Earlier today I made a statement on IRC on a matter which I hadn't really given much thought, and had only read about sketchily in some on-line forum debates. I didn't think much about the statement as it didn't really directly effect any one person and was definitely not a "hot" topic on the specific channel either. As soon as it was out though I was questioned on it, asked to explain it, defend it... I soon realized I could not, and without much struggle I conceded that I was in error, and life on the Internet went on as normal.
The experience however has lingered with me the whole time. Sure, it wasn't nice being shown up like that, but more over, I realized I didn't like the fact that I had made up my mind based on so little information and giving a subject so little thought.
This is definitely a danger of life on-line. A danger of the anonymous fast pace Cyber World in which millions find themselves each and every day. There are those spewing malice on-line, having made up there minds without any thought, safe behind there LCD monitors and there beliefs. Hundreds if not thousand of fan-boys on just about any subject out there... there only criteria for their opinion being who seems to have the same one. Log into just about any on-line forum and have a look. Their are even those who unfortunately go to great lengths to enlighten themselves and form a sound opinion on a matter just to have been deceived by the sources they used.
Now the paragraph above was not my attempt to list all the various methods that someone can derive at an opinion, it was just some thoughts on the matter I just had, as I am reserving any opinion on this topic (and on many others to come in the future I am sure). I will however try and ensure that any thing I say, stems from thorough forethought on the matter at hand, and doubly so on-line where the dangers of not engaging ones mind before ones... "keyboard" ... is so very great.
The experience however has lingered with me the whole time. Sure, it wasn't nice being shown up like that, but more over, I realized I didn't like the fact that I had made up my mind based on so little information and giving a subject so little thought.
This is definitely a danger of life on-line. A danger of the anonymous fast pace Cyber World in which millions find themselves each and every day. There are those spewing malice on-line, having made up there minds without any thought, safe behind there LCD monitors and there beliefs. Hundreds if not thousand of fan-boys on just about any subject out there... there only criteria for their opinion being who seems to have the same one. Log into just about any on-line forum and have a look. Their are even those who unfortunately go to great lengths to enlighten themselves and form a sound opinion on a matter just to have been deceived by the sources they used.
Now the paragraph above was not my attempt to list all the various methods that someone can derive at an opinion, it was just some thoughts on the matter I just had, as I am reserving any opinion on this topic (and on many others to come in the future I am sure). I will however try and ensure that any thing I say, stems from thorough forethought on the matter at hand, and doubly so on-line where the dangers of not engaging ones mind before ones... "keyboard" ... is so very great.
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