Do you think the anonymity of online platforms brings out the worst in people?

wiz-weird · 2022-12-20T01:30:20+00:00

It brings out the truth in people. Unmasked.

md8716 · 2022-12-20T01:39:52+00:00

It doesn't bring out the worst in people. It just reveals who they really are. For example, I'm generally nice and positive, but also irreverent and I keep it real.

But most people prefer a comfortable lie to hard truth, so I just don't say shit irl. But I have no reason to hold back on the internet.

propyl21 · 2022-12-20T00:18:27+00:00

I've been saying this for a long time. The main difference between online and offline is the anonymity factor.

I had a colleague at work who acted very docile and unassuming. That was until he added me to a private WhatsApp group where he and several people he had met from the internet were posting racist, homophobic and misogynistic memes. Turned out he was an incel and a Neo Nazi.

No idea how he thought I would be interested in such disgusting behaviour. I confronted him about it and his response was pathetic to put it best. He said he found it funny. When I put it to him that he was racist, his response: "it's not my fault you feel that way about it"

These sort of people are cowards. They live one life online, and another offline. That must be so exhausting.

Steakman1 · 2022-12-20T02:25:57+00:00

For some, it allows people to be their truest selves since they have no fear of backlash and judgment from their peers. Anyone who judges you on here would have no clue who you are if they saw you in person.

But for other people, it allows them to form some online persona that lacks consistency with who they are in person. Some guys here try to act like they have high standards in women and will even describe themselves in a way that isn’t true. But reality is that if any of the women here that they’ll label as 304s or aspiring cat ladies actually expressed interest to them in real life, especially if she’s decent looking, that online persona would magically disappear.

And then there will be some women online who will say all these good things they value in men and what they want in a partner. Meanwhile most if not all of their past relationships in real life were with men that posses few of those qualities. I also think women are more comfortable insulting and shaming men since the only way men can retaliate is by saying mean things back. Meanwhile those same women would be less likely to do it in real life since the men have many more options to retaliate and who knows how unhinged the guy is.

Perfect-Resist5478 · 2022-12-19T23:54:17+00:00

It’s not something to think about. It’s been proven

https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2017/03/29/the-future-of-free-speech-trolls-anonymity-and-fake-news-online/

Lost-Ad1794 · 2022-12-19T23:58:11+00:00

It’s kind of screwed in a way, half the time it’s amusing half the time I legit worry about some ppl

Embarrassed_Cup2524 · 2022-12-20T01:13:33+00:00

social media is quite anti social media lmao

ExpertAccident · 2022-12-20T01:37:37+00:00

Absolutely. This isn't even a question.

I've met people I thought to be quite nice, then I check their social medias and... wow.

Yoyo4games · 2022-12-20T03:06:45+00:00

Social media is very intentionally designed around creating conflict, it makes users use the app more. 🤷‍♂️

CimZim · 2022-12-20T00:13:38+00:00

Well, for many people, yes.

I think there's a small percentage of us who are still nice people online but it sticks out a lot since most seem to use it as an excuse to troll. I really don't believe a good 40% of anything other members say here, the takes are too out there to be true lol.

Sleepyhead_Lain · 2022-12-20T00:16:27+00:00

Well, yes and no. Yes as obviously, it's easier to pop in some discussion and just be a shitty person if nobody knows who you are, but most platforms allow you to just block or report that kind of people. On the flip side, anonymity allows discussions to be far more open, even on matters that would otherwise be kept secret, and it's often very beneficial to be able to talk about those things.

I tend to think that with the right tools, anonymity is almost 100% good.

However, what unambiguously brings the worst out of people are the echoe chambers, to which reddit especially is a very susceptible platform as communities have their own rules, and have more often than not like-minded moderation and communities. Anonymous or not, an echoe chamber will always push a good chunk of their members to adopt more and more radical positions and to become somewhat sectarian. It's not a big deal when it's a community centered around some video game that will radicalize in positions such as "this episode of the serie is garbage lol" that do no harm aside from pissing those who appreciate that game, but whenever the topic is more political or "important" it can result in some shitty behaviors and have an overall bad influence over the persons involved, even irl.

And it's the same if there is no anonymity, such effects can and do exist in private groups where people do know each other's identity.

Lift_and_Lurk · 2022-12-19T23:52:29+00:00

“The Internet gives testosterone to men who have never lifted a weight in their life to say things they’re too afraid to say in person”

TrevorAndonuts · 2022-12-20T00:03:52+00:00

It brings out a lot of capping.

chalkandapples · 2022-12-20T00:03:55+00:00

Probably, but although there are some very bad behaviors, there are a number of positive comments too. Most people may have weird views, but very few are absolutely terrible and is doing evil things just for evil thing's sake. And we do have people that call others out even when their heroism would also be anonymous. For a place that brings out the worst in people, it's not that bad.

FortniteAbobus · 2022-12-20T01:58:35+00:00

True self.

prizefighterstudent · 2022-12-20T02:53:11+00:00

It brings out the truth since it reflects both the darkest and most beautiful aspects of individual realities. The price of authenticity is lower than it is in the real world here.

alotmorealots · 2022-12-20T03:43:09+00:00

Certainly around these parts the negativity and aggressive magnitude of that negativity are vastly amplified by online anonymity.

I do think occasionally the converse is true too though. Being disconnected and not having to follow through can lead people to be more honest, open and compassionate than would be safe in real life. Even around these parts in PPD, at least here being nice to angry posters won't translate to unwanted romantic interest, or at least not anything that can't be solved by the block button.

MuchMethod7039 · 2022-12-20T03:44:48+00:00

Yes.

WideAwake550 · 2022-12-20T05:01:22+00:00

Uh....duh?

That's literally one of the biggest perks of anonymous posting and social media to begin with.

That doesn't make it a good thing necessarily but it comes with the territory so to speak.

The average person irl is a coward who can't stand behind their own words unless it's online.

Ludens0 · 2022-12-20T07:19:10+00:00

Anonymity = social inmunity.

Something good about kind, empathetic people is that they form strong bonds with others and good "support nets".

That is a extremely valuable asset to throw it away saying bullshit that nobody cares and will being you nothing compared with being wel integrated in society. Anonymity kill that balance.

RegionalPolice · 2022-12-20T07:36:30+00:00

I think it's a peek behind the curtain which doesn't exist. Those who use anonymity to be dicks aren't representative for the average person.

UpbeatInsurance5358 · 2022-12-20T13:29:48+00:00

Yes on the whole, but peer pressure is still there regardless of anonymity. So if you're in a sub that's full of incels, people will join the chorus even if they don't actually believe it.

Smitten_Squire · 2022-12-20T14:57:26+00:00

For toxic people yes, but for most it just brings out the truth

Stunning-Ad14 · 2022-12-20T15:35:05+00:00

People can find their niche echo chambers in which a handful of folks share their extreme views, which would be exposed as illogical and absurd if you ask the average person on the street since only a tiny sliver of the population agrees with them. Nevertheless, people continue to keep their heads in the sand so they can have their egos stroked

pikecat · 2022-12-20T21:37:50+00:00

It lets already bad people be a part of conversations that they wouldn't otherwise be a part of.

Lord_Thanos · 2022-12-20T23:45:23+00:00

Obviously it does. But there are some people like me who are exactly the same in real life as we are online. I respect those people. They’re not frauds.

Ohmaygahh · 2022-12-21T15:29:34+00:00

It brings out their true selves.

redkoicarp · 2022-12-20T00:16:28+00:00

To be entirely honest, the cynical part in me believes that this is maybe how people truly think inside their minds. And this thought is rather unsettling to me.

haroldshipman_MD · 2022-12-20T01:02:53+00:00

Absolutely. The smug, despicable, antagonistic way people act on here would get their jaw burst 100x over if they acted like that in real life.

SmarmyPapsmears · 2022-12-20T02:04:19+00:00

I think the anonymity brings out a lot of LARPing. PPD probably has more LARPing than reddit as a whole, which already has a fuckton of LARPing and fake stories.

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YourNCountMatters · 2022-12-20T00:45:57+00:00

No it's great, you can call people on their horseshit and there is nothing they can do about it lol

mvnnyvevwofrb · 2022-12-20T01:47:25+00:00

Maybe, but do you really think people are easier to interact with IRL than over the internet? Really really?

HolyPipidastra · 2022-12-20T02:58:50+00:00

It’s kind of a slice of their personality, for sure. I don’t think it’s an issue, considering that you are choosing us, degenerates, on the daily basis and nobody puts a gun to your head :)

qx4758 · 2022-12-20T05:41:59+00:00

Oh, no doubt. I'm a stupendous prick on this platform, for the same reason George Mallory gave when asked why he wanted to climb Everest.

Suriels_cat · 2022-12-20T07:19:08+00:00

I don't think it brings out the worst, I think it brings out their authentic self. I like the unfiltered honesty.

SecretAccount111191 · 2022-12-20T08:36:13+00:00

I have seen many reasonable discussions here, so I would say mostly no.

BruddaMSK · 2022-12-20T09:59:48+00:00

Yes it does however it has positive impact, it reduces actual violence because people can go and insult each other and release their anger without facing consequences. Some believe internet incites violence because people get radicalized blah blah, even though truth is violence rates are all time low nowadays and internet is one of root reasons for this.

321gumby · 2022-12-20T11:28:26+00:00

No. Now shut up

Equinox147909 · 2022-12-20T18:42:59+00:00

It doesnt bring out the worst in people it just allows them to be themselves in a non censored way.

I have what many consider controversial opinions in todays day and age. I don’t mean harm . But IRL I know if I say something I will offend my friends. Its me saving face. Doesnt mean I take on a false opinion, I just hold mine back.

Online I have no attachment, I’m here to give my input and walk away, you’re feelings got hurt? Turn off the screen, block me, idc.

Ok-Expression7575 · 2022-12-20T20:04:10+00:00

It just brings out people

/14anddeep

BirdMedication · 2022-12-20T22:30:48+00:00

A. polite in real life --> rude online

B. rude in real life --> polite online

The anonymity of online platforms and social media has been responsible for encouraging considerably more A-type than B-type converts. So you could say it's a net negative in that respect.

DoinIt989 · 2022-12-21T17:14:50+00:00

No, it brings out the best because it's purely about content and not about the "brand" and being a con artist. Anonymous people create, write, etc because it's fulfilling and they want to share, even if no one will see their face or associate them with a brand (and sometimes they say thing that are spicy and un-desirable to be linked to). The internet went to shit when everyone started showing their face because it brings it down to the lowest common denominator in order to sell shit, like TV.

fizeekfriday · 2022-12-21T18:57:34+00:00

No. I think situations where no one can be immediately held accountable brings out the worst in people.

Which can maybe be said about the women on this site and some of the subs that are more manosphere focused but it's almost a trope that reddit mods are power hungry weirdos.

The worst in people is brought out in situations where someone is a scapegoat and it's collectively agreed upon that you can shit on that person with 0 consequences. Scaled up that's what happened to Jews in Nazi Germany, scaled down that's what happens to incels on a daily basis. That's what happens to black people today in a lot of places. We still have people thinking black people could somehow circumvent racist laws and redlining to match their white counterparts in wealth building.

It's how you end up with situations where people say "fuck the shooters feelings" with the assumption they're an incel, when ignoring those people's feelings is how you end up with shooters in the first place. Retribution and condemnation both quite literally take precedence over rehabilitation just because the person/people in question have been noted to be at the bottom of the social totem pole.

Title	Do you think the anonymity of online platforms brings out the worst in people?
Author	Dependent_Vast_4272
Upvotes	28
Comments	97
Date	December 19, 2022 11:49 PM UTC (3 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/PurplePillDebate
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/PurplePillDebate/comments/zq7qup/do_you_think_the_anonymity_of_online_platforms/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/PurplePillDebate/do-you-think-the-anonymity-of-online-platforms.1144794 https://theredarchive.com/post/1144794

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