are Youtube comments representative of society?

[pandasftw]

You can't escape all the ridiculous youtube users with their perverse/hateful comments and I find it disheartening to see all these radical comments from neocons, racists, sexists ect. I guess I worry for mankind when I am messaged with comments like the ones below. I can't comprehend the mindset. Grammatical errors aside does anyone else worry for the human race when they see youtube comments like "I want lick her skid marks" as top rated comments on a video of hillary clinton?


"no trust me, where i go to school, is something you cannot and never will be able to afford.

Yes men and women are equal in certain aspects of life but in other areas men are better. Be that physical, mentally or emotionally (if you need examples feel free to reply). Don't get me wrong, some of my favourite role models are women, ie thatcher and princess Diana. (don't get into a political shitstorm about thatcher, you will lose)

Gays are fine, but i feel and so did many others, who commented, view your opinions as away of attracting women by getting in touch with your feminine side. Most blokes see this as being a pussy. Yes its good to have these views, you've been brought up correctly, as i have to. But you need to act a bit more of a man and expressing these feelings openly as a bloke is not very british and i'm sure if it hasn't happened already you have been mocked for them.

You have 3 options:

1.You can either have these views, and express them - consequences are you get mocked by the lads

2. Have these views, don't express them

3. follow option one and got to a female book reading class

Your choice, God speed and enjoy your feminist campaigning.

If you can no responses please as grow tired of arguing with a 16 yr old over youtube. God speed and Good day to you sir!"

"u are a sad existence of life, i pity you that you believe you will die and then nothing. i really do feel sorry for you. beliefs like this punishable mate by....Hell, enjoy.

Thatcher got rid of the unions mate...Did that anger your peasant family

Diana are proper women, and as your arguing for women here mate, she was the most well mannered and proper english women who ever walked this earth, don't expect you to know because your a child...CHILD...you weren't alive yet.

i'd dare you, you little scummy piece of shit to say that to my face

its easy to act tough on the internet mate. Enjoy having your face shoved in the dirt as you get older.

Thank god your not muslim.

good day you specky four eyed cunt"

[Jem]

I've noticed that comment section can be a representative of a certain kind of people, but not all kinds of people. Like for example, youtube comments are often going to be written by those who actually have the time to waste commenting on such vids, such as teenagers and young adults. Yahoo news articles are often filled with people who are as rude and ignorant as they are on youtube. In general, sites that attract teens/young adults tend to show how they generally think in our society, and yeah, it ain't pretty.

Then again I've seen older adults who post with the same hot headed and boorishly stupid manner.

But in general, sexism, racism, and predjudice of all sorts is still running rampant in this country and the opinions of such hateful beiliefs can easily be founf in the anonymous realm of internet comment sections.

[Angry Citizen]

I agree with Jem. I think it's the nature of the site that determines the kind of commentary.

The comments section on Fox News displays innumerable racist, homophobic, and viciously partisan rhetoric over even the most trivial stories. Science articles are nearly always cluttered with nonsense about "Obuma" (variations on Obama's name are a common sight on Fox News.com) and anti-evolution idiocy.

In contrast to this, the Al Jazeera English site usually has incredibly intellectual comments from many perspectives one doesn't normally see. I actually follow the comments section of the Libya blogs for my news on the Libyan uprising, because the comments are usually remarkably astute and accurate assessments of what's really happening. You'll even see some of the Libyan rebels posting, and there's at least one leaker from NATO who usually gives information days in advance of the mainstream news. It really is a stark contrast between Al Jazeera's viewership and Fox News'.

[Grogybear]

In general terms I think that where there is no accountability people tend to act like assholes.
Writing anonymously on youtube is one such place.

On volconvo on the other hand, we're held to account for acting like dickheads so trolls, wums and other menaces are removed.

It's actually quite an interesting aspect of humanity.
I read about an experiment (in Scientific American, I think). People could anonymously choose how much money to split with another anonymous party. If there was somebody looking at them or even a picture of eyes in the room they were more generous.

Looting when there is no law enforcement is another example.

In short; it seems like a large portion of society is represented by Youtube comments and the only thing that stops a shitstorm of pointless name calling and general idiocy is a mixture of social pressure and law enforcement.