Society getting angrier ?

[oxymoron]

As the title says , are we as a society getting angrier ? You just have to look at a few topics on here to see we seem to be getting more aggressive , there seems to be a lot more "professional outraged "
where it looks like people want to be more outraged than the next person this often leads to escalating insults, slurs and outright hostility among us .
Is it lockdown ? Or is it just people in general ? There looks like a willingness to demonize sections of population for just holding views that are not consistent with our own and this is not a comfortable place to be.
The recent thread about women's safety was a prime example , we all agree its an important topic, but some just flew off the handle which led to a locked thread, thus stifling an important debate.
This is not poke at anyone in particular just an observation of the human race , i say that as its not gender specific we all seem to be angrier, male and female, young and older .

 

[RichA]

Lockdown certainly appears to exacerbate it.
As somebody pointed out previously, these forum conversations lack nuance of verbal interaction. People could take your "professionally outraged" as a label and "flew off the handle" as a pejorative and personal insult.
I think it's just the way of forum chats. The same comments are as common in conversations about graphite shafts as they are for politics.

 

[Jamesbrown]

I wouldn’t say we are angrier, just social media has opened up a world of differing opinions and you see more of an opposing opinion to yours.
It used to be just a bicker between friends now it’s arguments across counties and continents and it’s clear to see the division and social movements trying to force each other’s thinking.
Social media was good in its day but now seems some kind of propaganda tool.

 

[jim8flog]

It is one of the signs of depression.

Without doubt brought on by lockdown. For a lot of people their normal way of getting rid of pent up 'anger' has been denied them.

For me I have spotted the signs several times during these past few months getting 'irate' about something that I would normally just let wash over me.

 

[DanFST]

Social media.

You could have an opinion that everyone you knew would ridicule you for. Now you can go on social media and be empowered by thousands of others that are also as stupid as you.

 

[backwoodsman]

I wouldn’t say we are angrier, just social media has opened up a world of differing opinions and you see more of an opposing opinion to yours.
It used to be just a bicker between friends now it’s arguments across counties and continents and it’s clear to see the division and social movements trying to force each other’s thinking.
Social media was good in its day but now seems some kind of propaganda tool.

This ^^^^

Social media makes it easier to "be involved" with a greater number of diverse opinions. Also makes it easier to vent. And easier , due to anonimity, to be more opinionated and less "polite" than one would be face to face.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I think social media gives an outlet to anger that we previously would not have seen. It also makes people believe, usually falsely, that a wave of feeling is happening over a subject when in reality it is often just a loud minority.

It feels like people are angrier, I agree, but I suspect it is little different to before. We just hear it more now.

 

[GB72]

Social Media adds the perceived vale of anonymity. Extreme view and opinions that people would not necessary boast about or proclaim in a face to face environment are free to express those views with little in the way of personal recourse or liability. The need for nuanced conversation in a face to fact situation is replaced by the ability to simply throw insults and threats that can soon get backing to form a mob mentality. Most I suspect would not dare make some of their comments, insults or threats direct to an individual nor be willing to accept arrest and prosecution for those that are threatening or incite hate but they are more than willing to go ahead in that manner when they can hide behind a made up name and anonymous avatar picture.

 

[GreiginFife]

Society has always had a populous of angry people. As a few state, the ease of getting that anger out there is greater now with Social Media and the internet in general.

What used to be the mad guy in the pub ranting about the lizard folks to an audience of a few dozen fellow pub goers now finds themselves in a MUCH bigger pub and the likelihood of finding a "like mind" is greater. Whereas in the pub it would be largely ignored and the rant would generally pass after a few pints have been put on his tab, these "like minds" give a sense of credence to the view or opinion or anger.

Tyrion is spot on, one person gets a few thousand likes or agreements on a view and they think that must mean it's right, ignoring the global population being billions and their view actually being a grain of sand on a very large beach.

My view is that the wonders of the internet have given a minority the myopic view that they are suddenly philosophers akin to Aristotle because they posted a picture with the caption "yesterday's history, tomorrow's a mystery!" (credit Kevin Bridges).

Also, a topic that's been widely discussed in a number of veins recently is the willingness of people to ignore rules/laws. Society will always have a minority that believe that they do not need to conform, for a myriad of reasons, and the anonymity that the internet provides fuels that further by making them feel "bulletproof", thus increasing their non-conformance.

We talk about education, education, education as the root fix for most things, often missing the key element in educational success - the will to be educated. Try any method of education you like, if the person just does not want it, it won't take.

All, of course, just my opinion.

 

[Kellfire]

Generational differences are being exacerbated by the Information Age and the ease of which those generations can now interact. The Information Age is dangerous because people don’t exercise good critical thinking.

 

[SocketRocket]

I'm not sure if society is getting angrier, it's certainly becoming more opinionated.

Varying opinions on social media easily result in the use of insults rather than reasoned debate, 'I don't seem able to change your opinion to match mine so you must be an idiot'. Most of us are guilty of this in some form whether explicit or implicit it crops up in most discussion threads and especially where politics, religion and social attitude is involved.

This thread will probably not end well ?

 

[Orikoru]

Loads of factors. Firstly, the B word polarised people in the UK, whichever side of the fence you sit on, and some people with extreme views suddenly felt legitimised in voicing them. Social media breeds more anonymity over outrageous opinions, and saying whatever you want without repercussions. The lockdowns have made everyone more frustrated as all their usual outlets were curtailed, and everyone being stuck indoors just exacerbates the social media issue as well.

 

[D-S]

Oh no it isn’t!

 

[GreiginFife]

Generational differences are being exacerbated by the Information Age and the ease of which those generations can now interact. The Information Age is dangerous because people don’t exercise good critical thinking.

I think you added two too many words there Kel...

 

[Imurg]

Its all bollocks.....

 

[Doon frae Troon]

I was explaining Toxteth, Greenham Common, Polaris, the American Embassy seige, the Poll Tax stushey and the Miners strike to two of my open eyed grandchildren who seemed to be astonished about the Clapham Common 'Riots'.
I don't think people have been less angry.

 

[need_my_wedge]

I think more than a few people get angry when they know they are in the wrong. Getting angry and in your face seems to be their way of enforcing their own opinion, as much to themselves as to anyone else.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Social media.

You could have an opinion that everyone you knew would ridicule you for. Now you can go on social media and be empowered by thousands of others that are also as stupid as you.

Very true.
The football threads are a living example.

 

[RichA]

The Media's use of social media isn't always helpful either. The race to be the first to get a story out there on SM platforms seems to have removed some of the due diligence and fact checking of the days when the publishing deadline was anywhere between 1 and 24 hours away. As long as they don't directly libel someone, it feels like they'll tweet any old tut. By the time doubt has been cast it's already been retweeted to the power of n and a large portion of readers will assume it's unquestionable fact.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

...and we get lawmakers citing as justification for new legislation examples of behaviour (actual, rare, contrived or misrepresented) that are intended to incite anger in us...and in our anger they expect to get support for their legislation regardless of how effective or otherwise that legislation might be. And their supporters and mouthpieces in the media play along and stir that anger. Why are we so angry? - because we are being manipulated to be angry to the ends of others,