Real Simple is designating next week “Be Nice on the Internet” Week, where they'll explore why Web negativity exists and how we can combat it.
I've never actually had a major negative experience online. I get mildly annoyed by trolls who make stupid comments on web stories, but since I don't know them, it really doesn't bother me all that much. However, I know how easy it is to have words misunderstood online - I've had that happen - and I've seen first hand while moderating an online gaming clan how quickly tempers can flare and things can be blown out of proportion. I've also read stories about people who have been driven to suicide that is either caused by or significantly affected by online bullying and cruelty.
The most important thing to remember when you're communicating online is that there's no non-verbal body language to help soften the blow of things you might say. And there's no way to instantly correct someone who's misinterpreted a light joke to mean something worse. So be polite when you're emailing or chatting (or texting). Re-read everything you type to make sure it really means what you think it does.
For more information, you can visit Real Simple on Facebook or Twitter with hashtag #BeNiceWeek.
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