Anonymity is a Powerful Drug

(Graphic courtesy of phys.org)

Closing in on two weeks of both lurking and participating (or trying to) in several social media communities, and I've been reading more comments and responses than I have ever before.

Granted, I cannot imagine a more tumultuous two-week period to voluntarily do a deep dive into social media than these weeks following the death of George Floyd, with the ensuing protests and demonstrations.  Social media discussions have not been for the faint of heart, but for those willing to jump into the virtual speaker's corner to talk their mind.  And in the last two weeks, the comment themes seem to bounce between anger over events and the scope and method of change needed.

While viewing various sub-Reddit groups, I found a post from a woman who said while she normally finds Reddit to be a community of nice people, she has recently found more people to be "unnecessarily rude."   She mentions people that make "irrelevant asshole comments" that have made her recently consider deleting her Reddit account.

I also have noticed discussion threads which trend one point of view, and those who post an opposing view are attacked verbally.  One respondent to the woman's post made a very prescient observation: "Anonymity is a powerful drug."   It can allow people to speak with rudeness without the danger of being called out publicly.  And while there are social media policies banning hate speech, etc., I've seen numerous derogatory, incendiary comments across the platform that are just out there.  In these instances, I feel that social media is truly the "bully pulpit."

So as much as I support free speech and I always will, in all its flavors...some sweet, other burning hot...I recognize the true control I have over all this discord is the ability to simply disengage for a while.