Human Behavior, Actions and Emotion on the Internet

I have been a member of a few message boards in the past few years. Something about message boards really bother me. While, for the most part, I enjoy my time on them, meeting new people, sharing ideas and learning from others, there are major problems, as well. Communication gets mixed up, easily. When you are chatting on a message board you cannot see the other person's facial expressions, hear their voice, or see or hear any of the things that are most important in communicating. Often, a message/messages can be misinterpreted because of this. Also, you can sometimes become more emotional and feel more threatened, when there may not be need to be. There are also times when you should feel threatened, but don't. I've also seen very negative behavior being conducted on some of these message boards. I've seen harassment, stalking, name calling, and bullying only to name a few behaviors on message boards. I've also seen people be threatened and other scary things occur.

I think not only has the internet destroyed communication at times, but really made a mess of it. If you are communicating on a message board or on another internet based site, do you think feelings and human behavior should matter in the way they do in every day life? Do you think one should be held to the same standards on the internet, as they are in real life? I guess, I am searching for answers, more so, then trying to teach someone something with this article.

Are feelings delivered and received the same? Is emotion wrong? Often, I hear people say, this is the internet. You don't know what's right or real. I myself, am human and have come across harsher on a message board, then I would have in real life. Are people on the internet, really like that in real life? If I met them

physically, would they treat me the same? I've also heard people say, this isn't real life, you can pretend to be someone's friend on the net, while not really meaning it. Do you think it's possible that the internet makes one less accountable for their actions, because these are not actions delivered in real life? Do you think, sometimes people get away with more, simply because it is the internet?

I myself have learned, that I am me. It doesn't matter if I'm talking on a message board, or with someone I can physically reach out and touch. I've learned that when I call you a friend, it doesn't matter if I met you on the internet, I am truly your friend. I have also learned, that I am accountable for how I treat people, yes, even on the internet. Just because you cannot physically see that person, does not mean they do not have feelings or emotions. I have learned to think before I type. I have learned, just because someone is sitting behind a keyboard, doesn't mean they are not human, on the contrary, often they are human reaching out for someone or something they lack in life.

I think with this particular article, not only am I asking these questions for myself, but I guess I am reflecting on some of the changes the internet has made in my behavior, as well. I also think, I'm asking you to sit back and think about some of these things, too. When you sign up for a message board, remember the other people there are human, as well. They have feelings, they hurt, they laugh, and yes, they even cry like you. Remember, communication can get misinterpreted, this is important to understand while talking or posting to someone online. They may misunderstand your point, what you are trying to say, and their feelings may be hurt. Also, it's important to understand that people have varying religions, opinions, and disagreements will occur, but these differences make up this wonderful world called the internet.