The dehumanization of 'online friends'

[Russell Roberts]

What enables us to treat each other with such disrespect? Could it be that we are dehumanized? I noticed something in my own response the other day when Poimen posted his real pic. He became more human - to me at least. Many of you probably know each other but I have never met any of you, except of course N.T. Wright Fan, Wes, and Chuck.

I made a post earlier about new worldviews (which is really the creation of a new world in some sense). Jude2 is a world unto itself. Probably it is an escape for many. On here, people have persona's that may differ from their own world. Does that make us all Schitzo's. Well, yes, and no. Heck if I know. What do you think?

Any of you ever seen the Seinfeld episode about the collision of two worlds - not mixing friends in different contexts?

[one love]

Some people act one way online and totally different in person..I know what you mean, I think if we typed as if we were face to face there would be less disrespect to each other.

[DeWayneTN]

Some people act one way online and totally different in person..I know what you mean, I think if we typed as if we were face to face there would be less disrespect to each other.

Not only that, though. I think sometimes it's not disrespect but everything looks colder and starker in text. Some things that are meant as jokes or friendly jabs look like full-on attacks.

[Shellie]

No, I pretty much act like this everywhere I go.

[Penny]

I think Billy N NC is the same on here as off line.

[crispfin]

It just seems that some people just have an online persona, usually one that's a jerk, that comes out when they log on. I don't know if it's because they get confused and don't realize they're being rude to real people who exist in real life or what. I know someone who does that, and I'm thinking, "Dude, I live, like, 5 minutes from your house and you're insulting me like I don't know you? I could come over and beat you senseless if I felt like it." Which of course I'd never do, but still...

[PastorDaniel]

Some people act one way online and totally different in person..I know what you mean, I think if we typed as if we were face to face there would be less disrespect to each other.

Not only that, though. I think sometimes it's not disrespect but everything looks colder and starker in text. Some things that are meant as jokes or friendly jabs look like full-on attacks.

Amen to that...this has caused me problems many times over..but now that I've been around a while it seems that folks know me a little better and are not so quick to take me serious...Lord knows no one else does...even in the "real" world...

[PastorDaniel]

No, I pretty much act like this everywhere I go.

poor scooter

[DeWayneTN]

Crispfin, I had a pretty similar encounter. I wrote in another post about a guy who told me he wished I would go to Iraq and die and sent me all these horrible emails after I told him as best I could to quit. Even got Yahoo involved to kick him off. Anyway, in the midst of all of this, I saw him waiting in the hallway of my doctor's office. I passed him at first and then decided to go back and confront him about the emails. I made some small talk and the nurse came out to get him (before I could tell him that if he didn't quit I was going to come and yank his internet connection out of the wall and throw his computer out the window). I waited to finish the conversation after he was done. I see his head peek around the door and then he pretty much ran to the elevator.

[Shellie]

poor scooter

No, not really. He practically raised me. My personality is founded on survival tactics.

[PastorDaniel]

poor scooter

No, not really. He practically raised me. My personality is founded on survival tactics.

so you're saying it's "poor shellie"

[scooter]

so you're saying it's "poor shellie"

Response: You can only imagine!

I have had a real growing/learning experience through being a part of such a community. I fell hard into the trap of dehumanization.

I have tried to be a bit more respectful. Try being the pivotal word.

I think part of the problem is we, in many cases, only have a face value view based on what a poster says in their typing and that is really not enough to gain the type of insight needed.

Even after meeting people face to face for a dinner, there still exists imaginations which are colored by the things we type which do not reflect reality.

If given the opportunity to explain what is said most of us could.

I have been accused of many things here which really don't fit me, and that by friends and brothers.

I has been a learning experience.

[Jennifer Smith]

I agree with scooter's comments, and I would add that I have seen the overall behavior as a group grow and change and improve throughout my time here. We are not perfect at all but I've noticed God working at times, as we are learning to know one another and learning to be more careful and respectful.

Unless, of course, a new person comes in (such as yourself), and then we often have to yank their chain a bit to find out what they're about! J/K

[scooter]

Unless, of course, a new person comes in (such as yourself), and then we often have to yank their chain a bit to find out what they're about! J/K

Response: Kind of like getting jumped in!

[Jennifer Smith]

Yes, I guess so! (What is getting jumped in?)