However, hard as it might be to accept, cyber-bullies are almost never hardened criminals. They are mostly ordinary people who simply vent their frustrations on strangers online. This calls for each of us to examine our own behaviour on social media. Most of us may have, at one point or another, engaged in a heated discussion with someone on Facebook or Twitter. What do we say when we find the other person’s comments offensive to our sentiments or worldview? How do we respond to being proven wrong? Do we feel the need to make personal comments? Do we resort to passive-aggressive jibes?
Even the most educated and civilised of us can get carried away while posting our opinions, or responses to an argument. Words are powerful, and we do not know how the other person might react to something hurtful we could accidentally blurt out. Moreover, there’s no telling what kind of people our posts might end up reaching. It is, therefore, our responsibility to always watch what we say to those on the other side of the screen.
So, the next time you find yourself about to post something on social media, think if what you’re saying might upset someone. Is it worth it? If yes, go ahead. If not, hit backspace. Opinions can indeed be tricky and someone or the other is often upset by what we say. The key is to challenge ideas and not the individuals. Needless to say, steer clear of comments or remarks of personal nature. And know when to walk away from a war of words. After all, no argument is worth winning at the cost of someone’s feelings and mental health.