I think it’s a lack of consequences. If you stood in your town center and said something dumb, people would call you out and shame you for it. It would change your reputation too, at least for a while. If it was really that off the rails you could get arrested or beat up, and you may never want to show your face there again.
Having a global communication system is amazing. Some guy I never met can show me how to fix my house or see things from a different point of view.
BUT there are way more people that are willing to say something dumb, not only in their local chats and posts, but everyone else’s. There can be public ridicule, but there is little chance that someone will find you and kick your ass. Not only that there isn’t really a way for victims to walk away either, which makes cyberbullying so unrelenting.
I think it’s a lack of consequences. If you stood in your town center and said something dumb, people would call you out and shame you for it. It would change your reputation too, at least for a while. If it was really that off the rails you could get arrested or beat up, and you may never want to show your face there again.
Having a global communication system is amazing. Some guy I never met can show me how to fix my house or see things from a different point of view.
BUT there are way more people that are willing to say something dumb, not only in their local chats and posts, but everyone else’s. There can be public ridicule, but there is little chance that someone will find you and kick your ass. Not only that there isn’t really a way for victims to walk away either, which makes cyberbullying so unrelenting.