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Post your comments for How to not be a jerk on the Internet here

[MrHistamine]

What...?...You mean, that's not what the internet's for...? ;-)

[steelcobra]

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What...?...You mean, that's not what the internet's for...? ;-)

I think we all know what the internet is for: www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-TA57L0kuc

[MrHistamine]

steelcobra, on 19 October 2012 - 09:35 AM, said:

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What...?...You mean, that's not what the internet's for...? ;-)

I think we all know what the internet is for: www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-TA57L0kuc

LOL - indeed it is.

[justrick]

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What...?...You mean, that's not what the internet's for...? ;-) I think we all know what the internet is for: www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-TA57L0kuc

I have a feeling I'm about to get rickrolled...

[WallyDuke]

Are you so suspicious of technology-news organizations that you routinely accuse them of favoritism or bias?

Not the organizations so much as certain writers. But alas, you are right, things are almost always taken way too far.

[jtimouri]

I am always amazed at the intelligence and keen insight of people who comment on a comment I might make. Just from what I have written in a brief comment they are able to tell me what my weight is, how large a posterior I have, my IQ, and medications I am addicted to.

[tremp101]

microsoft / apple / google / samsung / linux / etc.. all have their fanboyz. offend them at your peril. it is more than tech, it is ideological. people don't intend to be mean. they just can't see their fav company being biased against.

[tremp101]

microsoft / apple / google / samsung / linux / etc.. all have their fanboyz. offend them at your peril. it is more than tech, it is ideological. people don't intend to be mean. they just can't see their fav company being biased against LOL

[mipa]

If you can't lick em join em most say. To stoop to their level--boy isn't that fun sometimes.

[reiser]

Well Rick I think this is a great post. Really! I was utterly amused by this:
For example, if you spot a mistake in, say, a blog post, do you leap to your keyboard to point out what an idiot the writer must be?
I spotted this kind of behavior for a long time and always told to people I know that the internet it's not an EXCLUSSIVELY ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT so it's no harm if someone mispells a word or two or ten For all we know the internet is in his infancy yet; you think that the first of our species on this planet behaved as they should? Even now they don't Well it's the same with the internet. I really spot this kind of neanderthalian behavior even on me sometimes so ... When enough time will pass there will be some etiquette
Anyway, I hope you'll read this.

[Hologram]

@justrick
Kudos, Rick for having the courage to speak out on this issue.

Years ago I looked upon the net and social media as wonderful tools for bringing people together. I was hopeful that, given the best communication tools humanity has ever known, we'd be able to share, discuss and come to a greater understanding of each other.

Alas, it appears the internet has given marginals and extremists a soapbox to stand on from which to vent their rage and a rallying point to reinforce each other's anti-social behaviors. Allowed to persist, the rapidly dropping signal to noise ratio will soon render discussion boards useless and many people are dropping out of discussions rather than deal with the attacks and frustrations.

It seems that the owners of some discussion boards turn a blind eye so as not to drive away those commenters who they feel might drive traffic to their website. Controversy sells.

Forum owners, administrators,and moderators need to step up to the plate and assume responsibility for what goes on under their domain. I can understand, to some extent, their reluctance to become censors, but there comes a point where the marginal behavior of some threatens the "civility" of society as a whole.

Internet forums and (anti-) Social media have sprung up out of nowhere and have grown very quickly, somewhat like the old Wild West, faster than rules of law and civil behavior have been able to follow in many cases.

Either we take it upon ourselves to moderate our behavior and encourage our peers to do the same or someone will come in and civilize the Wild West for us.

This post has been edited by Hologram: 19 October 2012 - 12:36 PM

[Altsurf]

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@justrick Kudos, Rick for having the courage to speak out on this issue. Years ago I looked upon the net and social media as wonderful tools for bringing people together. I was hopeful that, given the best communication tools humanity has ever known, we'd be able to share, discuss and come to a greater understanding of each other. Alas, it appears the internet has given marginals and extremists a soapbox to stand on from which to vent their rage and a rallying point to reinforce each other's anti-social behaviors. Allowed to persist, the rapidly dropping signal to noise ratio will soon render discussion boards useless and many people are dropping out of discussions rather than deal with the attacks and frustrations. It seems that the owners of some discussion boards turn a blind eye so as not to drive away those commenters who they feel might drive traffic to their website. Controversy sells. Forum owners, administrators,and moderators need to step up to the plate and assume responsibility for what goes on under their domain. I can understand, to some extent, their reluctance to become censors, but there comes a point where the marginal behavior of some threatens the "civility" of society as a whole. Internet forums and (anti-) Social media have sprung up out of nowhere and have grown very quickly, somewhat like the old Wild West, faster than rules of law and civil behavior have been able to follow in many cases. Either we take it upon ourselves to moderate our behavior and encourage our peers to do the same or someone will come in and civilize the Wild West for us.

[Altsurf]

What a sorry diatribe of misbegotten sop. The internet is for trolling, having fun at your neighbor's expense and generally highlighting the absolute foolishness of the screed most politically correct, miasmic imbeciles write in their obtuse posts. Write a book if you thinks so so intellectual.

[arkansawyer]

I'm pretty sure you misplaced a comma in your article somewhere. Still looking.

[MichaelPfeiffer]

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Well Rick I think this is a great post. Really! I was utterly amused by this: For example, if you spot a mistake in, say, a blog post, do you leap to your keyboard to point out what an idiot the writer must be? I spotted this kind of behavior for a long time and always told to people I know that the internet it's not an EXCLUSSIVELY ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT so it's no harm if someone mispells a word or two or ten For all we know the internet is in his infancy yet; you think that the first of our species on this planet behaved as they should? Even now they don't Well it's the same with the internet. I really spot this kind of neanderthalian behavior even on me sometimes so ... When enough time will pass there will be some etiquette Anyway, I hope you'll read this.

I definitely agree. Everybody makes mistakes and just because a tech journalist makes a few small spelling errors or doesn't make sense in a sentence, doesn't mean you can take it out on him. Think about top sporting legends. They all made mistakes.

The articles that you find on PCWorld are still much better than what you would type on Facebook, with the lowercase 'I' and the single letter 'u' rather than 'you'

[Kaffeguy]

Very well written article and to the point. In all situations we should think, or wait a while before we write or press send! We can be constructive, make our thoughts known in a courteous, and respectful way.

[raooolq7ck]

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I am always amazed at the intelligence and keen insight of people who comment on a comment I might make. Just from what I have written in a brief comment they are able to tell me what my weight is, how large a posterior I have, my IQ, and medications I am addicted to.

Actually all we need is your login. Then we can tell you your weight, posterior size, IQ, and addictions (we know it goes beyond medications, j); as well as how many times you replayed the youtube video linked above, your current blood pressure, recent meals - and - (wait... couple seconds.. still calculating) yes and what you'll be eating for dinner this evening.

oh - and enjoy the game tomorrow! (we're sitting near you!)

[ronin7752]

Rick: Please note that I would say the following to your face...

1.) You should add that if you "cross the line" and get nasty, expect like to be shoved back at you.

2.) So for the record, Rick -- are you telling us that IT journalists *never* get paid by companies for promoting their products? Are you telling us that neither PC World nor any other IT publication *ever* demonstrates a bias toward one product? (Intentionally or not?)

3.) If you are honest and admit that the answer to both parts of #2 are "no", would you tell us *how* we lowly front-line techs and end-users can tell when a journalist or magazine is being biased towards a product? (Whether they are compensated or not.)

Enquiring minds would *love* to know....

P.S. Other than that, excellent article....

[ronin7752]

For non-journalist writing, I am infinitely forgiving.

However, Authors of published IT articles *should* -- first of all -- be *Expert Journalists*. So, no... if they can't use correct grammar and at least run a spell-checker, they have lost my respect. Immediately. If you are that sloppy on your composition, how much sloppier are you going to be on your research. (Which *should* be "the hard part.")

I must also note that Journalists and Editors are *NOT* experts at IT. There is a saying that "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." To this should have been added that "Those who can't, write articles about how to do."

Sorry, but it frequently burns my tush that so many IT Journalist obviously have NO significant first-hand experience on the subjects they write about, but rather, simply repeat the propaganda (aka: marketing press releases) from manufacturers.

If I were an IT journalist, I'd develop connections with reliable and objective "insiders" who know the "inside scoop" on the products and topics I wrote about. You know -- like Journalists *used* to do before the Internet and Smartphone...

Sometimes the "old way" is still the "best way".... Which is perhaps the concept which IT Journalism shows the strongest and most consistent bias *against*!