Jeremy wrote:
] (Why didn't I see it earlier?)

Eh, its been covered before... Old memeage. I think its good that we are talking about this, but I'm looking for new revelations.

Like I've said, we have three choices.

1. Everyone has strong anonymnity systems.
2. People become more tolerant of other's opinions.
3. People become afraid to express their opinions.

At least we're in the process of realizing that we have to make this choice. I hope we choose well. Most people seem to be so cynical about it that they literally laugh outloud when I mention door number 2.

Decius wrote:
] Jeremy wrote:
] ] (Why didn't I see it earlier?)
]
] Eh, its been covered before... Old memeage. I think its good
] that we are talking about this, but I'm looking for new
] revelations.
]
] Like I've said, we have three choices.
]
] 1. Everyone has strong anonymnity systems.
] 2. People become more tolerant of other's opinions.
] 3. People become afraid to express their opinions.
]
] At least we're in the process of realizing that we have to
] make this choice. I hope we choose well. Most people seem to
] be so cynical about it that they literally laugh outloud when
] I mention door number 2.

how bout #4? People become more personally responsible for their communications?

It seems to me that we've enjoyed a rather long period of juvenile behavior being tolerated (encouraged?) online and now that online culture is firmly implanted into all of western society, it's started to appear offline as well (witness any shows on MTV or MuchMusic). Kids, it's okay to have an opinion, but remember that opinions are like assholes... everyone has one, and most of them stink. Do us all a favor and apply the modicum of effort needed to do the following:

o use at least coherant language
o try with all your might not to further exacerbate already dead topics or discussions with no possible resolution (ie. Linux vs Windoze, Brittney vs Christina, anything about NIN, etc...)
o instead of flaming the obviously ignorant, help a brotha out by offering advice in a pleasant and digestable tone. +2 points if you do this directly instead of an open forum so your friends can see how cool you are. Who knows, you could just make it to heaven yet.
o admit and accept that you are not the smartest, or coolest, or most 133t person in the universe, or even in the group.
o self-effacement is a sign of maturity and security. Use it.
o when in doubt, shut the fuck up.

Obviously this is somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but seriously... if people used the same discretion online that they use f2f, then there'd be far less to be 'embarassed' about later. This doesn't cut down on your ability to express yourself. It just cuts down on the ability to express yourself like a 5 year old throwing a temper tantrum. No one is really going to care if you said something like "I'm going to make the occaisional sexist comment from time to time" on the Women's Hockey message board in 1996. ;-)

flynn23 wrote:
] how bout #4? People become more personally responsible for
] their communications?

My view of this is almost the reciprocal.

All of the things that you talk about in this post I think are important. There are real lessons to learn in participating in a intellectual community, and we don't GET those lessons from the "real world" because the "real world" is NOT an intellectual community. Its sexual and political.

However, I think the internet has been an intellectual community only insofar as its roots have been firmly with the nerds. As it becomes more and more mainstream I think it will feel less and less like a place where mature conversation occurs. Love and war are irrational. The amount of drama on the net seems to increase exponentially with a linear growth in population.

Basically, I don't think anyone is going to give you hell because you posted immaturely 10 years ago. I think that people will give you hell because you expressed a view that offends them 10 years ago. People can understand spelling errors, but not political ones. Because politics isn't rational, and it wants to be offended.