http://www.nna.org/GR/blogmentality.htm
here's some quotes from it, to give you an idea:
On the Internet, flame wars have given way to the blog-mob mentality, where a small but vocal number of vigilantes, armed with virtual pitchforks, rakes and cudgels, prowl the ether world in search of offense and offenders. Without much discrimination, they march on both rant and reason and flay both the unworthy and the brave.
The rather clear message for anyone who attracts the attention of the blog-mob: Never, ever get into a shouting match with someone who buys bytes by the giga.
Comments?Giving in to the speech mob means that discourse is diverted from the real issues to a sideshow on who is punished for uttering the "wrong" ideas or words. Dissent is dead if it can be hounded out of the marketplace so effortlessly. Democracy is no match for demagoguery if good people won't stand up to mob rule.
We must get past the idea that expression has no value unless it mirrors our own. We must learn to recognize ourselves not just in the faces but in the voices of others. We must find a way to see our own rights reflected in other people's freedom.
And to further confound the issue:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll
Who's a troll? Is a troll ANYONE who the group believes is posting controversial and/or attention-getting topics? ANYONE who attempts to break groupthink or to test its limits? ANYONE who posts a personal issue?
I think the Wikipedia article is a bit confusing. Where does freedom of speech break off and disruptive trolling begin?
I guess I can say that I know it when I see it, but DO I? Do others know it when they see it, or are others merely reacting to a threat to their own world views?
How do you distinguish?
