Hatefulness is Harmful, Even on the Internet

Come now, we are not emotionless robots. Like now, when I type this post, I feel something. This post is a projection of a bit of myself. It's a manifestation of part of my thoughts. So if someone criticizes this post, how can I not feel anything? If I really don't feel anything, that means what I post here is just mindless drivel.
 
Victor Leigh said:
Come now, we are not emotionless robots. Like now, when I type this post, I feel something. This post is a projection of a bit of myself. It's a manifestation of part of my thoughts. So if someone criticizes this post, how can I not feel anything? If I really don't feel anything, that means what I post here is just mindless drivel.
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We are also not all emotion controlled robots. Once again you miss my point. You personally decide to place meaning into the thoughts you share on here. Someone else could just as easily not do that. Your thought process does not reflect everyone else necessarily.

Writing does not always require emotional investment. Do you think, for example, that people editing wiki articles are going to invest personal feelings into what they write there? Of course not. That site is specifically for objective knowledge, not personal emotion and bias. So if someone can write detached, technical knowledge there, why can't they do so in a more lax writing setting like a forum?

If I don't place much importance in the words I post here, what reason is there at that point for me to be upset if someone insults me? That doesn't make me an "emotionless robot". It just means I've got my priorities straight about what is worth being upset over.

Likewise, sometimes I do care about what I'm posting depending on the topic, and I do care when someone disagrees for the dumbest of reasons, but I care then because I choose to care. Not every single sentence I utter on the internet is a golden cow I must protect at all costs.
 
Are you sure that when you write an objective article for, say, Wikipedia, that there are no emotions involved?

I would say quite a lot of emotions are involved. For a start, there is this feeling of wanting to make it as accurate as possible. This passion for perfection is an emotion. So after you have written a very objective article in which you have tried your very best to be as accurate as possible, you must surely feel something when someone criticizes your article for being inaccurate and full of subjective bias.

Isn't that so?
 
Although I agree with you whole heartedly I think trolling shouldnt be in that category. Most people can tell if some one is just a troll or not so I dont think their feelings would be hurt. However if you are a beginner poster then yes I can see you being affected by a troll as you wouldnt really know what trolling is :P
 
Victor Leigh said:
Are you sure that when you write an objective article for, say, Wikipedia, that there are no emotions involved?

I would say quite a lot of emotions are involved. For a start, there is this feeling of wanting to make it as accurate as possible. This passion for perfection is an emotion. So after you have written a very objective article in which you have tried your very best to be as accurate as possible, you must surely feel something when someone criticizes your article for being inaccurate and full of subjective bias.

Isn't that so?
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Now you're just grasping at straws. And no actually, if someone is editing a Wiki article he should expect it to be moderated and have any errors edited out because that's how the site works. It is centered around community collaboration, not bragging rights for who wrote what. There is no merit in writing for a site like that, only the satisfaction of sharing knowledge with the world.
 
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