No Place for Profanity

Why is it some folks feel the need to use profanity simply to communicate? IMNSHO, doing so speaks volumes about the sender.

If you land at my Netiquette site and do not agree with the concept of using technology properly or communicating with courtesy why would you feel the need to call the site and myself four-letter cuss words? What's the point? Does that make them feel better about not practicing Netiquette by "killing the messenger?"

It's not like I am rude in my presentation - although I know I am stern on certain issues. The worst one could say is I call those who don't believe in the concept of Netiquette "knuckleheads."

If you go to my site and assume I am personally calling you a knucklehead - well, mano - is that really so bad? You see much worse on T.V. now-a-days!! And, well, if the shoe fits....

It has always amazed me how bold some are hiding safely behind these screens. They seem to feel that they can spew words they wouldn't use if standing face-to-face with the person they are e-mailing. And to jump to using such nasty terms for no reason really makes me wonder about the breadth of their vocabulary in the first place.

If you disagree with someone's opinions or writings, you are welcome to let them know -- that is one of the big parts of being online, feedback, forums, contact forms. But why not communicate based on the issues and having an constructive conversation where ideas and points of view are exchanged?

When I receive these e-mail, I always shake my head and wonder what it going on in the head of the sender where they felt the need to communicate in that manner. I wonder how they communicate in the rest of their life and what is behind their negative and many times destructive way of communicating. I don't take their attacks personally, as I know they must be unhappy and lonely folks to feel the need to communicate in that manner.

If you are online, you will run into these types. They name call the moment you have a different opinion and never communicate based on the validity of their different point of view. When you run into this version of an onliner, you have the opportunity to set an example. If you do feel the need to respond, and keep in mind many times there is no such requirement - treat them with the level of courtesy they were unable to offer you and thank them for their comments.