Internet The Death of Sympathy and Freedom

[Lovelife090994]

The internet is a grand invention. The internet connects, shows, teaches, and entertains, but is it also becoming the death to sympathy and freedom to all and opinion? Online if you have an unpopular belief or mention a faith then others become like dogs and evil to others. People threat each other like they are less than humans, opinion and freedom of opinion wane and sympathy dies. Will the internet continue to make people out to be evil? Will anyone of spirituality, different lifestyles, opinions, and various ways continue to be spoken as if their words are vile? What will happen later? Many look at people who are different as low but say nothing in real life, but will talk down another that the person does not know online. What will come of it?

[Gamma Male]

The internet hasn't made anyone evil or ignorant, it just allows stupid assholes to express their beliefs without getting beaten up or sent to jail for terroristic threats. To say that the internet is "the death of sympathy and freedom" is just stupid. If you don't like what someone says online you can ignore them. Other people being able to express their opinions, offensive as they may be, does not prevent you from expressing yours.

[Lovelife090994]

The internet hasn't made anyone evil or ignorant, it just allows stupid assholes to express their beliefs without getting beaten up or sent to jail for terroristic threats. To say that the internet is "the death of sympathy and freedom" is just stupid. If you don't like what someone says online you can ignore them. Other people being able to express their opinions, offensive as they may be, does not prevent you from expressing yours.

Thanks for proving my point.

[Harry Smith]

Not really-it's just some people are unable to understand that a debate on the internet doesn't mean that the two parties hate each other-it simply means they disagree with each other. If anything the internet encourages freedom and expression-if you want to find like minded people to agree with you visit the the relevant page. If I went onto Stormfront I'm sure I'd get shouted down-that doesn't make the internet.

[Lovelife090994]

Not really-it's just some people are unable to understand that a debate on the internet doesn't mean that the two parties hate each other-it simply means they disagree with each other. If anything the internet encourages freedom and expression-if you want to find like minded people to agree with you visit the the relevant page. If I went onto Stormfront I'm sure I'd get shouted down-that doesn't make the internet.

May I ask what Stormfront is? And have you seen debates? The two "debating" forget they're both human for a minute and start arguing on end.

[Vlerchan]

You have the right to your opinion. And I've the right to call-out your opinion as stupid.

This occurs on and off the internet, contrary to the OPs belief that it's internet-specific.

[Lovelife090994]

You have the right to your opinion. And I've the right to call-out your opinion as stupid.

This occurs on and off the internet, contrary to the OPs belief that it's internet-specific.

I did say this happens on and offline. However, this act is worse online as it is coupled with blatant insults.

[Harry Smith]

May I ask what Stormfront is? And have you seen debates? The two "debating" forget they're both human for a minute and start arguing on end.

I'll admit that happens in debates-but that also happens in real life doesn't it? When people are discussing issues important to them they're likely to get passionate about them, on the other hand just because someone disagrees with you and attacks your argument doesn't mean they hate you.

Storm-front is a far right Nazi forum, so a gay liberal teenager like myself wouldn't last long there

[Vlerchan]

The last time I checked people insulted other people offline, too. In theory, insulting should actually happen less on internet boards (like VT) considering that they are moderated and such behaviour will result in punishment.

I agree that the internet is dehumanising people to an extent, unregulated boards and such are a hive of malicious activity, but not anywhere near the extent you are trying to make out here. I disagree that you've lost your right to an opinion, it's simply that when you post in a debate subforum you've lost your right to an unchallenged opinion. This is obvious stuff, though.

[Karkat]

The internet isn't the perpetuator of this, society is. The internet just makes it easier, faster, and more anonymous. Not to mention the fact that it's a lot harder to get arrested or even interrogated for internet crime than it is irl crime.

For instance, 'stealing'. So much easier to go to jail for shoplifting than piracy.

So much easier to get arrested for harassing someone offline than online- for one, you can't REALLY get a restraining order for someone you can't identify on the interwebs. Pretty sure offline restraining orders apply to online contact as well, but that kind of opens up a can of worms.

It's the NATURE of the internet that makes things problematic. Believe you me, insults and threats get hurled offline quite frequently as well. They just tend to have more repercussions.

[Emerald Dream]

Unfortunately, there are some people that believe "having an opinion" gives them free license to be a complete asshole to others. It's okay to attack other people because "I have a right to my opinion" but it's a whole load of butthurt when the situation is reversed, and the same person gets offended themselves.

Of course you the right to your opinion, online or not. That doesn't mean attacking others is right.

[Lovelife090994]

Unfortunately, there are some people that believe "having an opinion" gives them free license to be a complete asshole to others. It's okay to attack other people because "I have a right to my opinion" but it's a whole load of butthurt when the situation is reversed, and the same person gets offended themselves.

Of course you the right to your opinion, online or not. That doesn't mean attacking others is right.

True. Something tells me the difference between attack, debate, and comment have been greatly changed or blurred.

[sqishy]

What the internet has done is make information, ideas and communication much much faster. So it basically catalyses and magnifies what's already happening.

[Miserabilia]

I'm almost certain you are passively refering to the debates on this website, too?
You have to understand that those are just debates, and no personal hate or downlooking is supposed to be done, and if it is, it's usualy not that serious.
If in another case, you are referring to trolls and all the dark deep web and internet sites that have people doing terrible things and finding people and scaring them and "trolling' them, well that's just assholes and they'll stay assholes.
I don't think the internet is a cause for it,
it's just an improvement in communication, therefore, also negative communication.

[Karkat]

What the internet has done is make information, ideas and communication much much faster. So it basically catalyses and magnifies what's already happening.


I don't think the internet is a cause for it,
it's just an improvement in communication, therefore, also negative communication.

Exactly. The internet only makes it a bigger problem because it makes things easier.