Internet Forums

Bada Bing · #1 09-05-2008, 07:31 AM

I am posting this blurb from Esquire as to why people post on forums and blogs. The first response is interesting theory, the second, by the comedian is pretty funny.

Any other random thoughts you have about forums in general, please post.

From Esquire Magazine:

Major Human Flaw: Posting inane comments online.

Response No. 1, by Paul Levinson, professor of communications at Fordham University and author of the upcoming book New New Media: Everyone has a ratio of satisfaction and frustration. What makes the Internet different is that it's so easy to express this frustration. Sometimes, people are too cowardly to assert themselves in person. They don't want to be shouted down, or they may know that what they're saying is absurd. But for those kinds of people, the anonymous empowerment of the Internet is like a drug. They're not just expressing anger, but authority.

Response No. 2, by Mike Birbiglia, stand-up comedian whose DVD, What I Should Have Said Was Nothing!, is out now: Comments sections offer this great opportunity for morons to show the world they don't know the difference between their,there, and they're. It's as if Brian Williams finished every segment by saying, "That's all I got. Now, does anybody have any batshit-zany e-mails they'd like me to read out loud?" The worst part is, I'll start to second-guess myself: Huh. I thought his name was spelled "Barack Obama," but according to squidbaby44, "Barak HUSSEIN Osama is a secret mooslim!"

Panama Girl · #2 09-05-2008, 10:01 AM

The first one makes a very good point. Also, some of the worst "Im-always-rite-ur-always-rong" posters are not only less educated and/or informed, they are insanely proud of their ignorance. Sad.