The World of Anonymous Comments

I don’t know about you but I love the internet. It gives us news in a whole new way. It enables us to have news that is interactive. It gives us the ability to change who we are or maybe not change who we are but project our true inner selves, feelings, thoughts, things we may not say if we were face to face or even if we weren’t, say, anonymous? Following?

Pick a news story. Any news story. It doesn’t matter which one. If its information you desire read the actual story and hope that the news source is unbiased. If its entertainment you’re after then skip the actual story and head straight for the comment section. It doesn’t matter what the story is about or the news source, the comment sections seem to bring out a plethora of personalities and judgments. Ok, so I kid, slightly.

So let’s see. If we read political news you’re either a baby killing liberal who has never worked a day in your life and wants “my” taxes to support your lazy lifestyle, OR you’re a rich fat cat who got your job because of who you know and you hate anyone who makes under a certain income and it is your fault that there are hungry kids or homeless people in the world. There is no middle ground. You must be one or the other.

Car accidents? Let’s see….they fall under loads of categories. You must be a terrible person who was drunk, texting while driving, talking on your phone while driving, carelessly disregarding all others on the roads and sidewalks, or just really in a hurry. Of course the cops are usually to blame as well. With their bloated salaries they should  put on their red capes and be everywhere. Right?

Crime? Those are especially interesting comment sections. First we have the wanna be vigilantes who post all of the creative and interesting ways they’d make the perp pay. Of course things like presumption of innocence or jury of peers never enter into their thought process. Heads should roll!!!  Among other things.

Then there are the posts from people who consider things like presumption of innocence. Typically though they aren’t posting because they feel the accused should be tried before a jury. No. Declare their innocence in the comment section and figure out how the cops, who never seem to be where they’re supposed to be, now have magically appeared and have not followed proper procedure, abused their power, or violated rights in some way. Again, there is no middle ground. You MUST choose one side or the other. Please.

Should I even get into teenagers? Either they are a product of terrible parenting or the poor parents had NO idea what their creative little genius was doing behind their backs. It doesn’t matter if they get hit by a car or rob a liquor store. Somehow a parent must be to blame and we are reminded of the good ole days when kids roamed the streets barefoot, drank out of a hose, and moms could yell “dinner,” and kids came running from miles away.

Now I don’t know about anyone reading this, but I’m not perfect. Sometimes people get confused and think I am or think I make that claim, but I don’t. I’ve made more than my share of mistakes in life. In fact, I’ve probably exceeded my given limit. I have a few kids that aren’t perfect and could be used as examples of not always knowing what way is the right way as a mom, but I still love them and they still love me and that counts for a lot in my book.

When did we become a society that cannot wait to pounce? And if we are so sure that our judgment is always needed and welcomed, why do we do it anonymously? If you’re so sure that John Doe is the scum of the earth why not put your name behind that assertion? Your real name. If you’re convinced that little Johnny is the scum of the earth and that his parents are terrible people who must have never taught him right from wrong and you feel the overwhelming desire to tell the world, please, feel free to tell them. Shout it from the rooftop, but shout your own identity as well. I mean isn’t it fair that if you’re going to judge and convict people that they should be able to make their own judgments as well? You know, have the opportunity to face their accuser? Even in a comment section?