Montserrat Computers

The issue of online courtesy is quite complex, especially for moderators of platforms or discussion forums like this one. In general, some people defend their opinions rudely, replicating the same behavior they display in real life. It seems to give them a sense of power, as if they are above being questioned.

I’m not necessarily referring to partisan politics here, but to any subject where someone "Thinks" they know everything.

I am a moderator of a shared literature contest focused on Horror and Suspense. The goal is for participants to post their stories and for everyone to provide feedback on the characters, plot, and narrative pacing of the submitted texts. It’s not uncommon to see two or three authors flaunting their "Literary expertise" with harsh criticisms and aggressive comments, without offering any constructive suggestions. Many people lack the ability to be diplomatic when criticizing. You can absolutely critique someone’s story, but it should be done politely and with arguments that help the writer see what can be improved.

Simply saying that someone’s text isn’t good, that it’s missing this or that, or comparing it to a child’s or teenager’s work is very hard to tolerate without eliciting an equally intense response. And when the moderator steps in to ask the "Universal knowledge expert" to tone down their rudeness, they are often accused of suppressing freedom of expression. Sometimes, indirect comments arise, suggesting that the critic is right and the moderator is the problem.

It’s a very complicated situation. Life is too short to stress over something so trivial.

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