>What I have come to feel is that my use of the internet is mostly driven by rage - and it seems to be similar for a lot of people. On HN I waste time trying to correct people who will never in a million years be swayed by a random internet comment.
Interesting. I can empathize - I wonder if there is a natural progression of Internet participation, driven by age and personality.
Stage 1: wide-eyed wonder, and naivety. Ability to be impressed by the most mundane of cat pictures.
Stage 2: a misguided effort to set the world right by correcting people on the Internet one at a time. AKA "Why are there so many idiots online". AKA XKCD's "I can't go to sleep, someone is wrong on the Internet!" strip.
Stage 3: jadedness, cynicism. Correcting people takes too much effort, so mostly snide complaints and bitter comments.
Stage 4: disengagement. What's the point anymore.
Stage 5: enlightenment. Realizing that being negative about everything isn't all that great. Accepting that Internet comments are, on average, what they are. Engaging for specific purposes only: obtain information, develop an idea, practice writing, or - heaven forbid - just to be helpful.
Stage 6: ???
Of course, it's possible most people are just permanently stuck on one stage or another.
Interesting. I can empathize - I wonder if there is a natural progression of Internet participation, driven by age and personality.
Stage 1: wide-eyed wonder, and naivety. Ability to be impressed by the most mundane of cat pictures.
Stage 2: a misguided effort to set the world right by correcting people on the Internet one at a time. AKA "Why are there so many idiots online". AKA XKCD's "I can't go to sleep, someone is wrong on the Internet!" strip.
Stage 3: jadedness, cynicism. Correcting people takes too much effort, so mostly snide complaints and bitter comments.
Stage 4: disengagement. What's the point anymore.
Stage 5: enlightenment. Realizing that being negative about everything isn't all that great. Accepting that Internet comments are, on average, what they are. Engaging for specific purposes only: obtain information, develop an idea, practice writing, or - heaven forbid - just to be helpful.
Stage 6: ???
Of course, it's possible most people are just permanently stuck on one stage or another.