Yes, it does. Both because I feel sad for the disrespected party, and because it’s frustrating to see people resort to contempt. Especially when I agree with their general point – I can’t help but groan inside, and wonder why they couldn’t state their beliefs more elegantly.

That’s probably why I became a mod. But also, they made all sorts of promises. I was supposed to receive cookies and the illusion of always being right. Still waiting…

@longgone – lol! :)

@longgone But did you get to read the unredacted CIA thread?
Sometimes it bothers me. As on Fluther, if a new person seems to be getting a hard time for their question that seems real and important to them, I might speak up. But, if a person comes on fluther and asks the same exact question under different user names, I’ll also speak up.
Or if a user keeps defending certain politicians without a backup source, I’ll try to torture them.

Particularly when It’s mob mentality & they swarm like vultures.
Clearly there are those who hide behind the anonymity the internet affords them & their dark souls run amok.

@ucme -Hence my curiosity about face to face interaction.

Yes, it really does actually. Some should recall the old advice of ‘If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything’. I myself have been trying that more often and scrolling on.

@lucillelucillelucille I imagine a site like this but all interaction is done by skype or facetime.
Would probably weed out the hostile, fake buggers, as face to face, they’d be a fish out of water.

@KNOWITALL -Me too, :)

@ucme No Skype. Skype bad.

@lucillelucillelucille Oh yeah, I forgot lol

@lucillelucillelucille One friend here who has different beliefs than I has really got it hard a few times lately. The part that bothers me is that she is one of the only people here, who will PM BEFORE getting upset to clarify, and it’s almost always a misunderstanding. She is so level-headed that it does hurt to see her jumped on so much lately, when I know she’s already having a tough time. It’s like some want to see harm where none is meant. Sad.

@KNOWITALL -I suppose one could clarify publicly but sometimes that would not even help as people are too far invested in their opinion.

If you want to loved, you have to be lovable.
If you want to be respected, you have to be respectable.

@josie To a degree, yes. I’m not sure being loved or respected is as valuable here, as being ‘right’ though. Shoving your opinion down other peoples throat doesnt change opinions, just makes you an obnoxious online random.