State of Cape Cod

Try A Couple of Fori

In my dotage, circumstances have dictated that a great deal of time be spent at home and none on the golf course. It soon became apparent long hours had been devoted to that fine, if frustrating, game. Those huge blocks of time had to be reassigned so the magnificent iMac was chosen to fill the gap. It didn’t take long to learn that emails, web surfing, household bookkeeping, two blogs, downloading music for the iPod, compiling slide shows of family events, and interminable games of Solitaire weren’t up to the task. So discussion forums (fori?) were elected to take up the slack.

There are more than enough sites available for even the most prolific purveyors of male bovine excrement. Just Google any occupation, area of interest or other topic followed by the word ‘discussion’ and you’ll find a discussion group at or near the head of the list. The Apple support group, for instance, is a must for Mac owners to discuss technical problems and to praise or gripe about some of the new programs and innovations. Comparable sites exist for Windows wonks. For day to day discussion of current events, local or national, nothing is quite as thought provoking as those sponsored by newspapers and magazines everywhere, and Cape Cod is no exception.

Posters come in several personas. There are those who seek to engage in thoughtful discussions about news events and editorial opinions. They are, unfortunately, in the minority. More prevalent are those who want nothing more than to force their views down the throats of everyone else. It is this latter group that detracts from much of the pleasure which more reasonable people derive from the activity.

Particularly galling are posters who, when confronted with disagreement, resort to insults and ridicule. Some of the derogatory comments are not only crude and vulgar but can be downright hurtful. Those who use this tactic fail to see that it merely highlights their inability to mount a cogent argument and emphasizes not only their lack of intellect but a complete absence of courtesy or respect. To put it bluntly, they’re not only dumb but they have no manners.

The sense of security fostered by the anonymity of user names encourages rude and unprincipled behavior. It’s akin to road rage. People feel safe in the confines of their vehicles so they shout epithets and make rude gestures to drivers who annoy them. Posting under a pseudonym provides a similar feeling of invulnerability.

Many believe the sponsor of a forum has a responsibility to see that it is conducted with a modicum of decorum. The fact that disciplinary action is rare leads one to believe that rude behavior is acceptable, if not outright welcome. It could very well be that management encourages controversy in order to liven things up. The problem is that this could very well discourage serious posters and drive them away, leaving only a bunch of ill mannered boors calling each other names.

There is also a deeply rooted suspicion that some sponsors are not above planting a few shills among their posters in order to keep the pot boiling with outrageous and provocative comments. Again, anonymity plays into the hands of the unscrupulous.

Nor are posters blameless. It is well known that some people, perhaps more than we know, adopt different identities, often at the same time. Occasionally their style betrays them, but it’s perfectly possible, even probable, that many lively online arguments have taken place with the same person on both sides, under different names, and no one the wiser.

With all the drawbacks inherent in online fori, why do so many get so involved in them? The easy answer is that they have a great deal of time on their hands. Retirees come to mind, and certainly many posters are in that group. So might people with free time, sanctioned or surreptitious, at work. Students and stay at home moms might participate. All of the above, plus others unknown, might be spending hours in conversation, often adversarial, sometimes rude, occasionally belligerent, with a gang of strangers. What attracts them, and keeps them coming back?

If you are among the large population of forumites on the Cape, and your presence on this site would indicate that you very well could be, then you already know the answer. If you haven’t visited one, you certainly should at least take a look at this latter day phenomenon. You may find it’s not for you. Or, like so many, you may become addicted and endure great pains and some insults in order to contribute your two cents about events here on Cape Cod and throughout the world.

Cape Cod Today is a good place to begin. Register, if you haven’t already done so. Leave some comments. Start a little fuss - but be polite. Cape Cod Talk has fewer participants but you may find it’s just what you’re looking for. Of course, there’s Cape Cod Online, the oracle of the Cape Cod Times and perhaps the largest and most controversial of local sites. There are others, but try these first. You may swear off fori for life. Or you may become a forum junkie.

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