The Internet - Uniting the World, Only to Divide it Again

Anyone who browses Internet message boards for more than information would need to be a special kind of crazy, since these boards can be some of the most vicious parts of not only the Internet, but society as a whole. Whatever type of dispute you may be looking for, whether it be Marvel/DC, Star Wars/Star Trek, or maybe even science/religion, there's bound to be a multitude of insults, slander, and immaturity coming from both sides of the argument.

What does this prove, you may ask? Only the most ironic aspect of the Internet: it was designed to bring the world together, yet at the same time provided a way to further divide these communities. Previously, the only opportunities these arguments had to fester were either among acquaintances (in person), or at conventions, such as Comic-Con. With the creation of the Internet, and the later development of message boards, these conflicts could not only be furthered from the comfort of each party's living room, but also provided the sense of anonymity that inspires false confidence in their points. Suddenly, there's no threat of physical danger, so the insults become more severe.

Where does this leave the disputes, and those who partake in them? They go on forever, since you can literally post and respond from anywhere in the world, anytime you want. What at one point might have remained a small disagreement among people who could otherwise be friends evolves into a mutual hatred, thanks to an inconceivable amount of contempt thrown from behind the veils of namelessness.

Alternatively, one can argue that these boards provide better, more well-constructed arguments. Since your opponent isn't standing in front of you, waiting for your answer in person, you can wait a couple of minutes, look up some supporting evidence, consider how your opponent may respond, and put together a cohesive argument. Granted, these can lead to arguments lasting for days, or even weeks, but theoretically, they should be more intelligent than, "I'm right!" "No, I'm right!" "Nuh-uh, I'm right!" ad infinitum.

However, as my brief yet painful research has shown me, this is more often than not the opposite of the truth. I spent several long, unyielding minutes reading a message board concerning superhero movies, and the idea of a shared cinematic universe (you can take a wild guess which I'm talking about). The fruits of my labor consist of many people repeating "X movies suck! Y movies will be so much better!" Occasionally, someone indicated some level of intelligence, but they were rapidly drowned out by a flood of neanderthals complaining about big words, and I can only assume they gave up and moved on with their lives.

What have we learned? At the end of the day, only one point is proven. No, it's not that Marvel is better than DC, or Star Trek is better than Star Wars, or even that humans are influenced more by nurture than nature. The point proven is the fundamental paradox of the Internet: that however well-intentioned it may have been, the World Wide Web has done just as much to unite the world's population as it has to drive it further apart. Tim Berners-Lee would be rolling in his grave if he were dead.