Every time I read an article online, I can’t help but notice a flood of comments posted by readers. A few have thoughtful points to make, some are spam, but, often, it seems that most of the comments are just spewing vitriol. When did everyone get so angry?
One thing I find annoying is when someone comments “Who cares?” underneath an article. If something didn’t interest me, I’d keep on scrolling or shut off the computer. The fact that these people are taking the time to post about their lack of interest is mystifying. It just seems unnecessarily rude. Imagine flipping through an actual newspaper and taking the time to write a letter to the editor any time you saw an article that didn’t appeal to you. The instant nature of the Internet makes it so much easier to rant and rave without really thinking it through.
Sometimes I miss the good ol’ days when you had to write a formal letter to the editor if you wanted to complain. Most of the time, you’d find that after writing the letter you’d gotten the anger out of your system. You didn’t even need to mail the letter. These days, people just want to get things off their chest before they have a chance to calm down or form a thoughtful response. It makes them look petty and brash. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of debate, but only when you actually have a considered argument to make. Otherwise, you’re just making negative noise.