We've all been on the internet. It's not only a beautiful place but an ugly, awful, necessary evil. While you have the freedom to post whatever you might like on whatever social media platform, there are always going to be those people who disagree with you and aren't afraid to say so.
I think we forget that we are all entitled to our own opinion. What we aren't entitled to is saying that someone else is unbearably, unforgivably wrong. You can't use the internet to tell someone they suck, that they aren't worthy of love or call them demeaning things. Everyone seems so for the concept of "world peace," but how can we get that with internet hate? Did we forget the principle rule of kindergarten -- "Treat others the way you want to be treated?"
When someone creates something on the internet, they are taking a risk. As a performer, I know that putting myself out there for ridicule is terrifying. However, the stage provides some sort of comfort to me. What I am portraying is real to the character I am playing, but I am not that character. However, as a content creator here on Odyssey, I am putting myself out there for ridicule without the cushion of another identity. My words aren't written for me to say, I get to voice my own opinions, thoughts, and ideas.
There is a kind of bravery that every content creator, whether it be on Odyssey, YouTube or other social media platforms must possess. So many people have so many opinions, and not everyone can back their opinion up. Either way, it seems that there are going to be people attacking what the creator has to say.
If you are hiding behind a screen to yell at someone about what they say, I firmly believe that you are a coward. You also lack respect and maturity. It's harsh, but it's true. The beauty behind this? I have the right to believe in my own opinion, and I will back it up with evidence to make it a little more solid.
Elementary school was a great time for learning things. We already established how important the "Golden Rule" was, but we forgot to touch on the base fact that we were introduced to when we all learned about opinions versus facts. Everyone gets to have their own opinion, and we have to respect others even if we don't agree with them. If I could make this any bigger, bolder and more italicized than I have, I would. If you are hating on what others have to say about the world, you haven't grown from being an elementary school student. You have made a choice to blatantly ignore that simple rule on opinions.
If you don't agree with them, don't call them names. Don't ask them to retract their statement and slander them. Please, for all that is good, do not assume that someone is unintelligent, or uncertain of themselves, or anything else because you do not agree with them. Assuming things means you're putting an unnecessary connotation on what someone says.
The biggest thing about internet hate is that you're hiding behind a screen. You can type that mean message without anyone knowing what you look like or who you actually are as a person. You don't get the immediate reaction of having someone yell back at you. There is no face to face interaction; you don't get to see how much you've hurt the other person. You won't see the tears they shed, or maybe how the anger riles them all. There is safety behind the computer screen, a cowardly safety that anyone who puts hate out into the interweb takes advantage of.
Next time you're reading an article on the internet, or watching a video on YouTube, take a second to scroll down to the comments. I've done this a lot, especially recently.
Take a peak at this Odyssey article written by my fellow teammate and friend, Madison Linnihan. Read it, form your own opinion of what she says. When I read this article, I thought that Madison made a lot of valid points, and I understood the point behind the article. I especially liked that she told readers that, "Hey, I'm a little biased," so that they knew that she is leaning towards an idea that affected how the article was written. Take a look at some on the comments.
These readers assume that Madison is insecure about herself and feels the need to make herself feel better by saying mean things about Meghan Trainor. They downplay how she was open about her struggles with eating disorders, saying that she should just deal with it and the awful things that Meghan said regarding ED's is "harmless." Telling this college girl that she needs therapy and to "find other coping skills" is rude, demeaning, and ignorant. These readers could have stated their opinion in a nicer way, because they have the right to think she is wrong. However, they don't have any place to tell her what's wrong with her personally and how awful she is.
Another prime example of internet hate is the misogynistic comments that constantly get left for Marina Wantanabe, also known as @marinashutup on YouTube and other social media. The YouTuber has a very strong feminist influence on her channel, and has used the hashtag #youtubemisogyny on Twitter to share her experiences with internet hate. People constantly comment on her on Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter about her sexuality, her beliefs, her looks, and so on. Of course she gets backlash for taking a stand, but she is showing people how awful the hate can get.
Have you ever watched one of those "Celebrities Read Mean Tweets About Themselves" videos? I think that part of our culture has made rude comments about others so indifferent and whatever. This has made it even easier for people to post comments such as the ones Madison and Marina have experienced.
There is no place in this world for such negativity. Why focus on how people are wrong? Why not respect others? Why not respond in a kind fashion? Take a moment today to tell someone something you like about them. Tell someone you respect their opinion when you don't agree. Be mature, be a bigger person. Stop hate, be kind. It's a lot easier than taking all of that energy to hate something, trust me on this one.
