Incivility
“Godwin’s Law is the only
half-facetious observation of Internet guru Mike Godwin that, ‘as an online
discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or
Hitler approaches 1.’
“Whether it’s Nazis or something else, the broader point
is that commentary in any online forum seems to veer towards the vicious or
extreme. (Indeed, a contemporary equivalent of the two-decades-old Godwin’s Law
might focus on Obama: No matter what the topic, sooner or later someone blames
the president).
“Sometimes, it appears, there is no room for moderation on the
Internet.”
—Tom Keane, columnist, “Not just for the witless”
The Boston Globe, on HuffPost’s
decision to ban anonymous online comments, Aug. 27, 2013 URL
(Thanks to alert WORDster Javan Kienzle)
• Anonymous Editorial Comment: $^&*%¢∞§¶º^%$!!!! Nazi Kenyan Social Democrats!
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Ted Pease, Professor of Interesting Stuff
Utah State University, Logan, Utah & Humboldt State University, Arcata, Calif.
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