Trends: The End of Civility as We Know It?

David Pogue, technology writer for the New York Times, recently published an article entitled, "Whatever Happened to Online Etiquette?" He observed that "lately, an increasing number of the [online] discussions devolve into name-calling and bickering," and in particular, "how hostile *ordinary* people are to each other online."

He cited one example where a rebuttal to a review he'd written on the Zune began: "Dear David, first off I would like to tell you that you are full of ****." Chances are the writer would never have begun an in-person conversation that way. Why is it okay online?

The topic of online civility has been on my mind, with the memory of those (thankfully few) who made negative comments on the blog CNET established to memorialize deceased colleague James Kim. Would they behave similarly at a wake?

Several months ago I read a post by a blogger who shared his experience of being on a plane during an emergency when it seemed certain it would crash. While most commenters were empathetic, there were some who mocked him. Who are these people?

Commenters to Pogue's article variously blamed the lack of civility on anonymity, immaturity, talk radio, political discourse, cowardice, lack of education, lack of social skills, lack of parenting, need for attention and just plain meanness. It doesn't help that some 'A-listers' regularly hang out their dirty linen for all to see via petulant tiffs and rivalries with each other, and that snarkiness is the hallmark of some popular blogs. Incivility sells, it would seem.

In any case our best defense is to ignore the deriders and, as one commenter suggested, make good use of our delete button.

via scobleizer.com

Comments

[Robyn McMaster]

Hi Toby, I am really interested in what you say. I've noted that a lot of folks on DIGG don't appear to write their own blogs, but rather comment through a very narrow perspective, not respectful of others. If enough of us model the opposite through simple courtesy, it will set the pace for more civility in blogosphere discussions.

Thanks for sharing this and other thoughtful perspectives on your site.

[Toby]

This is a great post and I've been seeing the same type of thing at other blogs.

I wonder if part of it isn't the "season" when we are all more stressed. Or maybe "because it is the season" I'm noticing it more.