When did the Internet get so intentionally mean?

Been thinking about writing this for a while but been on the fence doing it because I’m usually not the whiny type. But I need to get this off my chest because it takes up too much thought when it shouldn’t.

Like the title says – just when exactly did the Internet get so intentionally mean? I grew up in front of the PC, having spent the last +25 years on various forums and so called “social media”. People writing uncensored comments has always been a part of the experience. I have no problems with that.

The problem is when it becomes cynical hate, and being rude for the sake of trying to step on someone. It is no longer that you think something sucks; it is about you actively putting someone else down.

Example of what I mean:

Instead of someone commenting “your painting looks like fucking shit”, people can now go like “Awww look he thinks he can paint.”

This example is vanilla; let’s stay clean for the sake of sanity. These kinds of comments are just mean for the sake of putting people down.

Yes there is love, yes there is inspiration, yes there is kindness; but something has happened. Reddit stands out here as a particular dumpster, but I see a similar pattern on so called “social media”.

People REALLY lean into their evil side, don’t hold back, and seem to get together just to hate someone or something to the best of their ability. (Quite amazing how anyone can chose to get into politics in this day and age).

I’m spending a lot of time and money on non-commercial projects like Star Wars & Tolkien fan films. And while I have overestimated the interest in these projects, I’m not cool with the kind of comments that has been showing up on reddit (which I’m not going to share here, and it is not relevant). I have now deleted my reddit account, and have no intention of coming back.

I recall 20 years ago people would get excited about stuff on forums. Wow, a new Star Wars fan film! It’s fine that nobody cares about my movie. I do what I do regardless. But I’m not fine with the kind of hate that shows up in comments anytime I share my work.

I think an important caveat here to keep in mind, is that creative people like myself have always been creative, and will always be creative. We make stuff, has always been making stuff, and will continue to make stuff.

But when people actively push the Internet to become a dumpster of hate, we might not just share as much as we used to.

(By the way, I think the “golden age” of reddit was in the 2010-2019-isch. Whatever reddit has become, it is not pretty).

Personally I will spend less time sharing, and more time creating. Thanks for reading.