I actually like that. It's quite often that I stumble upon an older Reddit thread when searching something specific and the (presumably) valuable comments are just [deleted]. True, people might want to erase some things they said, but it makes Reddit a lot less valuable as a search resource.
I agree. The fear mongering & sending yourself to /dev/null is out of hand. To me a particularly virulent new pattern that is super anti-social. I think most of ya'll are enduringly good humans & we're better as a world with your thoughts shared.
There's so much discussion about deleting yourself. There should be some words online encouraging people not to jump into black holes. I hope people consider & think on the loss that self-deleting causes, when considering.
I think it's rather the other way around. People self-delete comments because they feel they don't dare to be themselves.
The risk is very low but the consequence is high if you get targeted online in various ways (someone has a grudge and doxes you, or you are the target of a social media pile-on)
Not only that, but sensibilities change. Even if you are thoroughly polite and respectful by today's yardstick, you have no idea what is going to be taboo in 20, or 40 years. Think back to some of the things you might have posted to ephemeral BBS systems 20 years ago. Things you said that were innocent then, but might get you fired and canceled today. Euphemisms that were acceptable then and terrible now. When comments are stored permanently, all it takes for a future motivated enemy is to trawl through your 20+ year old posts to find something that shows you're a horrible person by tomorrow's different standards.
I get your point, but looking back over the last 30 years of my commenting on various internet fora (and more than that if we count BBSes), I honestly don't think I've ever said anything then that would upset anyone in that way now.
I can definitely see some shifts happening. I dunno, I see that both ways. No super strong feelings.
In general though I just think the fear is way overblown. The damage to society of everyone selling Fear Uncertainty and Doubt is real & heavy, is a burdensome tone. The damage of so many people jumping into the black hole is real. And most of us are not going to be targeted people, and our transgressions even at their worst online are really nowhere near a real danger to us.
But having an online existence, being part of the written/online universe is a risk. Yes. Opting out & becoming nothing is a very easy available way to get rid of risk.
I still think it's a farce of high degree how much fear are swallowing. I think it's colossally disproportionate to the risk. We also don't get to societally wrestle with questions of grace & mistakes & maturation if we insist on the supreme personal security of having said nothing.
Oh, sure, I agree. I just think they aren't as great as some people think.
> But having an online existence, being part of the written/online universe is a risk.
This is true, and is why I've never used my actual, real-world identity in any online fora. Instead, I have a handful of alternate (but persistent) "personalities".
It's the only way I am OK with saying what I really think about anything. If I were readily identifiable, I wouldn't participate in any public online discussions. The risk is just too great.
