Is there a connection between technology and rudeness?
I own a cell phone with a cheap pre-paid plan.
The phone stays turned off, until the rare occasion when I need to use it. I carry it for emergencies when I drive my car, or ride my bike.
I have no desire to be in instant contact with everyone else on this planet; I have managed to come this far in my life without that option.
On the other hand, I embrace the Internet; anyone can find me fairly easily and contact me by email, and many do.
It keeps me extremely busy trying to respond them all, and I sometimes fail in the attempt. Which is one of the reasons I do not need the rest of my waking hours, to be spent with a cell phone in my ear.
This is not just another "Old Man’s Lament" post about how things were better in my day. Things were not necessarily better in the old days; it is just that some of us, having lived a little longer, saw the changes take place and because of that can see both the positive and negative aspects resulting from change.
Do cell phones and the Internet make us more sociable? I think the reverse is true. It enables us to be in contact with an ever-increasing number of long distance relationships, at the expense of those closer to us.
It used to be a person would walk into a bar, order a drink, and then socialize with the bartender or others seated at the bar. Today a person walks into a bar, orders a drink, and immediately flips open a cell phone.
They become oblivious to everyone around them as they hold a long distance conversation with someone maybe sitting alone in some other bar. The person will often finish their drink, and their conversation, then leave the bar having made no verbal or even eye contact with anyone there.
Even in situations where there is an opportunity for chance encounters, they no longer happen. Two people in a Laundromat for example; in pre-cell phone times they would at least exchange a smile and a few words.
Today, chances are at least one or even both are talking on cell phones. They are too busy socializing long distance, and totally ignore each other. Completely missing the opportunity to socialize face-to-face right where they are.
Even though the Internet is my favoured medium; I am dismayed at the rudeness shown on Internet forums. If a person is rude to a stranger online simply because they can remain anonymous, is there a chance that rudeness will spill over into their every day lives? I can't see where being rude online helps a person with their social skills in interacting with others in day to day situations.
The cyclist, who posts an angry comment on an Internet forum, is just as likely to get on his bike and flip a finger at the first motorist they perceived had made a wrong move. Both the cyclist and motorist do not see a fellow human being, but some anonymous figure; much like the one on the Internet.
Much of the carnage on our roads today is caused by rude, angry people behind the steering wheel. Rude, angry cyclists are mostly a danger only to themselves. How did these people become so consumed by anger? It does seem to be a growing trend.
When I started cycling, I was fortunate that I was able to join a cycling club. There were other members of the club, older and more experienced, who taught me all I needed to know about the bicycle and the skills required to ride it.
Today, there are still such local clubs, but it seems most would prefer to go on Internet forums as their source of knowledge. The problem is the experienced people with knowledge to share do not go there because they are often treated with contempt and rudeness.
There is now a whole generation for whom there has always been an Internet, and cell phones, and there has always been rudeness. Rudeness is accepted as the norm. One time when I protested the online rudeness, I was told, “It’s an Internet forum, what do you expect?” Actually, I expected politeness, how naive of me.
Rudeness has no beneficiaries, either those dishing out the rudeness or the recipient. It makes people angry; the person being rude is angry because they see themselves as right in a situation and the other person is an idiot. And of course the recipient of the rudeness is also angry.
Just as the person on their cell phone ignores the person standing next to them, there are some who will stumble on one article I have written here, and then shoot off some angry comment dismissing the article as “BS by an arrogant SOB.” This happened just last week on Bike Forums.
If only the person, instead of responding in anger because they disagreed with my view, had taken a moment to peruse my profile, and learn a little more about me. Maybe if they had read a few more articles here, they may have actually learned something about bicycles.
By being angry and rude, they missed an opportunity to improve their knowledge, simply because they did not take the time to get to know me.
The Internet is a wonderful thing; however, it is an entity with very few rules and relies on human decency to operate smoothly. Human decency breaks down when people become detached from each other.
Could the cause of this breakdown be over use of the Internet, and other technology like cell phones? Those of us online, find the thread that attaches us is extremely fragile to begin with. People are naturally social beings, and need that personal contact.
Rudeness drives people apart; it isolates the person being rude. Are we in danger of becoming a race of rude, angry, and lonely people, with few social skills?
Hang up the phone and look at the person standing next to you. Look at the author of what you are reading on your computer screen. It is entirely possible that he is not just some “Wanker” trying to push your buttons; he may actually have something worthwhile to say.
Reader Comments (20)
While I think face to face contact is important too we shouldn't devalue the conversation on the cell phone or internet chat.
Of course, as I post I'm watching Le Tour by myself on my computer rather than the local pub (where it wouldn't be playing here anyway ...)
But as for cellphone use, I use mine exactly how Dave uses his, and I mean exactly. Pre-paid minutes, phone on only when I happen to need it, and it's used mostly to carry in case of an emergency on my rides, drives and walks. The phone companies aren't making much money off me, that's for sure. I've been operating off the same $25 "card" I bought for my phone more than a year ago.
I really don't know where all the rudeness is coming from. It's not only on internet forums, it's everywhere, in every aspect of life. I suspect that humanity just wasn't made to be "on" all the time, without any downtime. The true origin of the 7th day of rest may be lost in the eons of pre-history, and it may have nothing to do with any deity, but it sure was nice to have at least one quiet, non-shopping, non-business day in life.
Everything is on and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a week. When you combine that with the need to be absolutely fundamental in everything which the internet and 24 hour news channels encourage, and the competition to be perfect or the best in everything at all times, I think people just crack under the pressure. Rudeness is just one symptom of it.
By the way Mr. Moulton, I don't always agree with all of your comments (the non-cycling ones), but I sure do appreciate your blog and your website. It's one of my favourite places on the internet.
As a suggestion for further contemplation on the influence of technology on society, I suggest picking up the book "Amusing ourselves to death" by Neil Postman. I decided to read it after hearing a short blurb by his son (Andrew Postman) on NPR. Along the same lines, he mentioned how the internet was touted as a tool that would shrink the world and allow individuals to experience new and wonderful things in their lives, and interact with individuals from all over. But really, when you come down to it, the internet allows us to interact with a plastic screen. (As I type this I'm sitting in my office ignoring my office-mate who's seated 4 feet away).
The book was written in 1984 as a response to Orwell's "1984". He puts forth some incredibly compelling arguments as to how technology has come to shape our lives to the extent that it's our apathy that will lead to our subservience, rather than "the man", as Orwell suggested. What makes it even more prophetic is the fact that it was written in 1984 before the technology revolution as we think of it today. His predictions of how technology will influence the modern day lifestyle are chillingly accurate.
But, I digress. In summary, fantastic post!
As someone who started posting on the web back when it was still the net (in 1984 coincidentally), I think the behavior you observe lately has been there all along although it does seem to be more prevalent of late. I think the anonymity of on-line communication contributes to a combined sense of "I can say anything I want without retribution" and "My opinion is as good as the next person's". Witness the comments to your post on Bike Forums. I gave up on the old Usenet groups years ago for this very reason, and it saddens but does not surprise me that it continues. The usage of "handles" or "anonymous" instead of names is just another sign of this desire to avoid attribution/retribution.
Disclaimer: I am a POB at this point, having returned to riding a bike just recently after a 30-year lay-off. I rode a lot as a kid, not at all as a younger adult, and am now trying to make up for some lost time. I read this blog and a few others to gain knowledge of bicycling from those with greater experience. We used to respect people for their experience and seek out their opinions. We used to treat their opinions as having greater worth than our own, and at least consider them as worthwhile even if they disagreed with our own. And, if we disagreed, I believe there used to be an idea of "polite disagreement" rather than ignorant and mean-spirited attacks.
I saw little politeness in any of the disagreements to your post, and quite a bit of name-calling. Given the vituperative comments by those listed as "senior members", I am slightly surprised. Perhaps "senior" means something other than what I would assume. I can't say who among your respondents has cycling experience similar to yours, but my guess is damn few.
Anyway, I appreciated the original post and the recent one. I think you fell victim to the common practice in America of thinking that showing respect for another diminishes ones own self-worth. Humility has fallen out of favor, and that's just sad. Please continue to share your opinions, I always find them insightful even if I am not in total agreement.
With Regards,
Hal Render
Here in California, I'm hoping that the new hands-free cell phone law will have a good effect on driver's attentiveness. At least until everyone gets a headset (not the bike kind...)
I've commented before that I'm working on eliminating the curse words and gestures from my cycling repertoire. It working fairly well. A loud "Hey!" is usually all that is required when one encounters an oblivious driver on the road.
Funny you should write about this subject today.
Here's an article you might find interesting from today's LA Times.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-book5-2008jul05,0,6248930.story
You'll meet some truly amazing people if you're willing to spend a little bit of time.
And as to rudeness and the dwindling face to face encounters, I recall some SciFi I read in my youth...(Asimov I believe) in which society had 'evolved' to the point that people no longer had ANY face to face encounters. All communications were done via electronics. They had their robots to do all the menial stuff, and the few remaining humans just lived out their lives in isolation. Seems like we are truly headed that way with Internet and cell phones. I personally despise the phone in general...I'd rather drive (or walk or ride if possible) somewhere to ask my questions than to do it over the phone. My wife thinks it's a phobia. Could be...I do use them, but as sparingly as possible.
And Dave, if I EVER happen into a pub (if there's cask ale, count me IN!) and you are there, I PROMISE I will make eye contact and chat it up! Thats what makes pubs fun! Meeting new people and chatting!
Matt
Many different cycle blogs have been saved to and deleted from my Favorites list over the years. I have to say that your blog, to me, has been the most consistent diet of common sense. I really enjoy reading your thoughts on these everyday matters.
I tagged you in a game. Here's the link
I think that people that were prone to be rude simply have new ways to be rude these days. What's more, people that are immature -- whether they are young people or old adults -- have ways to do so in an increasing number of places.
I own a cell phone, and I started using the Internet as a teenager back before there was a Web (in the days of FTP, Gopher, and Usenet). There are communities of all sorts on the Internet, just as there are in real life. There are some towns or neighborhoods where I would just not want to live, because the people there are pretentious self-involved ones, or on the other end, there is too much gang activity. And there are online forums I don't want to participate in for the same reasons.
I live in a rural area in Kansas. I have just started commuting to work 3 days a week by bicycle, a distance of 10 miles each way that involves a couple of miles on dirt or sand roads. I know of nobody else in the local community that does anything like this, and the nearest bicycle club is 50 miles away.
The Internet has been great. I have found tips from a Chicago club on bicycle commuting, including on how to make yourself presentable at work if you don't have access to showers. I have found some people on bikeforums that provided some good safety tips on riding on 65MPH 2-lane rural highways. I found Sheldon Brown's website on bicycling and pain. All have been helpful, and some more so than the people at the nearest bike shop (also 50 miles away) in some instances.
I just got back from a get-together in Nebraska. We met, in person, about two dozen bloggers that we already knew.
I don't think the Internet is reducing my local community; it's adding to it. I have local friends, and am privileged to live in a great rural community. I also have online friends, which I hope to meet someday. But let's face it, living out in Kansas farm country, I'm not running into Linux-progamming, Haskell-using, bicycle commuting, photography-loving, friends. Some of these things people in bigger cities have the opportunity to do (for instance, Flickr groups).
Incidentally, although I own a cellphone, I am one of those that would find it rude to use it in a bar, at a restaurant, etc. Not only to others around me, but defeating the point for myself too. After all, if all I wanted to do is yak on the phone, why bother eating out?
Oh, and it's the same guys in there who are quick to yell, "Elitist!" They are the Anti-elitist Elitists, if you follow. Don't bother responding to them.
As for communication - how many people would be privy to your ideas without technology? People may not be as friendly to strangers in a bar because they're looking at their BlackBerry, but they are keeping up connections with a wider group of friends and relatives than they used to. So they may not make as many shallow acquaintances, but they nurture the deeper friendships they have.
Instant communication allows for people to schedule an impromtu lunch, etc. that used to take a lot of landline phoning back and forth.
Harry
BTW, I have to agree with some of the comments along the line that we don't need any more distinction between the type of people that ride bikes. I'm not a "cyclist". I'm not a POB. I'm a human being that from time to time uses a bike for transportation, just like I've been doing for over 40 years.
have just read today's post on BBC on the cyclist who killed a young girl http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/7496757.stm
Obviously I don't have all the facts but...
I *always* say thanks to the car drivers who show some courtesy/manners. Since I drive a car (as do all of us) this seems almost perfectly circlular.
And we all know that pedestrians *don't* look for non-noisy traffic. So how can this cyclist's behaviour be justified? IMHO, it cannot be justified.
What happened to "treat as you expect to be treated?"
Or am I just another AOGF (angry old grumpy f*cker)