a joke )

 

[Cass]

I guess to trash someone else makes them feel better about themselves

 

[tjkraz]

oh my goodness, i have read, argued and debated more on these boards lately. Why is it people stirr up things, rude comments and attack others, a person cannot even make a statement without getting their head bit off-lol i have been in arguments that i did not start but it just made me mad that people attack other people, please please tell me why

What in the world are you talking about?!?!?!?!

Seriously, though, I think it's the same problem that plagues all written communication--the difficulty in attaching emotion to the written word.

I know that I tend to be direct in my posts, and some people interpret that as being rude, insensitive, snippy, or any number of other negative adjectives. 99.9% of the time that couldn't be further from the truth.

Personally I enjoy debating issues in a factual manner. Everyone has an opinion--it's only natural that folks will disagree with one another. But rude comments and personal attacks certainly are not called for.

 

[HookdonWDW]

oh my goodness, i have read, argued and debated more on these boards lately. Why is it people stirr up things, rude comments and attack others, a person cannot even make a statement without getting their head bit off-lol i have been in arguments that i did not start but it just made me mad that people attack other people, please please tell me why

IMHO, it's because people keep posting to the threads, and stirring the pot. If I don't like the topic, I just pass over it, and hope the thread will die. If you don't feed a fire, eventually it will burn itself out.

On the other hand, sometimes there's nothing better than a heated debate

 

[HappyLawyer]

What in the world are you talking about?!?!?!?!

Seriously, though, I think it's the same problem that plagues all written communication--the difficulty in attaching emotion to the written word.

I know that I tend to be direct in my posts, and some people interpret that as being rude, insensitive, snippy, or any number of other negative adjectives. 99.9% of the time that couldn't be further from the truth.

Personally I enjoy debating issues in a factual manner. Everyone has an opinion--it's only natural that folks will disagree with one another. But rude comments and personal attacks certainly are not called for.

i too am direct, but there is a way to be direct and not insulting, some people seem to be clueless about this fact,
it doesn't bother me, because i can give it as good as i get it

 

[kathleena]

Sometimes people take things the wrong way and read into things.

Sometimes something is written innocently enough, but it just doesn't come out right.

Sometimes people are rude, but just don't understand that they are.

Sometimes people are rude and know they are.

Sometimes people just can't write tactfully.

Some people love an arguement (ask me I know, my DH is very argumentative, I would hate to see him on a board!)

I could go on and on.

But mostly, it's just easier to be ruder on the Internet because you are not looking someone in the face.

JMHO

 

[lllovell]

I don't know WHY people do it, but my experience is that people forget there are really other PEOPLE at the other end of the line here. It is impersonal which enpowers weak, chicken poop kinda people and makes them feel like they can do or say anything (when I suspect in real life, they are pretty meek).

I LOVE debating. I wont participate if it is name calling or simply bashing. That takes no intelligence and I choose to pass. (People got furious with me and called me names during the election when I would bow out of conversations when the name calling began.)

When I first was reading posts on this site, it took me a while to figure out tones, so I didn't repond for a while. I will admit that I thought Tjkraz (mentioning you because you reponded here) was a know it all who liked to show everyone up. Not true at all, but it took me a while to get his tone. Make sense? I enjoy his posts and can see that he does enjoy a debate and have NEVER seen him personally attacking anyone.

I haven't read any Vonnegut long time, but something that I read from him when I was much younger has really stuck with me. To paraphrase, a character of his said when you curse you give people an excuse NOT to listen to what you have to say. In my mind I have taken it a step further and I WONT listen to people that are bashing or negative. You have given me my excuse if you behave like that

AND

I have the highest respect for people who get hot with each other and then cool off and agree to disagree but respect. Anyone can have a misunderstanding in a place like this.

 

[wdw4life]

It seems to me that a lot of people think anybody who doesn't agree with them is a moron. I was reading a thread on a different forum this afternoon (I can no longer find it it) that started out calm but quickly degenerated into a you're an idiot for having that opinion type of discourse. It's much easier to disregard people's feelings when there is no contact other than what is on the computer screen.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I love nothing better than a good debate, but if it gets out-of-hand:

You can't have every post be What a boring board this would be! There just needs to be a balance (I love these smilies!)

 

[Doctor P]

IMHO, the posts that get out of hand the quickest (and I will admit to sometimes contributing) are those where people ask for endorsements of their little scam or way around the rules and then get really upset when they get quashed or called on it or are upset when the official policies get reiterated and supported. I call them the "tell me it's OK to break the rules" posts.

 

[SueOKW]

ah - yer all just crazy insenstive big mouths.

now, excuse me while i book a studio for 6 and sneak into SAB!!

 

[pkgman]

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

 

[DBBN]

I suspect the anonymity of posting to a board is the leading factor. Mob mentality is probably the second most common factor. Posters who otherwise would not level personal attacks choose to do so AFTER they see an attack they agree with.

The subjects I've observed that are most likely to deteriorate into personal attacks are; my home resort is great - your home resort is not. You had how many guests in your studio? DVC points rentals should not be allowed under any circumstance unless of course I need to do it to pay for a Disney Cruise.

I've observed many posts where posters made personal attacks that included the use of inappropriate or foul language. It was common to see them attempt to disguise profanity with symbols like ***** or @%^&**. Moderators eventually posted a rule against this practice. On one occasion I posted concerning the use of profanity on a post and was promptly attacked for it. Of course the moderators removed the offensive posts.

Typically the same 5 or 6 posters started the attacks. Odd as it may be...it seems the biggest offenders don't post anymore. Who knows what happened. Maybe the moderators banned them from these boards or maybe they just moved on.

My observation is that the frequency of personal attacks has dwindled to barely a trickle and I like it like that.

 

[OneMoreTry]

I think there's a little TROLL in all of us.

 

[SonicLogic]

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.

 

[Sammie]

I agree with DoctorP on this one.

I think some people just do not want to hear the facts and when they do and it does not agree with their way of thinking they rally the troops to support them.

There is just a huge segment of society today that believe they are entitled to "bending" the rules. They try to justify it and they want others to support them. Those that feel they too would benefit from the rule bending will rush to their support. Anyone trying to disagree with this behavior is labeled as rude or the police, or other cutesy names which I find as rude as anything else.

There is also a segment around here of the "pot calling the kettle black". The very ones that accuse are quilty of the same thing. They just don't see it.

 

[Alexander]

ah - yer all just crazy insenstive big mouths.

now, excuse me while i book a studio for 6 and sneak into SAB!!

You go girl! Let me know how it works!
I, unlike others do not like to debate. I teach 36 kids from 9 to 12 years old 7 hours a day and just don't have the energy or patience to debate! It seems so much like arguing. Just my opinion. I prefer . I do have to say I did post my opinion on cheerleaders at WDW resorts however.

 

[OneMoreTry]

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.

....

I disagree with this.

If you educate a selfish person, you just get an educated selfish person. They are just more clever at their scheming.

You can't educate someone to be more considerate of others. I think that type of training comes at an early age, from parents. And even then, some will reject it.

 

[jarestel]

Many times we see the Mrs Drysdale ( from the Beverly Hillbillies ) syndrome here on the boards. Remember how Mrs Drysdale always thought she was so cultured and wonderful and was always having a cow about "those DREADFUL hillbillies!". Of course, the tv viewers all knew it was Mrs Drysdale herself, with her superior attitude towards anything she personally didn't approve of, who was actually the silly one. I'll admit, sometimes it's hard to refrain from tweaking the collective noses of our very own Mrs Drysdales here on the DIS.
Rude, IMO no, just a little gentle kidding. But everyone takes things differently.