Comments on: Can Comment Rage Kill Real People?

By: Lane Ellen

Lane Ellen — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:11:26 +0000

I think the Kathy Sierra situation where she received death threats was an example of how the online existence really can be an extension of some people’s world. The internet has become a place where many people feel safer putting out their feelings and thoughts in a provocative way. But now that we are creating internet celebrities – and usually that celebrity is gained through being outspoken – it seems that the online world is quickly coming to become part of your living experience. Thus the violence.

The reality of the internet is that it is becoming more a part of who we are in the flesh.

Doesn’t mean it is right or a good thing. It just is.

By: Justin

Justin — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:39:55 +0000

I have heard of people getting in fights online and one of the participants killing the other. It certainly does happen, in a large society it is unavoidable, but not very often.

By: Ann

Ann — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:11:32 +0000

I am a novice at the blogging world, don’t have one, just read them. I have found many protect their “real identity” for this very possibility. Is there a reason some of you don’t? Anonymity servers many purposes some good and some bad. As mentioned above, anonymity allows for privacy, for the security to know you can say whatever you feel; which is of course also the bad side of it. Without the accountability factor, many people say (and do) things they wouldn’t if they had their identity attached to their words or actions. I, myself, have left comments on occasion that in person I would never say – nothing foul or mean, just more sarcastic than I would want to appear in person. Would you (bloggers) all be safer if you kept your true identity hidden? Of course that wouldn’t help when a blog is part of a marketing tool for your business or product. . .

By: Steven Leung

Steven Leung — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:26:51 +0000

I read a parallel story where a blogger accused other bloggers of conspiring to agitate her mental issues to the point where she’d commit suicide. She wasn’t kidding in her accusation, but I don’t know the circumstances otherwise.

When you’re dealing with real people, not avatars, it’s easy to take things personally. And famous bloggers get to experience what celebritities do, only worse because bloggers have opinions that sometimes offend people.

By: Cheelmipini

Cheelmipini — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:26:05 +0000

http://www.jonathanfields.com – now in my rss reader)))

By: Jonathan - Advanced Life Skills

Jonathan - Advanced Life Skills — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:01:09 +0000

I think we are talking about different degrees of the same problem here. It may be on a different level then playing violent video games, listening to songs with violent lyrics or watching violent movies and TV shows. But who’s to say that those things aren’t just the next logical step in the progression toward online aggression focused on real-world, specific, targeted individuals. All such programming starts somewhere. If we can imagine aggressive comments turning into aggressive actions, isn’t it the same line of reasoning in reverse that leads back to video games, etc?

By: Suzie O

Suzie O — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 10:07:26 +0000

I see this as being around attachment – people with an online persona who show themselves, with their vulnerabilities, allow others to more easily create a connection (read accept) with them. Others don’t. With no emotional connection it is very easy for someone to dehumanise (reject) the other. There is then no face to face interaction to allow a ‘normalisation’ of the situation – for the commenter to get what they really want from the interaction.
Online comments are a new form of communication, we need to learn the new rules of interaction. Until that happens, I guess there will be times when that dialogue goes to extremes, and yes, I think it is possible that on line aggressive comments could in some people lead to physical aggressive actions.

By: turning debt into wealth

turning debt into wealth — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 02:48:04 +0000

I would have to agree with Michael here i also find Michael Arrington to be kinda annoying he is good at creating emotion.

By: Andrew Mitton

Andrew Mitton — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:42:45 +0000

You sure hate to see this sort of thing happen. Kathy Sierra, a/k/a Creating Passionate Users, quit blogging because of something like this. She was one of the best out there and it was sad to see her go. I can’t see Michael quitting his gig, but I bet it makes it less fun for him. Those types of threats are scary no matter the circumstances.

But I don’t think that the internet is creating monsters. They’re out there regardless of the medium. I think these sorts of people are just part of the hazards of being famous or powerful and have always been around. For example, the internet doesn’t make it more dangerous for me to use my credit card. That danger has always been there, such as giving it to the waiter at a restaurant or the cashier.

All this means is that

By: Glen

Glen — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:05:37 +0000

I’m not sure that I see the difference between your example of the battlefield robots and violent video games. And I only see a small difference between violent movies/songs/books/etc. and your topic. To the best of my knowledge, studies have shown links between repeated exposure to violence and desensitization towards violence as well as dehumanization and violence. I’m not convinced we should sensor the media, but rather find a way in our society to condemn violent media (like my choice not to watch movies that glorify violence).