what is your impression of people that are mean on discussion boards?

Oh.. I can't stand it when people are mean on message boards and stuff! Flaming is usually a big no-no, at least on boards I have frequented in the past. But some of the had had a particular section where people could go and write stuff that was considered rude or mean or whatever. A lot of time people would write really insulting things there. It actually made me upset sometimes. Although it was better than being in the general population of the board, since the boards were for people with certain mental health issues, I just felt like it was a bad thing to have a board where it was fair game to talk trash about people, since there were a lot of sensitive people around there to start with (and obviously some insensitive people..LOL) I'm all about making friends with people I can relate to.. so even if I was having a bad day I would keep my mouth shut. LOL And also, even before message boards I was part of e-groups/yahoo groups and I had mostly good experiences there, actually I still am friends with a few people I met on them.. and that was like 10 years ago! Well, the group I belonged to was a support group and I was friends with the owner, because well, there were a group of us who were pretty close. And I remember posting a vent one time and some real idiot was just so rude and insensitive. My friends there were really supportive, but it still hurt, and I think I saw the same type of thing happen to other friends as well. I am so glad that I haven't run into any of that on here yet!

I believe some are having a bad day and taking it out on the poor newbies, but most of them are just mean in general, and this is a way of being bad with out any consequences because no one knows who you are online. It's very easy to be bad to people but it's hard to be good to them, and that's the truth.

I do my best not to be mean, but if I am then people need to call me on it. I think that being mean is not a good thing and it does not get your message across. People should except others ideas and be open-minded instead of being mean.

I really dislike when things like that happen. I had a guy on here do that to me one time, when I had asked a thorough question. The only difference is he did not say anything that was relevant to the discussion. He ridiculed me for not having a job and said that I probably haven't ever worked. His response got deleted but not before I told him in a kind way that it was rude and that in fact I've had a job and that I worked long shifts doing very dirty work. He responded back to me and went on to ridicule me for not having a job. I live in the country and we stay home to conserve gas because his mother pays for our gas. She respects that we stay home and she also understands why. I try not to be rude in my responses to people in anyway because they only seek advice or an answer and do not intend for you to react badly to it. If I feel offended I will tell someone but that won't effect my response. If I feel to offended I ignore the topic. Have a Great day.

I'm sure some of those people are, in reality, mean or cruel or downright rude people. But, some of them may be doing it just for the fun of it. I mean, it's the internet where you can hide your true identity and you can be any type of person you wish to be. Maybe they are cruel online but sweet as can be in real life. Hard to say, but it is silly to be mean and cruel to someone that is just looking for some help

I have been a member in a forum/discussion group for five years. At first, I just thought that those posters that are mean in their posts is the same as how they mingle in person. But it is not true. The real world is very different in the internet world. I do honestly say that I get mean sometimes because I have to. Sometimes we just have to be mean to realize the other's fault. There are some people who are only sticking to their OWN opinion and doesn't want to clash to others. Others are not really following message boards guidelines and policies and take it for granted, which I really pissed off. Following those things are common sense. On the other hand, being is mean is fun sometime especially to the newbies in the message booard. lolz.

Yes , some people do get cheap thrills out of being mean to other people, even when not being instigated. Although I find it very irksome, I prefer keeping quiet, so as not to make it any worse by getting into a silly online argument.

I believe that the Internet has this effect on people that they feel they can answer more rudely than they would in normal life because they can't see and don't know the person they are responding to. I see it as an extension of something we all do from time to time when, for example, we read something in the paper or hear or see something on the radio or TV that we perhaps feel is stupid or ignorant. We may make a comment to our companions (or just to thin air!). Of course, we know that comment is hardly likely to get to the ears of the person we are berating, so we think little of it. Discussion boards and forums, are subtly different. It is easy to post a response without thinking and I suspect that most people who appear rude in what they post are actually no more or less rude than the rest of us (as a whole) but don't stop to think that a comment they might make in private just to relieve their feelings is not the same as a comment made in a public forum! I leave aside the ethics of making such comments in public or private! Strictly speaking, I suppose, it could be argued that it makes no difference whether we voice our criticism or ridicule or not - it is the thinking of it that matters! Personally, I don't put such a fine point on it. If I catch myself thinking ill of someone for what I see as ignorance or stupidity, I don't consider it commendable but at least they didn't hear my thoughts and so weren't hurt by them!

Some of them do it just to get a rise and it quickly becomes obvious...they are just out to antagonize for whatever reason. Others tend to be know-it-all and they are right and that's that. Depending on the topic, they can come across as arrogant and mean. Some are just simply having a bad day. I too have learned to ignore most of the time. sometimes I still buy into it and then regret it after.

When people are rude, just ignore them. They can be as mean as they like here on the discussion board for they are not answerable to anybody and can give vent to their true nature. Some people enjoy being mean and cutting people down, so when such people write, dont bother to read any of their other replies and calmly ignore them. When they dont get any replies back, they will know. Who cares for such types. Relax and enjoy mylotting.

I am not sure why people are mean to others but it happens and it is quite annoying to see too. As I have found there is always the odd one or two who just seem to get fun out of trying to hurt or belittle someone else and I just do not see the point in it at all. I have had people make below the belt digs at me and I take it with a pinch of salt, most of the time I am able to ignore it. However, there have been a couple of occasions when someone has made a dig at my capabilities of being a parent and that is something I just cannot tolerate. But that said, I am always polite in my response back and just make a point of pointing out that their comment was uncalled for. I mean, online what is the point of an argument, I just cannot argue online. Actually I cannot argue in real life without making a mess of it LOL.

I'm afraid I have sometimes been rude to people on another site because I felt they were just there to make trouble and not to ask genuine questions or answer properly. They didn't suggest any topics, and didn't answer anything - they only butted in to other people's discussions with snarky comments that had nothing to do with the topic. Sometimes I do feel I've been very childish and feel sorry about it, but sometimes in the heat of the moment I've typed things without putting my brain into gear. I'm trying harder to think first these days!

There are people who are rude, mean and nasty out there; it could be that they have had a bad day, and are letting go 'steam'. Or they are being trampled upon every single day, and they dare not challenge or answer back so they will take it out on others through the internet. I find this very cowardly indeed. You can be very sure that others will not choose to approach these people for help, advice or whatsoever. So don't let them get to you.. have a good day!

Personally, I just think that people act mean on discussion boards just for their own ego boost. In their minds, they're always right and know everything; and they want to prove that to everyone else too. I used to always be tempted to argue back with anyone who has a nasty attitude online, whether they were rude to me or if I had to argue in defense of someone else. Now though, I have no trouble just ignoring people online who are being mean. I convince myself that they're only being rude for the sake of being rude, and they make absolutely no contribution to the board. It would simply be a waste of time and energy to try and get any sort of reason into them.

moonlitmagikchild I have gone to bat several times here when someone attacked a friend of mine for no reason other than plain meanness. I hate some innocent ;person being attacked like that. they must just enjoy hurting someone, is all I can figure out. I have reported several of these to mylot when they out and out insulted someone. If it happens to me I just report it and do not fight with anyone over it.