Andrea Bartz and Brenna Ehrlich, CNN.com’s “netiquette” columnists, and founders of the Stuff Hipsters Hate blog, propose to bloggers and web commentators, like us, the following scenario:
So you’re surfing along on your favorite website when you see something that gets your plasma boiling — so much so that that pulsating vein above your eye is about to burst.
…
You spot an egregious factual inaccuracy, break in logic or unsubstantiated claim in an article you’re reading.
What will be your reaction? The authors suggest four possible ones. You will, probably:
a). Give a frustrated sigh, log into your commenter account — which features your real name — and compose the following message: “Hey, [insert author name here], in paragraph three in which you describe [XYZ], you seem to be in error. [Explanation].” Then you drain the last dregs of your coffee and return to work.
b). Merely scroll to the bottom (having not actually finished the article), copy a link to your inane website/blog/product, pen a message akin to “What a useful resource for a person like me!” (bonus points if the sentence doesn’t actually make sense) and paste said link under said message. You may, in fact, be a robot.
c). Completely disregard all previous comments and correct the author of his or her mistake, even though about 15 people already have done so.
d). Nearly black out with rage, roar into the abyss that is the idiocy of the internet and — fingers all akimbo — type: “YOU’RE SO FREAKING STUPID!!!!! I AHTE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHUT THE HELL UP!!!!!!!” After which, you down the last drops of your Monster Energy drink, wipe the Cheetos residue on your athletic shorts and bellow up the basement stairs, “MOM!!! WHAT’S FOR DINNER???”
Pick your choice.
Now read HERE the meaning to your probable reaction.
Persona 