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My pet hypothesis is that, if your social life is primarily mediated through a computer, you're effectively performing a version of the Harlow's rhesus monkey e

My pet hypothesis is that, if your social life is primarily mediated through a computer, you're effectively performing a version of the Harlow's rhesus monkey experiments on yourself. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Harlow https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Harlow My much more charitable hypothesis is that it's just easier to take your frustrations with life in general out on the Internet, because it's so easy - especially when you're experiencing stress or anxiety - to lose track of the full reality of the fact that there's another real live person at the other end of the tube. Basically, the Internet encourages us to behave solipsistically.

xeromal 6y ago
I love this idea. I have a pet idea too that's a little different. You know how dogs get fence anxiety which causing them to viciously bark or attack the fence when they see another dog or strange person? Oftentimes, if you open the fence and let them greet the dog or person, they are completely at ease. They just don't like being unable to assess the situation. I see the internet or driving cars as an example of that. You don't see the human behind the computer or car, you just see the enemy and you act accordingly. I think if you had to meet or see that person face to face, you'd automatically have empathy and no longer be a dick.
- mumblemumble 6y ago
  Agreed. That's actually one of the reasons why I hate driving, and prefer to use public transit whenever possible. I can feel the experience of being in a car making me less empathetic.
  - xeromal 6y ago
    Yeah, A lot of people say I've very friendly and I do my best to be a great human bean, but I definitely road rage from time to time and it makes me sad. Self-driving cars and more public transit can't come any sooner!
- MauranKilom 6y ago
  Word-less xkcd about this: https://xkcd.com/438/ https://xkcd.com/438/
watwut 6y ago
At least some if not most of these people are doing exactly same thing to people they meant normally. They do it to juniors, colleagues, partners, siblings. But in real life it is easier to tell you off. They do it pretty much anyone who is not in position to set boundaries and stop them.

xeromal 6y ago

I love this idea. I have a pet idea too that's a little different. You know how dogs get fence anxiety which causing them to viciously bark or attack the fence when they see another dog or strange person? Oftentimes, if you open the fence and let them greet the dog or person, they are completely at ease. They just don't like being unable to assess the situation. I see the internet or driving cars as an example of that. You don't see the human behind the computer or car, you just see the enemy and you act accordingly. I think if you had to meet or see that person face to face, you'd automatically have empathy and no longer be a dick.

mumblemumble 6y ago
Agreed. That's actually one of the reasons why I hate driving, and prefer to use public transit whenever possible. I can feel the experience of being in a car making me less empathetic.
- xeromal 6y ago
  Yeah, A lot of people say I've very friendly and I do my best to be a great human bean, but I definitely road rage from time to time and it makes me sad. Self-driving cars and more public transit can't come any sooner!
MauranKilom 6y ago
Word-less xkcd about this: https://xkcd.com/438/ https://xkcd.com/438/

watwut 6y ago

At least some if not most of these people are doing exactly same thing to people they meant normally. They do it to juniors, colleagues, partners, siblings. But in real life it is easier to tell you off. They do it pretty much anyone who is not in position to set boundaries and stop them.