In the immortal words of the late, great American comedian and TV host Joan Rivers, “Can we talk?” When it comes to the rising tide of incivility washing over online discussions, we have a lot to talk about. Despite the removal by comment monitors of posts containing unacceptable linguistic excursions, the blogosphere is rife with trash talk.
Around here controversial topics for debate are not hard to find, including the Woodfibre LNG plant, natural gas pipeline expansion in the Squamish estuary, and more generally, fracking and climate change. As well, that recurrent magnet for keyboard wrath, the Garibaldi at Squamish four-season ski resort, will soon be on the agenda in the coming months.
Last year the hot-button targets were the Squamish Oceanfront Development and to a lesser degree the rogue skateboard bowl under the Quest University bridge and fast food drive-thru restaurants.
All of those issues generated an outburst of heated discourse. Undeniably, residents who care enough to share their views are essential to the future of a vibrant community. But that assumes the conversation will be civilized and respectful. In too many instances that has not been the case, with local web-based forums degenerating into the online equivalent of a barroom brawl.
Although the Internet has become one of the most important communication enablers in history, these days there appears to be a growing lack of deference between people, wherever they congregate. That state of affairs is magnified in the blogosphere, where a difference of opinion can lead to instant vilification and personal attacks.
Still, despite the civility breakdowns swirling around us, when the deliberative medium is a face-to-face, word-of-mouth exchange, there is usually a higher likelihood of respect for the communication process and the participants. Conversely, electronic mouse encounters offer a level of remoteness, and in some cases anonymity, that reduces social inhibitions. Our local Internet arena is not unique in that regard. It mirrors the larger cyberspace domain where posts on social media and other comment forums have surrendered to over-the-top venting.
As the population of this community grows, and some observers are suggesting there will be a doubling in less than 20 years, polarizing disputes between stakeholders will be the norm, not the exception. The sooner we reel in the trend towards electronic shouting matches, the more likely those issues will receive the measured, constructive attention they deserve. To hasten the arrival of a new era of etiquette, here’s a suggestion: Let’s declare the length and breadth of the Shining Valley an online rage-free zone and live up to that moniker.
