Seriously why all the hate guys.

[Vegan_Doodler]

Ok so I like to wander round the forums and find discussions about a any number of topics, games, films, ponies, but I don't comment as often as I would like because it seems that after a certain amount of time all threads turn into two sides spewing hate at each other and there is no longer any chance for a discussion above the realms of 'UR GAY NOOB'.

Now I know a lot of people's knee jerk reaction is to say something to the effect of 'this is the internet, you should grow a thicker skin or leave' and that just makes me sad, the only options I have are tolerate peoples complete lack of respect for other peoples opinions or never use the internet again. No, that is bollocks, no one should have to be in a position where they need to put up with disrespectful behaviour or leave, weather that place be real or digital.

Why are we accepting this kind of stuff as a given, and I'm not just talking about the afore mentioned 'UR GAY NOOB' scum bags, I am also talking about the people seemingly intelegent people who just shout people down in droves just because they disagree with them on a given topic or have a point of view not shared by a majority of readers. Now I have an idea that might just be mad enough for us all to have a better communicative experience, STOP INSULTING, BELITTLING, OR JUST BEING AN UNPLEASANT PERSON TO OTHER PEOPLE JUST BECAUSE YOU DISAGREE WITH THEIR OPINION, ENJOY/DISLIKE SOMETHING DIFFERENT, OR HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE WORLD.

I've seen so many discussions just plummet into shit flinging contests just because someone has an opinion, if you disagree with someone, fine, great, we've got the potential for a potentially interesting debate and exchange of ideas, but for the love of god keep it Civil.

If you refuse to even listen to another's idea then you are close minded.
If you spew hate you have no value for a discussion.
If you resort to insults your opponent wins by default, as you have run out of valid points to make.


Well that was unpleasant, I apologise for the spelling and grammar mistakes, and before anyone smugly points out the 'irony' or 'hypocrisy' in that I am being aggressive in a (futile) attempt to stop people being aggressive, I'm not because this is in context.

 

[Jonluw]

When you try to discuss a subject people are emotionally involved in, you're going to get emotional responses.
Human nature.
People are actually quite pleasant towards one another so long as nothing controversial is being discussed on these forums.
There are plenty of just good old happy threads lounging around.

 

[bobmus]

Passive-aggressive posts like this can be aimed at the offending minority, rather than expressed in their own thread to the general community.

Also, for the most part we're actually pretty good at not descending into insults as a community, because we've got rules and mods guarding against such a thing.

 

[Kolby Jack]

This is the internet. You should grow a thicker skin (I don't expect you to leave though).

If you don't want to see hateful responses, then don't let them happen. It's very difficult to continually muster hate against someone who isn't hating back, because that's what it's all about: the reaction. I'm not saying you should be like some dumb-ass brony and "love and tolerate," because that's bullshit since all they're really doing is a) ignoring, which isn't the same, or b) inciting more hate under the guise of "holier-than-thou-style tolerance" because they find it amusing. Just respond to legitimate points, and ignore the hateful garbage.

As for stopping hate between two or more people, that's pointless. You have no power to do so here, and you'll just wind up ignored or targeted for your trouble. They're just anonymous words, man. They don't mean much to anyone here.

 

[Hollyday]

I know I'm a newbie but I haven't come across that much hate on here (hence the reason I plan to stick around). Compared to other sites I've started trawling the forums on this one seems way more rational...

 

[370999]

I know I'm a newbie but I haven't come across that much hate on here (hence the reason I plan to stick around). Compared to other sites I've started trawling the forums on this one seems way more rational...

Really, I've always found this forum a tad rough, though that might be due to it's size.

There must be some hellholes out there...

 

[Lionsfan]

Are you talking about R&P? Because those guys are crazy.

And for the most part discussions here on the Escapist don't dissolve into shit-flinging contests

As for stopping hate between two or more people, that's pointless. You have no power to do so here, and you'll just wind up ignored or targeted for your trouble. They're just anonymous words, man. They don't mean much to anyone here.

And to tack on to this, use the Report Button. If you really think someone crossed the line, let a mod know. It's anonymous so you won't have to worry about people attacking you (not that I've ever seen that happen here), and you can see if it breaks Forum Rules

 

[Hero in a half shell]

I find that it gets rough if you start stepping on people's toes, but if you avoid personal insults, and don't rise to anyone else's personal attacks, then unless you are talking with a troll the conversation will stay on a civilized productive level... well, as productive as an argument on the internet can be.

The golden rule is just be civil to those you are trying to intellectually destroy, and they shall be civil back to you, in a creepy passive aggressive kind of way.

 

[Suicidejim]

I generally haven't seen that many hateful threads on here (unless it relates to relationships or friend zones or gender equality or anything else like that), and I just generally ignore the posters who get on my wick. As nice as it may sound, we can't patrol the world smacking impolite people over the head, but we can ignore them and strive to be more courteous to others. Besides, I find the moderation on this site to be reasonably efficient at weeding out people who are just trying to insult others or start flamewars.

 

[manic_depressive13]

Hey, woah. No one here posts "ur gay noob". They'd get banned. The trick is to be as aggressive as possible without explicitly addressing the person you are arguing with.

For example:
"You are scum" = Forum offense
"People who think [like you do] are scum" = Perfectly fine


A lot of users here have skirting the rules down to an art. Don't trivialise it.

Also, people need to get over this idea that opinions are just opinions, and we should respect or just leave eachother's opinions alone. I say no, that's fucking stupid. Opinions don't exist in a vacuum, nor are they otherwise isolated from the real world. They affect how we behave, how we vote, how we treat others, etc. Therefore, if someone expresses sexist, racist or homophobic sentiments, I am going to call them out on it.

 

[RA92]

snip

Well, I try to be civil, but sometimes when people get so unreasonable that I just can't help getting personal. I'm skirting around the problem by not posting much these days. No point in raging over others' ignorance. :/

Oh, and... LOL Y UR SO GAY NOOB!

 

[DigitalSushi]

bravo OP, bravo. We don't fling insults at each other in real life so why do we do it on the internet?, I find it very strange.

Shame your a Vegan though.

 

[Chunga the Great]

Oh trust me, that will never go away. This site has always been pretty rough and there are plenty of people who will resort to insults over making an actual argument.

 

[sky14kemea]

Hey, woah. No one here posts "ur gay noob". They'd get banned. The trick is to be as aggressive as possible without explicitly addressing the person you are arguing with.

For example:
"You are scum" = Forum offense
"People who think [like you do] are scum" = Perfectly fine

Thanks for the tip, I'll remember to watch out for that....

 

[Autumnflame]

the Internet= animosity = safety.

a majority of these people would never say anything to you in real life to your face.
the Internet gives them the safety to be a jerk with no consequences attached.

so then they feel powerful. there will always be people like this exploiting any medium to bolster their own fragile esteem

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Life's too short to spend it moping around on the internet insulting people.

Everyone should be more awesome, like me.

Come now everyone, gather round while I teach you my awesome ways.

[sub][sub]Take your clothes off.[/sub][/sub]

 

[Canadamus Prime]

I know I'm a newbie but I haven't come across that much hate on here (hence the reason I plan to stick around). Compared to other sites I've started trawling the forums on this one seems way more rational...

I've heard people say that before, in fact some around here have let that go to their heads. As for me, I find it incredibly sad that if this is the best the Internet has to offer as far as Internet communities go, then things are even worse than I could've imagined.

 

[WanderingFool]

Well, fromt one stand point, you (not OP specifically) should grow thicker skin. Now, I wont say if someone is insulting you to your face you should just take it, but on a internet forum like this, its much easier to take an insult. This is mainly because they are insulting you froum profile, not you directly. In most cases, some random guy calling you a "dumbass" for whatever reason doesnt know you, they just know your profile, and maybe the few details that are included in the online profile.

Being insulted on the internet is much less personal than being insulted in Real life.

 

[SilverBullets000]

I've been visiting this website long before I joined, and I've gotta say that people here tend to be more civilized than not. Hell, they usually make really good cases for why they think like they do. It's one of the reasons I like this forum; even if I disagree with their opinion, they normally explain their stance really well.
Yeah, there's the ocasional insult sprinkled here and there, but it isn't really hate as much as it is debate and knee jerk reactions...most of the time, anyway. Then again, I stay out of the messy forums, so I havn't seen the worst of it.

Captcha: Head case. I hope you aren't implying anything, computer. I am near the socket, you know.

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

STOP INSULTING, BELITTLING, OR JUST BEING AN UNPLEASANT PERSON TO OTHER PEOPLE JUST BECAUSE YOU DISAGREE WITH THEIR OPINION, ENJOY/DISLIKE SOMETHING DIFFERENT, OR HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE WORLD.

You just summed up half of the rules that most people seem to miss on their way in. Of course, people ignoring that means more exercise for the banhammers.

Are you talking about R&P?
R&P
[HEADING=2]R&P[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]R&P[/HEADING]

*Hisses*
Do not mention the name of that place in Off-Topic! It is a bad omen, a thing of pure evil!