I used to call myself a connoisseur of sarcasm. I thought my acerbic comments, quick wit and sharp tongue were something to take pride in.
What an idiot I was.
I’m grateful I learned to be less sarcastic. My wife, my mentors and life’s painful lessons helped me change.
Now I am not attracted to quick wit and sarcasm. Instead, it repels me.
And it is all over the internet – in comments, in forums, on social media, in blogs, in political commentary, in non-political commentary and almost everywhere else. Once in while on niche forums online, I’ll find a distinct absence of it altogether.
The thing is, I almost never run into this in real life.
In person, most people would never say the things they say online. Most people are not a$$holes in person.
It makes me wonder, are commenters and trolls a$$holes all the time? Perhaps the anonymity of the online world attracts them.
Or are they simply average people, who are generally kind and courteous in person? Does the online world draw out the worst part of them?
I have known some people who are founts of anger in real life. They purposely antagonize others, create conflict and make life unpleasant for others.
So I avoid them whenever possible.
I do the same thing online.