An interesting parallel/paradox

[rangepig]

As I was reading through the forums tonight on my favorite motorcycle websites (including this one) I was struck by an interesting parallel. A lot of posters remark how inconsiderate drivers are, and how they seem to be steadily becoming more so. They seem to think they're the only person on the planet that matters as they cut us off in traffic, roll through stop signs, etc.

The parallel I see is that on these same forums there are inevitably flame wars where people get downright rude with each other. And to me it seems like these flame wars are getting more frequent and vicious, at least on some forums.

The paradox is that some of the same people who complain about how inconsiderate drivers are can be incredibly inconsiderate themselves when replying to someone's post. Seems to me it's the same thing--self-centeredness and lack of respect.

Anyway, it made me go "hmmmm." I think there's just a general decline in respect for others everywhere. They called the 80s the "me" decade, but now seems a lot worse.

 

[SNC1923]

Ironical, ain't it?

 

[basketcase]

Yeah, I've noted the same thing. It seems we all greatly respect our own opinions, and those who share them.

 

[callmethebreeze]

Yeah, I've noted the same thing. It seems we all greatly respect our own opinions, and those who share them.

Sad but true....yes I am brilliant and so am I....

Happy New Year


Breeze

 

[HONDARIDER]

The good news is that this forum seems to have far less "Internet Tough Guys" than a lot of the one's that I post on...I'm assuming that it has something to do with paying $32 for the privelege of posting here...it can't be that BMW owners are better behaved

 

[dancogan]

....yes I am brilliant and so am I....

Breeze

I agree. Can I be brilliant too?

 

[BUBBAZANETTI]

Yeah, I've noted the same thing. It seems we all greatly respect our own opinions, and those who share them.

yeah, i'm not too into people with opinions who differ from my own, i usually find them "annoying"

 

[rangepig]

The good news is that this forum seems to have far less "Internet Tough Guys" than a lot of the one's that I post on...I'm assuming that it has something to do with paying $32 for the privelege of posting here...it can't be that BMW owners are better behaved

I agree. That's why I like hanging out here so much. I actually post here but don't on other forums (at least not much).

 

[RIDERR1150GSADV]

A lot of rudeness can, IMHO, be attributed to lack of education, the less informed a person is, the more violent and rude they seem to be. Same goes for society as a whole.
The anonymity of the internet makes some feel they can get away with being a'holes as no one knows who they really are. This site is definitely one of the more civil ones.

 

[RandallIsland]

The sarcasm (tearing of flesh) is easily misread, IMHO, in the forum format.
Sometimes a quick read is often the wrong one. And a quick typing, too.
I've got my opinions, but, there is always going to be someone who disagrees with them. So the trick I think, is to just lay low and see where it all goes.
Today I was joking off a BubbaZ post, yet last night I was cooking for my folks.
The two and simply not compatible, indeed mutually exclusive, yet they were both fun. Being irresponsible, being responsible ... everything is subjective.
Some cool cat has a byline that reads something to the effect of "I is what you think I is" -- which cracks me up for I think we ALL, are far more complex depending on our individual fickle moods.
Indeed idiosyncratic, in a word.

 

[basketcase]

Truth told --

I've contributed my share and then some to rants and misunderstandings -- and have maybe even instigated a few.

Anyway, I had a wise, elderly friend years ago (now deceased) who was fond of a bit of verse --

There is enough bad in the best of us
And enough good is the worst of us
That is behooves the most of us
To talk about the rest of us.

True words indeed.

RIP, Jimmy Hemphill

 

[callmethebreeze]

Help....help...I read these posts and my hair just like spontaneously combusted....

Breeze

 

[SNOONE]

Sad but true....yes I am brilliant and so am I....

Happy New Year


Breeze

Is that like "I'm schizophrenic and so am I" ?

 

[Bud]

The good news is that this forum seems to have far less "Internet Tough Guys" than a lot of the one's that I post on...I'm assuming that it has something to do with paying $32 for the privelege of posting here...it can't be that BMW owners are better behaved

Maybe. I know the folks at BMW Sports Touring are some of the best behaved on the web.

 

[WEZUL]

Words are subject to interpretation as there is no way for inflection to be heard in this medium.

I think the responsibility is two-fold, firstly by the writer as to not antagonize by carelessly tearing off a hasty post and secondly by the reader to not assume tone and respond in a less-than-congenial manner.

I am new here so I cannot determine whether there has been a degradation in civility. I can only try my best to hold up my end . . . and hope it doesn't get kicked.

Have a good one.

Wez

 

[john1691]

A lot of rudeness can, IMHO, be attributed to lack of education, the less informed a person is, the more violent and rude they seem to be.

Not sure I agree with that one, I do service work, and many of the rudest, threatening "customers" I have met are well educated/wealthy people. I think how a person is raised, in addition to how they choose to act, determines rudeness, not level of education. Of course this proves nothing, just been my experiance. The kicker is treating people the way we would like to be treated, not the way we think they deserve to be treated. That old "golden rule" thing.......

john1691
2000 K1200RS

 

[srb]

The parallel I see is in the anonimity. On the roads, studies have shown some of the nicest, meekest people acting very aggressive. When we get into our cage, some on their bikes, we devolve into an attitude that stems from the belief that we won't come into personal contact with those who share the road with us. The same sort of thing goes on here in cyberspace. We don't think we'll be held accountable for our behaviour. I tend to curse aloud when a driver cuts me off. And on the web I tend to make smarmy comments that I mightn't have made in person.

 

[rangepig]

Not sure I agree with that one, I do service work, and many of the rudest, threatening "customers" I have met are well educated/wealthy people. I think how a person is raised, in addition to how they choose to act, determines rudeness, not level of education. Of course this proves nothing, just been my experiance. The kicker is treating people the way we would like to be treated, not the way we think they deserve to be treated. That old "golden rule" thing.......

john1691
2000 K1200RS

I was going to post something similar but you beat me to it. I know a few PhDs that are complete jerks. IMHO, it comes down to whether or not you respect the person you're dealing with. And lack of respect often comes from self-centeredness.

I can't remember if it was this forum or another where somebody posted this quote, but I really like it: "when you were little any your mom said you were special, she meant to her." Too many people think they're the center of the universe.

 

[RandallIsland]

Anyway, it made me go "hmmmm." I think there's just a general decline in respect for others everywhere. They called the 80s the "me" decade, but now seems a lot worse.

Robert A. Heinlein, from Friday. 1982 ?® Ballantine Press. Reprinted without permission