Why We Are So Rude Online

[=CfC= Father Ted]

The problem with forum discussions is that there is always room for an exponential escalation of misunderstanding and subsequent taking of offence. Thus, a face-to-face conversation may contain the following:

"I'm sorry, but I think you're talking bollocks.."

"What!?"

"Well, OK, not bollocks, but..."

...and the conversation returns to civilized levels. In an internet forum, that first "bollocks" will just be allowed to dangle there (sorry for imagery) and indeed may fester (sorry again) allowing the responder time to get worked up about it. His or her reaction is then often a calculated insult and so the whole thing spirals.

We are also generally more likely to engage in confrontational behaviour when there are physical barriers between us (hence road rage). This, of course, is entirely the case with forum/online game arguments. I think that that phenomenon, coupled with the low-bandwidth (in emotional terms) aspect of written communication causes the flashpoints we see online.