Keyboard Warriors – They’re Everywhere #Cyberbully

You know, I’ve sat here and struggled with a title for this blog post. To be honest, I didn’t even know if I was going to write this post. After thinking about some things that people said in a social media post, all day today, it is just the time to get this out there. I think it’s time to address those keyboard warriors we all see on social media.

I’m not a sensitive person. I do not get offended easily, AT ALL. It does seem like both of those seem like the norm lately, within the past two years specifically. EVERYONE seems to get offended by everything. If I see something online that I don’t agree with, or that I don’t like, I just keep on scrolling. Easy peasy. I don’t go ahead and post a response anyway and express my opinion to piss someone off. I don’t post, calling people names or to tell someone they’re stupid. None of that is necessary. We’re all human beings. Respect. That’s what I was taught growing up.

That being said, it doesn’t mean I haven’t sat there and thought “Wow, why would they post that.” Or, “Why would they ask such a dumb question?” Etc. I’m not perfect in my thoughts, that’s for sure, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to be a jerk online. It is so important to always think before you post, “Would I say that to someone in person?” Typically this helps with my responses, if I even choose to respond online.

Now here’s the situation that happened this morning with me, again, these aren’t the first jerky things someone has ever said to me. Like I stated, I don’t ever get offended, I usually overlook responses like this. My point anyway is other’s behavior, not what I posted. Keyboard warriors are everywhere and they like to bully others.

I posted in our local town community Lexington, SC Facebook page, asking if our area has tornado sirens. That’s it. There was a tornado last night in our neighborhood, luckily we are completely fine, but I noticed in the two years I have lived here, that I’ve never heard any sirens! We’ve had them every where else we have lived, so I just thought that was odd. On top of that, my family had NO warning whatsoever that there was a tornado in the area until we heard it, and I grabbed the kids and took off for the closet.

So, I’m sure you’re asking, how did I not know? Well yesterday was a Sunday. On Sundays we disconnect from social media. We disconnect from our phones. We had the TV off as well, no radio either. Our family had just finished dinner, so as a result, we were in the kitchen cleaning up, and the kids were playing in the living room.

All of a sudden, I heard this roaring sound, almost like a train was about to bust through the house, and the back patio door started slamming from the intense wind. Instantly I had a flash back to my childhood growing up in Central Illinois, running for the basement. I yelled for the kids and started pushing them towards the bedroom and into the closet. It was over just as fast as it started.

Now, thinking about it, what could someone even possibly say to upset me, when all I asked was if there were tornado sirens in our area?

“I don’t know how you’d possibly not know there wasn’t severe weather in the area. How would you hear sirens if we had them anyway, if people are inside watching TV, along with other typical noises, completely unaware of storms? There were alerts EVERYWHERE all day today. How is that even possible? (insert shrug emotion)”

“It’s just common sense with storms that there may be a tornado. Tornado sirens are an unnecessary expense.”

“Our cell phones give us warnings, how could you not hear that? Stupid.”

“Do you not have a smart phone? Welcome to the 2000s.”

“We don’t need sirens. We need education. Educate yourself. You know situational awareness.”

Here’s the thing. First off, I didn’t ask for ANY advice. I just asked if we had tornado sirens in the area. THAT’S IT. Second, even though we weren’t on our cell phones, there were NO alerts that went off. None. Other people in our area posted that there phones never went off either. Third, any time there is rain in the area, no matter if it’s just forecasted to sprinkle, the local weather channel calls it an “Alert Day.” To me an alert day should be if there’s bad weather that may impede our area. Fourth, there were people posting laughing emojis. Why? Who knows. Fifth, there are people who do not have smart phones. Do not have cable. Do not have a radio.

Anyway, that all being said….my point is why are people seriously such jerks online to people?? It was a simple question that I asked. There wasn’t a need for rude responses. You know what these people are? Keyboard Warriors. I see it all the time on posts. Why do people feel the need to be rude to others? What do people need to insult others for? Why do people judge others? Bullying? I just don’t get it.

Keyboard warriors ;
People who behave aggressively and/or in an inflammatory manner in online text-based discussion media, but at the same time do not behave similarly in real life, potentially due to cowardice, introversion or shyness.

Keyboard warriors are everywhere these days; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, etc. Anyone can say anything when sitting behind a computer screen. The sad thing is, others then join in. Do these people gain pleasure or some self-satisfaction from being disrespectful online? Is it cool in their minds to hurt others?

The solution is simple. Block. Delete. Or just remove social media altogether…except, I work in social media, so that doesn’t work for me. It’s not healthy for anyone to be either involved in or viewing these kinds of time-wasting posts. If you’re sick of seeing them or are the victim of online attacks, block the other person. I’m done wasting my time on these people. If you are one of those keyboard warriors, maybe you should rethink yourself, and try to change. Evaluate what you’re saying online, and think before you type.

It costs $0 to be a decent human being.

If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

Have you ever been in a situation where someone has done something similar to you? Do you just ignore keyboard warriors?