Do you think social media brings out the extremes of people?

Question

I will use GaG as an example. There are users on the site that I have seen time and again say some of the most twisted, vile shit without hesitation.

We can assess that anonymity makes one feel bold for sure, but it got me thinking. Are those that live and breathe sites like this the vast majority of every day individuals or just the vocal degenerate minority?

LazerBean · Accepted Answer

Yes, I do think that.

1. People who are generally extreme in the first place are attracted to it because they don't have anyone who will associate with them long enough for them to vent their extreme opinion.

2. #1 leads to otherwise normal people reacting to said extreme opinions in an extreme way.

Then it goes round and round in a cycle.

I have had several triggered people tell me that I'm an angry mean woman who is toxic to men and that men must hate me. Perhaps they have a valid reason to see me in that way. But in reality, there are very few people who advertise their self inflicted problems caused by their own poor choices, and this I rarely I'm that negative in real life.

DizzyDesii · Accepted Answer

I consider GaG as more of a blog or advice site than social media. But ig its one in the same. I do think how most act on here is how they are in real life. But sadly ppls true colors dont show so early on. Take me for example, I am exactly how I am on here. Prob not a good thing but it is what it is. You might not see certain sides of me in an in person 24 hour conversation, but thats just cause i start off shy. By the next day, I’m a total chatterbox/goofball/dirty joker. can't help it. My family and others I associate myself with are the same way.

MaxRobespierre · Accepted Answer

Yeah, look at Alex jones minions. They call and harass parents who lost their children from sandy hook and say things like "why don't cry some more about your fake son" and some crazy man went out with his gun to a pizza restaurant rescue child he thought were kid napped due to a conspiracy that Alex jones made up. You have people like jones making up lies and harassing people in the name of "free speech" it's not free speech if you're threatening and hurting people.

headoncrash · Accepted Answer

Most times people say things in social media like GAG there is no repercussions to what they say and often times need to taken with a grain of salt as most are anonymous. You can berate someone here too. In real life you could get punched or even shot.

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

Definitely. People have become all too comfortable with saying messed up stuff to each other and NOT getting punched in the mouth for it. Consequences for bad behavior is what keeps a society civil, more or less. There are no real consequences anymore. So people went from bad to worse, and now we’re heading toward downright wicked.

AmandaYVR · Answer

The anonymous internet definitely emboldens; especially the worst of the worst. Yeah, the extremes are always online. It's just so easy to propagandize.

And probably social media has a higher proportion of junk fish because the really sensible, productive, etc. people are off busy doing other things than bitching and trolling online.

ObscuredBeyond · Answer

To be fair, while I do have some limits, I feel more confident airing grievances about life here rather than of Facebook. Unless some NPC reeees up a humongous storm, most of my posts, at worst, get ignored.

On Facebook, I could say something utterly mundane and reasonable, like "NYC shops should have the right to fight back if police won't do anything. Lawlessness must not prevail." And that's grounds for a 30-day ban, apparently!

NathanDavis · Answer

I do agree with what @subarugirl said...  and also agree to what you said last, these are definitely the very vocal minority and same goes for any other social platforms  the vast majority of people are definitely more neutral, measured and sane as well

Subarugirl · Answer

No I think that the anonymous and the ability to say things that you cannot really be her accountable gives people the ability to be who they truly are

Avicenna · Answer

Sure, I don't doubt it does, both more extreme people and more extreme versions of otherwise more normal people.

RavVid · Answer

I would hope a minority. I am sure anonymity is exploited by the vile. Always has.

AmourHoney · Answer

Absolutely and this site is the perfect example of it.

FilmGuy93 · Answer

Seems like it... I can't think of very many benefits social media has brought to society.

SmokinAces2000 · Answer

Social media doesn’t bring out or turn anyone extreme it is used as vessel to vent out their extremist ideas without any real consequences. Most people just hide it in person, I just saw another user say something extremely ignorant and fucked up.

maximumpower · Answer

Not necessarily.  WOULD say that the anonymity of the internet allows for people to communicate things they'd never dare to do in public.

Fuentes · Answer

Well one thing I know about the internet is the most cringest people actually don't go outside. Like they truly don't at all.

RealDaveThomas · Answer

Especially if they're being paid to

bean2k21 · Answer

Well. to some people, you're a degenerate.

Slim57 · Answer

For sure

Do you think social media brings out the extremes of people?

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Do you feel that social media brings out the worst in people?

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