The internet tough-guys are out there — keyboard warriors who are spouting off antisemitic, homophobic, xenophobic, racist comments, full-on hate speech, and just being plain mean & hateful. But they’re cowards because they’d never say these things to your face. Why?
Well, you’re aware of road rage, where people go off in a fit of anger while driving. Right? But have you ever heard of sidewalk rage? I am pretty sure you haven’t. The scenario here correlates with the keyboard warrior situation where angry drivers fire off their anger while protected to the metal confines of their car while others feel protected by the anonymity and virtual untraceability of the keyboard. The Internet has created the bravest cowards!
The term keyboard warrior is a misnomer as ‘warrior’ implies that someone is empowering, accomplishing great things, and protecting others. In this case, ‘warrior’ doesn’t accurately describe those trolls who are hiding behind their monitor and using online communication to torture innocent people anonymously.
If these internet tough-guys were face-to-face, they wouldn’t act the same — they know they’d get their face busted. Being basically invisible online, the middle-school bully who never grew up feels powerful, and the resulting aggressive and self-indulgent behavior is posted for all to see via the Internet. Civil and reasonable communication has deteriorated through social media, which is not improving human relationships and behavior.
I try to help men improve their relations and behavior. Still, increasingly I’ve noticed a lot of alpha posers and fake alphas out there, especially those who are infiltrating social media, hiding behind their keyboards, and throwing authenticity, kindness, and confidence out the window. I don’t know why this is happening at such an alarming rate regarding communicating online. Perhaps these same posers online are posers in-person too, but I think that being behind a computer screen emboldens people to say things they usually wouldn’t face to face.
I have seen some super rude and inflammatory comments under my YouTube videos — flat-out posted to be hurtful and inflict damage. Also, explicit vernacular or profanity is completely unacceptable. In both cases, I just turn the other cheek when it’s directed at me. I ignore the trolls as challenging as it may be.
Behind the anonymity of the keyboard, the keyboard warrior can be the alpha male he wants to be without fear of being conquered by others.
Whether IRL or online, don’t spout expletives. It’s just bad taste to throw f-bombs in front of anyone because it shows an offensive and disrespectful side of you that makes people uneasy. You can also be perceived as someone with a limited vocabulary who can’t express himself adequately. What may seem harmless can potentially harm your image a lot.
Also, anytime in life, if someone does say something that rubs you the wrong way, rise above a touchy situation and exercise control of your temper — this speaks volumes about you. Anyone can go off, but the guy who can keep it together displays an emotionally balanced quality, which bleeds over into many arenas and says you’re the guy for the job, the date, whatever. As long as it’s handled properly, nothing’s wrong with getting angry.
Use your words and express yourself without being explosive. I have seen some threads in my social media pages and groups go from 0 to 60 in seconds. Threads can escalate to rude and unkind for almost no reason – and it’s all unnecessary. Whether giving or receiving the advice, make sure you are a gentleman! Keep your cool.
Rising above a tense situation and being the bigger man by showing control and a sense of etiquette says volumes about you. Always remember to be polite even when the other person may not be so polite himself. When interacting online, put yourself in the other person’s shoes and respond the way you want to be responded to. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!
My content is to help people; in turn, some of my viewers ask others for help in my groups and pages. Those who post a laughing emoji to someone’s honest and earnest post asking for advice are being a dick. Ugh – this one really irks me! It’s insensitive and thoughtless — but most of all, it shows the true character of the person responding.
Let’s break down walls instead of building them, gentlemen. Email communication means there’s a thick wall between two people, phone communication means there’s a thin wall, and face-to-face communication means there’s no wall. Right now, we should all be working to break that wall! Kill ’em with kindness, gentleman. And remember, what you put out there, you’ll get back. Live with integrity and purpose. And for those assholes out there who don’t and won’t respect you regardless of what you do– ignore them!
