Taming The Monster Behind The Computer

It happens all the time:

1. You sit at your computer.
2. You use a website.
3. At some point, the website asks you your opinion.
4. You look around and realize that no one can argue with your opinion. No one can debate your opinion, and it is so easy to just say what you feel with no discretion, because no one will know it is you, or what you look like.
5. All of a sudden, the monster comes out!

What 'monster'? The very monster that feels that working in the veil of anonymity, makes it ok to write anything you want without fear of consequence.

But wait...this is a country founded on Free Speech, so how dare anyone take away your Constitutional Rights! Unfortunately, what many do not realize is that the right to Free Speech carries with it the understanding that your opinions will be held against you by the very people you are exercising your Free Speech on. You reap what you sow.

Technology has changed and one of my favorite things is the algorithm of feedback. It is helpful in connecting people in an anonymous world, more often. The fact that data is kept of people's opinions, the next time something upsets you online, you may want to think twice before your monster attacks someone or something. Everything that happens online is public record. I still find comments I left on websites from 2001, when I was much younger, naive, and filled with angst in a post-9/11 society.

As a PR Manager for a website, I send emails out, nicely talking to people to help them. Understanding that 'people' are behind the computers, remember that when a person asks you a nice question like, 'How can I help you use our website, and what would you like to see change? Are you enjoying it?', seeing such a response such as the one I received yesterday is not wise. Now, before you read it, understand that I tamed my monster a long time ago, and it was for good reason. Many think 'venting' is healthy, but if you are doing it online, that 'venting' you do makes you appear certifiable and dangerous, and the more 'venting' you do online, you actually begin to drive yourself mad. You can attribute that to the consumer's expectation for instant gratification, which does not always happen.

Here is the email I send out:

"Hello *****,

I am Steven Lowell from Voice123. It has been two months since you became a Premium Subscriber. We wanted to follow up with you on your experience with our service. Is everything okay? Do you have questions about our system? Is there something you think we can do to improve your experience with us? If you will, please write me with your questions or concerns, and I will address each one of them and do my best to help you.

Thank you *****!

Steven Lowell
Public Relations Manager
Voice123"

Do you think such an email warranted this response? I removed the name and edited the profanity.

"Well, since you asked...

...One of my biggest complaints about Voice123 is the "give him the bu**sh*t that the smartcast pulls...Don't know what I mean? Let me elaborate. Every day almost, I'm receiving stupid SmartCast invitations to projects. Of course, when I go to submit an audition, if the project is even still accepting auditions, SmartCast gets all "are you sure? You should really be picky because if you send off a few auditions a day, the automated system will punish you because you're a voice whore" or something to that effect. THEN, the stupid Go**amn thing starts sending out f***ing reminders about jobs, saying 'this could be a good opportunity for you' after it already told me that I probably shouldn't be submitting so many auditions. I get it, alright? I'm a little fish in a vast ocean, a number in a maelstrom of voice talent and this SmartCast is the best you can do. I say that your best isn't good enough. Obviously, I'd be retarded to continue a premium service that didn't AT THE VERY LEAST pay for itself. I would like to see more value out of being a part of this website that simply the potential for exposure and a deduction on my tax return. Frankly, I'm starting to regret having become a premium subscriber and you can bet that if things continue the way they've been going, I certainly won't renew when it comes time....At this point, though, it looks like I'd have better success sticking with my local and regional clients rather than putting any time and energy into anything that is offered up via RetardCast.

Since you asked, THAT'S how it's going."

I do hope he has better luck with his local clients. He is a good voice over artist. But on the other hand, not only was he completely wrong, he attacked the one person willing to help him in an online world, who knows how tough it can be. The good news is...monster attacks are very rare. The bad news is that such lack of control will get you removed from any website, because as a business, websites must protect themselves. My advice here:

If you feel that monster is set to attack, take a step back from the computer, breathe, and think:

• "If that person was sitting in front of me, would I talk to them like this?" (or in this case, 'Do you kiss your mom with that filthy mouth!?!)
  

Truth is, if you have to ask, you should not say it. In a cold, online world, the need for decency, integrity, and dignity, is now more important than ever before, as the technology gets better at saving data.

Peace.