David Pogue asks why can’t people be civil online?

In the New York Times David Pogue asks what happened to online etiquette?

Good question David. I’ve seen some pretty bizarre things said in the blog world this week.

I don’t think we can get people to be nicer online. So, I figure let’s have fun with it!

It’s “be mean to Scoble week.” Say something mean to me. Abuse me. Swear at me. Kick my behind. Tell me what a worthless piece of **** that I am.

Or, say nice things about David. Whatever you want. On this post’s comments.

Comments

  1. Rob La Gesse says:

    Meanest think I can say – and I do belive it’s accurate – you used to do a better job interacting with commentors – not just responding to one or two random posts, but actually folloing up on what they suggst to you. I know you are buys, but it was more fun when Scobleizer was more interactive.

    Rob

  2. Rob La Gesse says:

    Meanest think I can say – and I do belive it’s accurate – you used to do a better job interacting with commentors – not just responding to one or two random posts, but actually folloing up on what they suggst to you. I know you are buys, but it was more fun when Scobleizer was more interactive.

    Rob

  3. Rob La Gesse says:

    damn old Toshiba 1st Gen tablet pc (but it still works!). Some keys don’t work – ot I foget to hit them! Sorry for the typos :)

    Rob

  4. Rob La Gesse says:

    damn old Toshiba 1st Gen tablet pc (but it still works!). Some keys don’t work – ot I foget to hit them! Sorry for the typos :)

    Rob

  5. Rob: good criticism. I, indeed, have been busier lately. Not sure that the world is ever gonna slow down. Sigh.

  6. Rob: good criticism. I, indeed, have been busier lately. Not sure that the world is ever gonna slow down. Sigh.

  7. Eric TF Bat says:

    Oh, I can’t go to all that trouble. That’s what teh intarweb is for!

  8. Eric TF Bat says:

    Oh, I can’t go to all that trouble. That’s what teh intarweb is for!

  9. Rob La Gesse says:

    Robert – this thread caused me to write down something I’ve been doing for a while – coming up with ways to prune my feeds:
    http://lagesse.org/index.php/2006/12/14/blog-pruning-101/

    Rob

  10. Rob La Gesse says:

    Robert – this thread caused me to write down something I’ve been doing for a while – coming up with ways to prune my feeds:
    http://lagesse.org/index.php/2006/12/14/blog-pruning-101/

    Rob

  11. Tom F says:

    Robert Scoble:

    “He may look like an idiot and talk like an idiot, but don’t let that fool you………..He really IS an idiot.”

    (borrowed from Groucho Marx)

  12. Tom F says:

    Robert Scoble:

    “He may look like an idiot and talk like an idiot, but don’t let that fool you………..He really IS an idiot.”

    (borrowed from Groucho Marx)

  13. Eric: that’s funny.

  14. Eric: that’s funny.

  15. Robert you are a big doody head.

    Sorry I have 4 kids 7 and under remember? This is the best I could do under pressure.

  16. Jim Turner says:

    Robert you are a big doody head.

    Sorry I have 4 kids 7 and under remember? This is the best I could do under pressure.

  17. Bess says:

    You are too funny! I dare you to dress like a Darth Vader at our “Browser War: Episode II – Attacks of the DOMs”. I dare you and I dare you…

  18. Bess says:

    You are too funny! I dare you to dress like a Darth Vader at our “Browser War: Episode II – Attacks of the DOMs”. I dare you and I dare you…

  19. Rob Jones says:

    My theory is that people are so mean online as there are no consequences to their actions. Instead of dwelling on this background noise, I prefer to think of your recent posts when in the UK:

    “I’ll be touring London with the “pissed as newts” tour. Meet at 1 p.m. at the Eros statue.”

    While this is still possible (and assuming you had a good time with the folk that showed up), I have hope for civilization.
    Obligatory abuse: Get a decent haircut man!

    Rob.

  20. Rob Jones says:

    My theory is that people are so mean online as there are no consequences to their actions. Instead of dwelling on this background noise, I prefer to think of your recent posts when in the UK:

    “I’ll be touring London with the “pissed as newts” tour. Meet at 1 p.m. at the Eros statue.”

    While this is still possible (and assuming you had a good time with the folk that showed up), I have hope for civilization.
    Obligatory abuse: Get a decent haircut man!

    Rob.

  21. A civil Internet? Must have been before my time. I’m still new to it since I didn’t get an Internet account until around 1983 or so. It’s been a pretty rough and tumble place to hold a discussion since I’ve been around it.

  22. Where’s the fun in being nice all the time – what a dull world that would be.
    It’s human nature to get a bit grumpy from time to time.
    The nastiest thing I can think of saying today though is “There is no future in video blogging” – where’s the value add?, what does it give me that text doesn’t?. Also you need to get a few tips of the guys at youTube because “buffering” isn’t a word I like to see – OK so quicktime says “transferring” instead but it’s not good.
    Also when I go to http://www.podtech.net/scobleshow/ I want to click play and have it play on that page, not open another one and then I have to click again which opens yet another window.
    They should all play straight from the front page and start pretty much immediately.

  23. Where’s the fun in being nice all the time – what a dull world that would be.
    It’s human nature to get a bit grumpy from time to time.
    The nastiest thing I can think of saying today though is “There is no future in video blogging” – where’s the value add?, what does it give me that text doesn’t?. Also you need to get a few tips of the guys at youTube because “buffering” isn’t a word I like to see – OK so quicktime says “transferring” instead but it’s not good.
    Also when I go to http://www.podtech.net/scobleshow/ I want to click play and have it play on that page, not open another one and then I have to click again which opens yet another window.
    They should all play straight from the front page and start pretty much immediately.

  24. A civil Internet? Must have been before my time. I’m still new to it since I didn’t get an Internet account until around 1983 or so. It’s been a pretty rough and tumble place to hold a discussion since I’ve been around it.

  25. JoeC says:

    Ditto to #12. Doesn’t anyone remember “flame wars?” The flaming rant was practically invented on the Internet.

  26. JoeC says:

    Ditto to #12. Doesn’t anyone remember “flame wars?” The flaming rant was practically invented on the Internet.

  27. Russ Henry says:

    There are three types of people.
    Great people … talk about ideals,
    Average people … talk about things, and
    Small people talk about other people.

    If a dog had 4 legs and a tail and you call the tail a leg; how many legs would the dog have?
    Four. Calling the tail a leg does not make it a leg.

    WOW words of wisedumb. ; )

    Oh yeah; Robert doesn’t cover enough Tech stuff. LOL

  28. Russ Henry says:

    There are three types of people.
    Great people … talk about ideals,
    Average people … talk about things, and
    Small people talk about other people.

    If a dog had 4 legs and a tail and you call the tail a leg; how many legs would the dog have?
    Four. Calling the tail a leg does not make it a leg.

    WOW words of wisedumb. ; )

    Oh yeah; Robert doesn’t cover enough Tech stuff. LOL

  29. rob says:

    merry christmas

    :-O

  30. rob says:

    merry christmas

    :-O

  31. Dave says:

    The meanest thing I can say? You’ve lost your relevence.

    J/K. But that would be a very mean thing to say. :-)

  32. Dave says:

    The meanest thing I can say? You’ve lost your relevence.

    J/K. But that would be a very mean thing to say. :-)

  33. arcanecode says:

    Robert Scoble is a Space Alien and I’m Carrying His Love Child! (See my Dec 11th blog entry http://arcanecode.wordpress.com/2006/12/11/robert-scoble-is-a-space-alien-and-im-carrying-his-love-child/)

  34. arcanecode says:

    Robert Scoble is a Space Alien and I’m Carrying His Love Child! (See my Dec 11th blog entry http://arcanecode.wordpress.com/2006/12/11/robert-scoble-is-a-space-alien-and-im-carrying-his-love-child/)

  35. Ben Fulton says:

    My thoughts? You use too many question marks. Why? It appears to be some sort of pseudo-conversation you’re having with yourself. My recommendation? Use a more essay-like sentence structure. The big picture? The blog still rocks, keep it up.

  36. Ben Fulton says:

    My thoughts? You use too many question marks. Why? It appears to be some sort of pseudo-conversation you’re having with yourself. My recommendation? Use a more essay-like sentence structure. The big picture? The blog still rocks, keep it up.

  37. Keith Patrick says:

    Rob, your hair look like it fought a Flowbee and lost.

  38. Keith Patrick says:

    Rob, your hair look like it fought a Flowbee and lost.

  39. . :-( When people do not have to l@@K others in the eye – their empathy sometimes is decreased, and there’s less hesitancy in allowing your words to reflect your current mood or the moment or general disposition :-(

  40. . :-( When people do not have to l@@K others in the eye – their empathy sometimes is decreased, and there’s less hesitancy in allowing your words to reflect your current mood or the moment or general disposition :-(