The Internet is an amazing invention, and it has done wonders for technological advancement, communication practices, and simple entertainment. That being said, I believe that the Internet has worsened one aspect of our lives: courtesy.
It used to be that if someone insulted you, you could slap them in the face and challenge them to a duel. The consequences were amazingly high, which meant that people were actually careful about what they said lest their statement be taken the wrong way and they get shot or stabbed. Courtesy was used as much for one's safety as it was for the other person's ego.
With the advent of the Internet, communication has certainly increased, but the courtesy that used to accompany it seems to have fallen along the wayside. The Internet allows people to say nasty things to others from distant locales without fear of repercussion. This lack of consequences for the words that they type emboldens people and gives them a sense of invincibility, because the majority of them will never have to own up to what they have just said.
What do you think? Has common courtesy taken a blow from the usage of the Internet, or were people bound to degenerate into such mannerisms eventually anyways? Either way, if you think I've drawn up a relatively accurate picture of the Internet, or do you think that conversation on the World Wide Web is actually remarkably civil, please leave a comment below.
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