Picking at people

[leechlake]

For the life of me I don't know why this bothered me today but it did so here goes.

Why do posters pick at each other's comments, especially when it is on some slight choice of words or opinion that is really secondary to the original post? I noticed a few of these this morning and I wonder if these same guys pick arguments with their wife or girlfriend or other friends over insignificant things on a daily basis, I also look at the times of the post and wonder if they've had a few beverages, or I ponder if they hold some grudge on past posts.

Many times it's the same 6-10 or so posters and NEVER is it from guys on here that are generally providing, entertaining posts, informative posts, or posting to help another person out. Frankly, I'm not saying at all that these people should be censored in any way but I just don't know what can get up some people's craws on such a frequent basis. After all, this is an outdoors site in most respects which is a hobby we all love and enjoy as much as most things in our lives.

Maybe they are the same rare guys you meet in the field who want to not get along rather than work together to share the woods or water so we can both enjoy our time. I guess that question will never be answered but I'd take a guess I may be closer to correct than not. That's too bad.

[delcecchi]

Was this on Sillytown, or some regular informational type forum, just out of curiosity?

(Althought the deer population threads seem to have gone sillytown also)

[leechlake]

Del,

no it isn't Silly Town, I get it that that forum goes that direction if not farther many times. A post may be about duck hunting, it get's derailed into a sky busting post (I get that posts getting derailed happens) and then two guys are bickering about how much shot gun shells really cost because one poster posted that shotgun shells cost $3 and he isn't going to waste money on ducks that are too far away. Next poster can't leave it alone and tells him he can get shotgun shells for way less than that. The tone is argumentative, the content is argumentative, and that's what I don't get. Why not just leave a comment alone instead of having to start the bickering.

[nofishfisherman]

I'm convinced that some people just want to argue. If they can't find fault with the original topic or opinion they'll start looking for something else to latch on to and then pick at it until they get someone pulled into a debate. For some people the internet seems to feed this inner need to argue or debate. I think it also feeds some inner desire for attention. They likely would never act like that in real life but with the anonymity of the internet they feel safe starting arguments with anyone. Or if they do act like that in real life likely they don't have many friends or people wanting to be around them so they have no one to argue with so they come here.

The other thing I've noticed is people posting something that could be somewhat controversial and asking for feedback and then getting upset or annoyed when someone chimes in with an opposite opinion even if it was done respectfully. I think this is kind of the same thing but from the reverse perspective. They original poster probably wanted an argument or at least wanted to see other people argue so they toss out a controversial topic just waiting for someone to take the bait.

The internet is a funny place and it can turn normal rational adults into whinny argumentative teenagers.

[CANOPY SAM]

I think the biggest reason why many posts digress into this state is that no one wants to admit they might actually be WRONG about something.

When you're caught "being wrong" at the table by friends, family, colleagues, your boss, or whatever, you're caught. There's no escape. You pretty much have to take your lumps and admit your mistake.

On-line, in complete anonymity, you never really have to admit your wrong.

Internet forums are breeding millions of extremely narcissistic people. They can be repeatedly wrong, and voted down by the masses, but there's never any repercussions for it. They don't care, cause there's never any need for real accountability.

[CaptainMusky]

The other thing I've noticed is people posting something that could be somewhat controversial and asking for feedback and then getting upset or annoyed when someone chimes in with an opposite opinion even if it was done respectfully.

Agreed. It seems often that people will post something asking for input expecting that people are going to fully support whatever side of the fence they may be on, but when people respond back to the contrary they say "I dont want your feedback". Well, you cannot have both.

It is what it is. With social media and forums its the nature of the beast. Fortunately the positive posts far outweigh the negative ones or we clearly wouldnt be coming back.

[Slabasaurus]

Why do posters pick at each other's comments, especially when it is on some slight choice of words or opinion that is really secondary to the original post?

Probably just human nature coupled by how easy it is to do this and remain relatively anonymous on web-forums.

Like canopy said I'm sure the narcissistic thing also has something to do with it.

[chasineyes]

Quote:

Probably just human nature coupled by how easy it is to do this and remain relatively anonymous on web-forums.

Probably the same manner during peoples commutes daily. Every day the SAME folks drive "in" to work and yet they still bob and weeve and cut people off daily. And yet we/they are all in the same fishbowl doing the same routine 52 weeks a year. But in a way like the "web" I'm insulated by being in my car. After all "what are you going to do"??

[CodyDawg]

I think the biggest reason why many posts digress into this state is that no one wants to admit they might actually be WRONG about something.

When you're caught "being wrong" at the table by friends, family, colleagues, your boss, or whatever, you're caught. There's no escape. You pretty much have to take your lumps and admit your mistake.

On-line, in complete anonymity, you never really have to admit your wrong.

Internet forums are breeding millions of extremely narcissistic people. They can be repeatedly wrong, and voted down by the masses, but there's never any repercussions for it. They don't care, cause there's never any need for real accountability.

Canopy Sam,

I don't know how anyone could think it is millions of people when it is clearly tens of millions of people. You must be a knothead/imbecile/Packer fan to think it could possibly be only millions.

[Slabasaurus]

Probably the same manner during peoples commutes daily. Every day the SAME folks drive "in" to work and yet they still bob and weeve and cut people off daily. And yet we/they are all in the same fishbowl doing the same routine 52 weeks a year. But in a way like the "web" I'm insulated by being in my car. After all "what are you going to do"??

heh, yep.

If you are able to relax and just kind of sit back and watch people it is pretty entertaining though.

I guess that same thing holds true on the internet too doesn't it?

[delcecchi]

Del,

no it isn't Silly Town, I get it that that forum goes that direction if not farther many times. A post may be about duck hunting, it get's derailed into a sky busting post (I get that posts getting derailed happens) and then two guys are bickering about how much shot gun shells really cost because one poster posted that shotgun shells cost $3 and he isn't going to waste money on ducks that are too far away. Next poster can't leave it alone and tells him he can get shotgun shells for way less than that. The tone is argumentative, the content is argumentative, and that's what I don't get. Why not just leave a comment alone instead of having to start the bickering.

It is easy to post if a guy has a thought that is sort of relevant to a thread, and since it appears in "print" some folks come across as more argumentative than they intend. At least that is my charitable opinion. Having been callused by sillytown, I try to just let any perceived harsh tone go, and chalk it up to the differences in media not being properly taken into account.

Of course there are those hot button topics in every forum that get things rolling. Netting on Mille Lacs, eating bass, deer hunter behavior, wolves, regulations, and others. I think we've all run into it.

[Down Deep]

About the only way to combat attacking posts is to adopt an up-vote/down vote system like web cite "reddit" has. Up voted posts go to top and down voted go to the bottom. The posts most participants like get read first. Comments on a specific post are listed below it.

[gunner55]

I think nofish & CANOPY SAM have got the right idea.I have always believed that there are a % of our population that the only way you know they are alive is because they're complaining & another part that are always trying to jerk other peoples chain.Being able to stay anomonous on the internet makes that even easier.

[BLACKJACK]

It could be worse, I've participated in other forums where they over-moderate and/or the writers all think they're English majors, critique your sentences, etc. -- that's no fun either.

A couple things I've learned is a) you have to have a thick skin, some people are just combative, learn to ignore them Stay focused in your posts, focus on one item or someone will pick out off hand comment the post will get sent off in different direction in a hurry c) Its still a great site for information.

[CANOPY SAM]

Well Cody, I may be a "knothead/imbecile/Vikings fan", but at least I'm NOT WRONG!

[Stick in Mud]

Also, don't forget the amazing power of anonymity to make people feel tough. Can't say I haven't used it myself a time or two, though I do think I'm getting a little soft now that I've forsworn posting in Sillytown.

[Pat K]

Something I've seen on t-shirts and social media sites:

When you can be anything you want online,

it's surprising how many people choose to be stupid.

Unfortunately we all seem to be guilty of this at times.

[JeremyCampbell]

Something I've seen on t-shirts and social media sites:

When you can be anything you want online,

it's surprising how many people choose to be stupid.

Unfortunately we all seem to be guilty of this at times.

Well put Pat

X2 100%

[jmd1]

I argue via the computer as in fear the if i argue with my wife all she has to do is get up and punch me in the throat. Online i do not get that type of fear. Maybe that will shed some light.