Civility in the Age of Anonymity

A recent blog entry by Salt Lake Tribune photographer Trent Nelson, got me thinking again about civility. Trent wrote about the lack of a calm, civil dialogue in the comment section of stories that had run on the web site where he works at the Salt Lake Tribune. And how he felt that people would be less inclined to let us as journalist's document their lives and stories as a result of the insulting and demeaning comments made whenever a story runs.

I agree with, him. I have been doing a lot of thinking about this as of late. Especially as I have read the comments on our website at the Deseret News, even with our policy to delete many of the more outlandish, mean spirited, off-topic and profane comments from our comment sections that follow our stories, it is still difficult to restore a bit of civility to what is left.

I don't know what the answer is, but when I lack for present answers I try to look at the past to see if bits of wisdom can be gleaned from those who have trod the path before.

I remember my grandfather telling me as we worked together to build a room on the first floor for my great-grandmother who could no longer get upstairs to her room "to always measure twice and cut once". He told me I would make less mistakes that way and learn patience. So when it comes to comments on the web and email, I think we should read everything we've written twice, send once. Maybe this will reduce the impulse to fire off our cyber-mouths before we think about what is actually coming out of them.

Another thought comes from the oft' heard quote, "The character of a man is most often found in what he does when no one is looking" I am not sure who should be originally credited with it, but it is sound advice.

In this age of anonymity, especially on the web, people often say things online in comments and even emails that they would never let slip from their mouths during face to face conversation. Our country seems polarized in it's politics, economics and socially. Society is a dynamic thing, times, language and people do change, great strides have been made in medicine, science and health, things that have made our lives better and more productive. But sometimes these same things that help us can also be a two-edged sword, ready to cut, hurt and maim if used improperly.

As a photo editor and photographer, I look at photographs, I love them as they record the exact time frame wherein they are taken. They are a reflection of what was going on at that time, the hair styles, the clothes, the technology, etc. When I look at them, I am old enough to realize that as much as things change, they also come back. Perhaps now more than ever we need to be reminded that some things should never go out of style, civility for example is something that is sorely needed. It should never be hung in the closet only to be brought out on occasion, but rather snugly fitted around our shoulders every time we set down at the keyboard of our computers or pull a blackberry from our pockets.