If you're reading this, chances are, you're not new to message boards and forums. The sudden boom of message boards has brought about an unprecedented level of stickiness to most sites that have previously drawn in return visitors by merely providing daily content and features. Nowadays, if you're a decent site with a message board script in action, you'll get considerably more return visitors compared to if you didn't have one to begin with.
And from these message boards came about the online communities. These communities are really nothing new - they have been rampant in other means in the past, such as IRC channels, newsgroups and even online clans and guilds. These communities can be casual or even permanent, or they can evolve into something more involved and more tightly-knit... and from these communities come the "regulars", who visit the forums almost everyday and take part in almost every discussion they can see. Some even consider fellow forum members as family and best friends, even though they haven't seen each other or even know each others' real names. And from these instances come the conflict, and this is where my article really begins.
* * * * *
Have you ever been so deeply immersed or involved in a message board that you take everything at face value? Did you feel that internet anonymity has given you the right to say whatever you want, whenever you want within the community? Have you ever gotten so furious at what was being said that you seriously considered dealing bodily harm to the person who wrote those words?
Such is the possible trap of an online community, especially for people who have blurred the lines between virtual life and real life. Personally, I have never been to a message board that did not have someone who took things too seriously, or someone who tries to annoy or intentionally offend someone else, or even someone who has gone as far as to treat the message board as his real home, tries to lay claim to it and in the process estrange everyone who does not agree with him. All message boards seem to have em - all the active ones, anyway. A message board without the occassional troll, flamebaiter, primadonna or martyr is not a normal message board. In an imperfect world, each of these communities is supposed to have one (or two) from time to time.
Which brings up the question - why? Why does someone become affected? What is the anatomy of a troll? The diagram of a flamewar? The brain patterns of a martyr? What motivates (or demotivates) these people in doing what they do? Is it the neverending quest to attract attention? Is it the pursuit for excitement? Is it inferiority (or superiority) complex? Or as shrinks would ask, does it have something to do with their mother?
Most would contend that it was a natural thing to do, based on their own perceptions on what is right or wrong. In a forum debate, most people would stand by their beliefs no matter what, sometimes even resorting to insults, threats or demoralization in order to convince people that their views are the ultimate ones. And then there are some of those who would try to go against any popular opinion, regardless of whether it is their own or not, just to spark an exciting, heated debate. And of course there are the
"yes" men, the lemmings, who would always stand by the popular opinion, regardless of whether it is their own or not, so that they can have something in common with the majority.
* * * * *
Anyone who is studying psychology need not go to a mental institute or hand out questionnaires to people. All they have to do is register in any message board with a well-sized community, and observe... Internet anonymity has one big effect on people - they can be brutally honest and leave behind their inhibitions when they participate in a discussion. They know they can be frank and sometimes even aggressive, because they do not fear any physical reprisal. While this is good for the sake of free speech, internet anonymity also causes people to lose important things associated with free opinions - responsibility, tact and empathy. For instance, you cannot just tell someone walking by that they are stupid, lame and, well, suck. In a message board, however, nothing stops you from telling anyone, even those you don't know, that they are lame, stupid and they suck goats. And the good part about that is, they can't do anything to you - unless of course you had the bad luck of crossing some psycho who knows how to trace you - but rest assured trolls, they are very few and far in between...
Maybe this article should be about Internet Anonymity, since these actions don't just work in message boards, but also in chatrooms, online games and even email. But the surge in popularity of message boards has contributed a lot to the proliferation of online communities - even surpassing chatrooms at times, coz not everyone wants to reply in realtime.
Message board drama is something normal in every forum, and it cannot be avoided. However, it can be minimized, and even made to work to the site's advantage sometimes. This is where moderators come in, and is sometimes what makes or breaks an online community. More about moderators later...
* * * * *
So how do you control the message board drama? How do you deal with fellow members who are fighting, squabbling and bickering, and how do you cope with the possible fallout? The best thing to do is usually to let the moderators handle it, let it blow over, and not to participate in that topic. Most "holy wars" have been the cause of message board drama, and we're not just talking about religion here: it can either be Linux versus Windows, or Intel versus AMD, or Xbox versus PS2 versus Gamecube, and of course, it can be Pro or Against the war on Iraq... These are the topics that are not supposed to have clear winners or losers. They are all a battle of opinions, and no one's opinion is ever wrong. The reason why these topics get out of control and lead to message board drama is some people actually think they have the final correct answer. In these kinds of topics, it does not exist. The only right answer is the fact that there is no right answer. It's like saying "I think I'm getting hungry" and someone replying "no, you're wrong, f*cktard!"
The urge to argue seems to be a primal instinct in most of us. I have seen many people who I considered unconfrontational and subdued lose their cool in a discussion and resort to namecalling. Some arguments bring out the worst in people, and unfortunately, they also show their real personalities behind the virtual facade. Someone once said that the best way to really know someone is to observe him during an argument, because all his defenses go down, and often the real person emerges. In stark contrast is the person who starts/invites arguments (trolls, for example), since that person is said to be hiding apparent inadequacies (either mentally or physically) and wants to vent their frustrations by dragging people down to their level.
Maybe you're saying "Oh sure, you're one to preach! What about you? Are you Mr. Cool in arguments?" Well, unfortunately, I can't be Mr. Cool. In fact, I've been a part of more message board altercations than I can remember, not just in this message board, but in several others before ezboard.com's time. The faults I have committed (and still committing, at times), gave me better understanding of what to do and not to do in a message board, as well as the importance of moderators.
* * * * *
The role of moderators (and administrators) is to keep the peace, which sometimes means to get in the middle of a heated debate and decide whether to stop it or let it continue. Unlike casual members, who can turn the other way and ignore a heated debate (which they should), moderators are entrusted with the unenviable task of making judgement calls concerning message board drama, and earning the ire of either or both parties in the discussion. Moderators are usually one of the least-liked people in a message board, especially by troublemakers. They get blamed for unjust moderation, power trips, and even favoritism. Of course, you can't please them all, and it comes with the job. So as moderator from another forum once said, "tough luck, but no soup for you..."
* * * * *
Differing opinions and varying emotions on several issues are usually the roots of message board drama - and the fact that some people take things too seriously, or even take things too lightly. The most worthwhile solution to message board drama is moderation. No, I'm not talking about the moderators assigned to keep the peace. I'm talking about self moderation. Knowing when to speak and not to speak. Knowing when an argument is pointless or not. Knowing when to pitch the last word in or not. Knowing when to initiate or accept a compromise and move on.
It's not worth it to stress one's self over a few bytes of text from an anonymous connection. If it stresses you out, get it out of your system. Move on. Change the topic into something more intelligent or funnier. Talk to someone else. Put the person in your ignore list. Who cares if he doesn't like you. As I have said to several people already, you cannot force everyone to like you or your views. There will always be someone, somewhere who will not like you, whatever you do.
It's up to you whether you want to make it their problem or yours...
Some would ask, how could a perfect God create a universe filled with so much that is evil?
They have missed a greater conundrum: why would a perfect God create a universe at all?
And from these message boards came about the online communities. These communities are really nothing new - they have been rampant in other means in the past, such as IRC channels, newsgroups and even online clans and guilds. These communities can be casual or even permanent, or they can evolve into something more involved and more tightly-knit... and from these communities come the "regulars", who visit the forums almost everyday and take part in almost every discussion they can see. Some even consider fellow forum members as family and best friends, even though they haven't seen each other or even know each others' real names. And from these instances come the conflict, and this is where my article really begins.
* * * * *
Have you ever been so deeply immersed or involved in a message board that you take everything at face value? Did you feel that internet anonymity has given you the right to say whatever you want, whenever you want within the community? Have you ever gotten so furious at what was being said that you seriously considered dealing bodily harm to the person who wrote those words?
Such is the possible trap of an online community, especially for people who have blurred the lines between virtual life and real life. Personally, I have never been to a message board that did not have someone who took things too seriously, or someone who tries to annoy or intentionally offend someone else, or even someone who has gone as far as to treat the message board as his real home, tries to lay claim to it and in the process estrange everyone who does not agree with him. All message boards seem to have em - all the active ones, anyway. A message board without the occassional troll, flamebaiter, primadonna or martyr is not a normal message board. In an imperfect world, each of these communities is supposed to have one (or two) from time to time.
Which brings up the question - why? Why does someone become affected? What is the anatomy of a troll? The diagram of a flamewar? The brain patterns of a martyr? What motivates (or demotivates) these people in doing what they do? Is it the neverending quest to attract attention? Is it the pursuit for excitement? Is it inferiority (or superiority) complex? Or as shrinks would ask, does it have something to do with their mother?
Most would contend that it was a natural thing to do, based on their own perceptions on what is right or wrong. In a forum debate, most people would stand by their beliefs no matter what, sometimes even resorting to insults, threats or demoralization in order to convince people that their views are the ultimate ones. And then there are some of those who would try to go against any popular opinion, regardless of whether it is their own or not, just to spark an exciting, heated debate. And of course there are the
"yes" men, the lemmings, who would always stand by the popular opinion, regardless of whether it is their own or not, so that they can have something in common with the majority.
* * * * *
Anyone who is studying psychology need not go to a mental institute or hand out questionnaires to people. All they have to do is register in any message board with a well-sized community, and observe... Internet anonymity has one big effect on people - they can be brutally honest and leave behind their inhibitions when they participate in a discussion. They know they can be frank and sometimes even aggressive, because they do not fear any physical reprisal. While this is good for the sake of free speech, internet anonymity also causes people to lose important things associated with free opinions - responsibility, tact and empathy. For instance, you cannot just tell someone walking by that they are stupid, lame and, well, suck. In a message board, however, nothing stops you from telling anyone, even those you don't know, that they are lame, stupid and they suck goats. And the good part about that is, they can't do anything to you - unless of course you had the bad luck of crossing some psycho who knows how to trace you - but rest assured trolls, they are very few and far in between...
Maybe this article should be about Internet Anonymity, since these actions don't just work in message boards, but also in chatrooms, online games and even email. But the surge in popularity of message boards has contributed a lot to the proliferation of online communities - even surpassing chatrooms at times, coz not everyone wants to reply in realtime.
Message board drama is something normal in every forum, and it cannot be avoided. However, it can be minimized, and even made to work to the site's advantage sometimes. This is where moderators come in, and is sometimes what makes or breaks an online community. More about moderators later...
* * * * *
So how do you control the message board drama? How do you deal with fellow members who are fighting, squabbling and bickering, and how do you cope with the possible fallout? The best thing to do is usually to let the moderators handle it, let it blow over, and not to participate in that topic. Most "holy wars" have been the cause of message board drama, and we're not just talking about religion here: it can either be Linux versus Windows, or Intel versus AMD, or Xbox versus PS2 versus Gamecube, and of course, it can be Pro or Against the war on Iraq... These are the topics that are not supposed to have clear winners or losers. They are all a battle of opinions, and no one's opinion is ever wrong. The reason why these topics get out of control and lead to message board drama is some people actually think they have the final correct answer. In these kinds of topics, it does not exist. The only right answer is the fact that there is no right answer. It's like saying "I think I'm getting hungry" and someone replying "no, you're wrong, f*cktard!"
The urge to argue seems to be a primal instinct in most of us. I have seen many people who I considered unconfrontational and subdued lose their cool in a discussion and resort to namecalling. Some arguments bring out the worst in people, and unfortunately, they also show their real personalities behind the virtual facade. Someone once said that the best way to really know someone is to observe him during an argument, because all his defenses go down, and often the real person emerges. In stark contrast is the person who starts/invites arguments (trolls, for example), since that person is said to be hiding apparent inadequacies (either mentally or physically) and wants to vent their frustrations by dragging people down to their level.
Maybe you're saying "Oh sure, you're one to preach! What about you? Are you Mr. Cool in arguments?" Well, unfortunately, I can't be Mr. Cool. In fact, I've been a part of more message board altercations than I can remember, not just in this message board, but in several others before ezboard.com's time. The faults I have committed (and still committing, at times), gave me better understanding of what to do and not to do in a message board, as well as the importance of moderators.
* * * * *
The role of moderators (and administrators) is to keep the peace, which sometimes means to get in the middle of a heated debate and decide whether to stop it or let it continue. Unlike casual members, who can turn the other way and ignore a heated debate (which they should), moderators are entrusted with the unenviable task of making judgement calls concerning message board drama, and earning the ire of either or both parties in the discussion. Moderators are usually one of the least-liked people in a message board, especially by troublemakers. They get blamed for unjust moderation, power trips, and even favoritism. Of course, you can't please them all, and it comes with the job. So as moderator from another forum once said, "tough luck, but no soup for you..."
* * * * *
Differing opinions and varying emotions on several issues are usually the roots of message board drama - and the fact that some people take things too seriously, or even take things too lightly. The most worthwhile solution to message board drama is moderation. No, I'm not talking about the moderators assigned to keep the peace. I'm talking about self moderation. Knowing when to speak and not to speak. Knowing when an argument is pointless or not. Knowing when to pitch the last word in or not. Knowing when to initiate or accept a compromise and move on.
It's not worth it to stress one's self over a few bytes of text from an anonymous connection. If it stresses you out, get it out of your system. Move on. Change the topic into something more intelligent or funnier. Talk to someone else. Put the person in your ignore list. Who cares if he doesn't like you. As I have said to several people already, you cannot force everyone to like you or your views. There will always be someone, somewhere who will not like you, whatever you do.
It's up to you whether you want to make it their problem or yours...
Some would ask, how could a perfect God create a universe filled with so much that is evil?
They have missed a greater conundrum: why would a perfect God create a universe at all?
