Cyber-trashing the issues
Toolbox
By WALT AMSES - Published: November 18, 2009
I certainly understand why someone would want to post anonymously on The Times Argus Web site/message boards. A number of legitimate reasons have been provided in letters and subsequent on-line comments ranging from "I don't want my boss to know my politics" to "It's my right as an American to express my opinion." When one poster suggested that I would "die soon and nobody would care" and went on to describe what I was wearing, I even considered adopting a pseudonym for myself.
Most contributors make consistently reasonable points in mostly respectful ways. Coincidently, many of them are real people, posting under their real names. Although there are several anonymous posters with whom I disagree on most points, but we're still able to have a reasonable exchange of viewpoints.
But a core group of nameless, mostly conservative antagonists – known collectively as "trolls" – generally hijack every exchange, using The Times Argus space as a platform for hatred, viciously attacking anyone perceived left of Joseph McCarthy while remaining completely unaccountable themselves. Much of their commentary is strictly from the Sarah Palin-Glenn Beck lexicon of "dumb is good; irrational hatred is even better."
President Barack Obama, frequently called "Obammy," is a prime target, responsible for everything wrong on Earth. But so, too, are "socialists" and the ever-present "despicable Libs," locally this translates to shoppers at the Hunger Mountain Co-op. Gay-straight alliances become "Teen Homo Clubs"; teachers unions are "more dangerous than terrorism"; while the September demonstration in Montpelier, replete with "God hates queers" banners and vile rhetoric, somehow was justifiable.
Single-payer health care would "make it easier to justify legalizing marijuana, easier to abuse and get for their own use, cheaper … Then u wont have Barney Frank and his boyfriends with male prostitution rings and then getting busted for growing and selling pot, or trading for sex, same thing." (Times Argus Online, Nov. 14)
Huh? You can't make this stuff up.
It's difficult for me to read, not only because apparently people actually believe it, but, unfortunately, I haven't had the discipline not to engage. There have been times the last few months that I've felt like I was pulling someone's hair on the Jerry Springer show. Homophobia, racism, xenophobia, sexism, religious claptrap, anti-science rhetoric run rampant in cyber conversations and seemingly need rebuke.
I labored under the delusion that all this mindless venom would stop if faced with rational dialogue, but I don't believe that anymore. A more likely scenario is that the simple act of participating lends credence to illogical points, fantastic claims and outright lies. Just as allowing "intelligent design" discussions in science class provides creationism-in-disguise an undeserved foot in the door of legitimacy, debating with anonymous morons provides the illusion that they have something to say.
As if being easily triggered by all of this isn't embarrassing enough, believing what I said – if I said it rationally – would matter to anyone on the Teabag Express was not only building castles in the air, but expecting to turn them into condos. I've learned my lesson, however long it's taken.
I wouldn't expect The Times Argus to change the policy; there are actually some good reasons not to. And there's a disclaimer on the message boards that clearly states profanity, personal attacks and inappropriate comments will not be condoned. Posters who cross the line have been removed and banned from further participation.
I don't believe the commentators will change tactics anytime soon either. Most are too steeped in angry, far right ideology to see anything else clearly, save perhaps Fox News bromides and canned talking points. In fact, while reading this, they're breathlessly reaching for their keyboards, trembling with anticipation, anxious for battle.
But from this point on they're going to be battling someone other than me. I'm finished reinforcing hate-mongers, spewing nonsense so outrageous that they hide behind pseudonyms, too irresponsible and self-centered to monitor what they say, and – understandably – too embarrassed to be identified.
Walt Amses is a regular letter writer and blog contributor from Williamstown.
Editor's note: The Times Argus accepts only signed letters to the editor. Because of the nature of online commentary, it's not possible to verify identities. Users are encouraged to contact The Times Argus staff if they see objectionable content, which is then acted upon appropriately.
5