Blogging and the Angry Mob Mentality
Since I started blogging many moons ago, one thing that has never failed to amaze me is how blogging communities will fight tooth and claw when getting into arguments. Call it the blogging possé, if you must, because it seems to be that way. And I don’t mean possé in the (generally obsolete) legal sense (meaning law enforcers deputizing the citizenry for law enforcement functions), but rather in the sense of cliques and gangs.
People tend to act like angry mobs when they feel the need to defend their favorite bloggers. Or taken in a less favorable light, bloggers sometimes tend to gang up on other bloggers (oh, the poor, defenseless things). This kind of activity is polarizing and tends to tear communities apart. You’re forced to choose a side. Otherwise, it’s “if you’re not with us, then you’re against us.”
It’s sickening to think how many blog readers have turned out to be “yes” or “me too” people. Most of the time when you read through the comment threads of blogs (more particularly the personal-oriented blogs), majority, if not all, of comments basically say “I agree” or “me too” or “same here.” I don’t think people have the balls anymore to disagree or at least to give other perspectives. What a shame!
And sometimes I think it’s the fault of a blog owner why his or her readers turn out to be this way. Some bloggers I know would delete or sanitize comments that oppose ideas on their blogs. Sure, that’s fair enough. It’s their blog, after all. But what I find really silly is how other comment-posters would gang up on these people with dissenting (but valid) views. Kind of makes you want to avoid these blogs altogether, eh?
The blogosphere exists for people to have a voice and to express themselves. But where there are people—more especially groups of people—there will inevitably be mass stupidity.
Sharpen yer pitchforks and light yer torches, everyone!
Well, some people do have the inclination to stick with each other, forming cliques, for many reasons: for protection, for fame or popularity, for belongingness. I guess we couldn’t really take this away from the people. Where there are people, there will be groups. Where there are groups, there will be politics.
As Friedrich Nietzsche said, madness is rare in individuals – but in groups, parties, nations, and ages, it is the rule. Some things get blown out of proportion when people aggregate and make a big deal about something trivial. This shouldn’t really be worrisome, as long as it doesn’t get to the extreme.
But this is the internet. Everything’s fair game. So, if you want to hold your own in the face of bullies, you better make sure you can defend yourself.
Prudence said this on August 17, 2007 7:41 pm
Oh, you are so right. I had an epiphany about this topic this past week and now I have (serendipitously) found my way to your site and this article via Chris Pearson’s Pearsonified.
I started my blog out on a controversial subject but I am ashamed to say I have been lulled into mediocrity. I am determined to get my voice back and your article has helped inspire me.
Thanks much.
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