User Generated Content Can Be Kinda Stupid

Lately my time has been getting eaten by StumbleUpon and I know I’m not the only one who lives this way too. Frankly, it has made this internet of ours a little more exciting again… I was wondering if the whole net was becoming spam and stupid crap. I’m not in the “full addict mode” yet and that’s only because I keep encountering something that seriously irks me about StumbleUpon. There’s douche-baggery at play here…

Fiber Optic Stupidity

Did you know that any assclown with a checking account can get a high speed internet connection? I know, I was shocked too. I would have thought there would have been some kind of screening process on the internet service provider’s side, but I guess money trumps idiocy. And so dawned the era of the turnip wagon dumping all the village idiots onto the net.

At first they were getting spotted by website owners with contact forms, usually asking painfully stupid questions because they didn’t read something that was already on the page. Then they started finding their way into community forum sites with broken images for signatures, looking to flame anyone with a different point of view. Poor old Craigslist never even saw the throngs of mouthbreathers coming in force that discovered the Rants & Raves section…

But for StumbleUpon, it’s something kinda different. It’s like we are watching the natural evolution (unintelligent design for you holy folks) of the “Internet Moron” when it comes to people commenting on pages they stumbled. The problem is, half the time or more, they comment about something they don’t know jack about, but yet they just got an honorary degree on it within the timespan it took to look at the page. And you just have to know about their point of view. It’s that important. No seriously, it really is.

Stumbling Backwards

Although I love stumbling new sites whenever I get the chance, I keep finding myself getting mouthy with the denizens of Dumbtown.  Technically speaking, this is a waste of time.. I know that already.  I know that no matter what opinion or defense I put up on behalf of the page that I just really enjoyed, it’s still just an opinion.  On the flip side of this coin, their asinine ramblings were also opinion too.

I have found myself giving something a thumbs up only after I check the comments first, hoping that I won’t be the only moron who likes the page out of so many negative reviews.  With that said, it ends up supporting the antithesis of what StumbleUpon is about;  you grade it FIRST, then if you like, comment on it.   Out of my own fear of being rejected by the flock, I’m doing the opposite of the way this is supposed to work.  I’ve got a strong suspicion that I’m not the only person doing this as well.  Hrmmmm……

Freedom Of Speech Through Belligerence

One of the greatest things about sites like Stumble that allow people to sound off, is that you can gather up a general consensus of the value of the page or site in question.  I really do like that, because as a web developer, it’s like a visitor feedback form to the 10th power.  The ugliest or prettiest of truths will come to light, and you will get invaluable insight about how people are perceive your site.   But the trick seems to be filtering out the ignorance to find the nuggets of wisdom.

Did you know that Linux users are “greasy nerds”? Pirating software is “totally l33t”?  This is the kind of crap that does no one any service whatsoever.  But this is what at least 30% of Stumbler comments sound like.  They have the right to say this, but I just want some way to contact them and just ask one question;  “Is anyone supposed to give a flying shit about your ignorant ass view?!”.

Conclusion

It’s inevitable.   You can’t escape the clutches of ignorance or arrogance when it comes to sheltered and elitist internet users.  Ironically, most of the people who are firing off pointless dribble tend to be under the age of 25.  Not that this figure really means anything, or that I’m saying that ALL people in this demographic are jaded and misinformed.. but there is definitely a strong sense of sticking with the herd when it comes to stating a position on a topic.  I guess that’s why older internet users rock;  we’ve been there and done that.

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