Internet culture trivializing...

[StoneFrog]

I am sure most here have had experiences on the Internet of an almost cultural effect from those who use it frequently. The one thing i am wondering about, with the increase of this trialization of rape and pedophiles; is it going to incite more of these actions? With meme's like pedobear and the often referral to rape in online games, is this not removing apart of the physiological barrier against these acts?

[Fawkes]

I am sure most here have had experiences on the Internet of an almost cultural effect from those who use it frequently. The one thing i am wondering about, with the increase of this trialization of rape and pedophiles; is it going to incite more of these actions? With meme's like pedobear and the often referral to rape in online games, is this not removing apart of the physiological barrier against these acts?

I don't know if there will be a directly linked quantifiable change, but I would be very doubtful of anyone saying that there is no relation.

I was with a kid I know yesterday who basically spends his whole life on 4chan and other shit like that, and just in passing and jokingly he said "tits or gtfo". What happened there was sexist attitudes regarding women began to find expression on the internet. The anonymity and accessibility of the internet allowed for more brazen usage of such objectifying language, thereby intensifying it. Given the major influence the internet has on this kid, as it does for many people, the language and attitudes found on the internet then got transferred back into "real life".

In short, what I think happens is that real life oppressions, prejudices, issues, etc. find their way into internet discourse where the dissociative nature of the internet allows for a dehumanization of these issues. Furthermore, the anonymity provided by the internet allows for an intensification of these attitudes which is then reflected in actual "real" social situations. So, internet memes like the ones you said are both reflective of prevailing attitudes and serve in their perpetuation, i.e. they're both a cause and effect.

[Octavian]

I doubt it will have any serious impression on people. Just like that scare with video games where a bunch of conservatives were afraid video games would turn children into killers.

I don't know if there will be a directly linked quantifiable change, but I would be very doubtful of anyone saying that there is no relation.

I was with a kid I know yesterday who basically spends his whole life on 4chan and other shit like that, and just in passing and jokingly he said "tits or gtfo". What happened there was sexist attitudes regarding women began to find expression on the internet. The anonymity and accessibility of the internet allowed for more brazen usage of such objectifying language, thereby intensifying it. Given the major influence the internet has on this kid, as it does for many people, the language and attitudes found on the internet then got transferred back into "real life".

That kid just sounds like a meme spewing douche bag. People like that don't really think like that they just think 4chan is some secret internet club with inside jokes that are really funny.

[Fawkes]

I doubt it will have any serious impression on people. Just like that scare with video games where a bunch of conservatives were afraid video games would turn children into killers.

That kid just sounds like a meme spewing douche bag. People like that don't really think like that they just think 4chan is some secret internet club with inside jokes that are really funny.

Making jokes about rape trivializes actual rape. A linkage is then drawn between some dumb and "humorous" internet meme and actual rape, thereby decreasing the significance of the latter. Internet memes often make jokes out of serious social issues, and not in the satirical kind of way. In turning things like racial violence into a joke (with no progressive subtext), the seriousness of real racial violence gets diminished. People seem to forget that behind every username is an actual person, and that that username that keeps saying "tits or gtfo" and objectifying women is a real person sitting at some desk somewhere having real interactions with people and real face-to-face relationships. I don't see how there isn't a connection.

[¿Que?]

I find it difficult sometimes because the culture is so prevailing that a joke about rape doesn't even phase me anymore. People are generally so callous in the first place but also they accuse you of being a humorless prick if you so much as raise the issue. I see a lot of that stuff with men and homosexuality as well. People are generally insensitive and if you walk around thin skinned all the time, they'll probably target you first. But you always get that male heteronormative posturing when the issue comes up. It's just difficult not to get caught up in all that sometimes.