More and more these days, I find myself becoming disgruntled with the sheer amount of foolishness on the internet. Courtesy and respect seems to only be reserved for face-to-face contact now. Why is that? Is it the relative anonymity that makes people feel like they can behave like reprobates online?
In order to combat this, I have put together a list of ways to not be an asshole on the web. Most of them are common sense which makes it even sadder that I had to write this in the first place. Enjoy ☺
1. People are going to disagree with you. Unfortunately, this isn’t some blessed utopia where everyone gets along and everyone’s views are the same. People are going to have opinions that differ to yours. Not everyone likes Apple products. Many (sane) people have very little time for Eat, Pray, Love. Some people are even Republicans. There is a way to disagree with people without being a giant anal fissure about it. Be polite; hear opinions and agree to disagree if you so please. Respect, people. R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
2. In the same vein, IF someone happens not to agree with your point of view and they are so bold as to voice this in your comments, don’t immediately brand them as a “hater” or “rude” or “an internet bully with no soul who has come to tear me down without cause”. It makes you look like a massive douche. Also 12. Do not set your fans on them like a legion of attack dogs either. That makes YOU the bully.*
3. If you are a budding author/journalist/artist/musician, chances are, I am going to want to support you so that you get as much coverage as you can because hey, we’re all trying to make it out here in these streets. You know a sure-fire way to make me never want to endorse your product? Bombard me with tweets, Direct Messages, emails and unsolicited correspondence until all I want to do is take a lit match to your book/mixtape/article/whatever leaving nothing but a small pile of smouldering ashes.
4. Respond to your comments and comment on the blogs of those who have taken the time out to read and comment on what you have to say. I know we’re all busy and can’t reply to every comment (hell, I don’t) or read every blog (especially if you’re wildly popular) but a little acknowledgement of the individuals who support and in some cases have made you as huge as you are today wouldn’t go amiss.
5. If your blog/twitter is your livelihood and you make or have made a living from divulging personal details about your life; don’t get angry at followers who ask you personal details about your life. You can’t have it both ways. It really is that simple.
6. If you are a fashion blogger, now and again, please try wearing things that we mere mortals can afford. I know, I know that you all live fabulous lives and can either afford or are given a bunch of free Louboutin, Marc Jacobs and Alexander Wang items but the average person can’t afford that shit. Put together an outfit from H&M once in a while and stop making us all feel like failures.
7. Allow me people to gracefully bow out of twitter conversations that contain 6 people and to which I someone has no contribution to make.
8. If someone tweets you directly, do your utmost to reply to them. It sucks that I even have to say it and yes tweets can be missed and people don’t always have the time but when you just outright ignore someone who is trying to have a conversation with you**, you come across as a terrible person. One that might kick puppies in his or her spare time.
9. Stop. Retweeting. Every. Tweet. With. Your. Name. In. It. It makes us want to dip you in honey and roll you into a nest of fire ants.
10. Please resize your images. PLEASE. And if you have a ton of them, please put them under a cut so that my computer doesn’t die when I innocently access your blog. I mean, is this not just common courtesy?
11. Try not to assume that your readers are any less intelligent than you. Because we’re all smart up in here.
12. Ask permission before you discuss other people’s personal issues or post anyone’s personal photos on your blog. Nothing riles me more than people splashing details that aren’t theirs to splash. And if you blog anonymously, this doesn’t excuse you. Ask.
13. Credit, credit, credit.
Anything you lovely people would like to add?
Happy February, you guys.
* I’d like to point out that this is limited to people who express their opinions in a polite and coherent manner. Those who act like douchecanoes should be handed paddles and pointed in the direction of the nearest river aka treated as such.
** Yes it is a conversation. Just because it took place on the internet doesn’t make it any less valid. You wouldn’t do it in the flesh so don’t do it online.