Did you notice increased hostility on social media?

[emptydreamer]

I am posting this in the coronavirus section as I suspect it could be explained by the lockdown.

I don't mean on MN, or other anonymised social networks, but rather platforms where people post under their actual names and are connected with real-life friends. I am a long-standing member of a couple of parenting groups on fb, and many of them seem to have switched into some sort of an active warfare mode recently, resulting in bans issued en masse after participants started saying things to each other that are quite hurtful (not the usual social-media-hurtful, but quite extreme, really). Not even along the usual fault lines, but just people snapping out of the blue on the most insignificant of topics.

Just wondered if that is something other people see as well, or is it just me noticing it more as spending more time now online (could well be)?

Everyone is at breaking point. Kids being homeschooled, no socialising either for the kids or adults. Essentially locked in a house with the same bunch of people. Even in situations where you have a good home life this situation will test it. I have certainly been guilty of being over sensitive and short with people this year. Its alot harder to read situations and tone in writing and I think people have just reached the end of their patience.

I think it may have something to do with working and home schooling. These are long days for parents.

My various local community pages are definitely all rather political lately. So much so people have broken off many groups and there are now alternative local groups.

I pretty much browse quickly to see if any local news I should know. Then leave without saying a word.

Yes, but it is similar on here too. If you disagree with someone, the response can be quite personal and hostile.

Yes absolutely. Seems we are very much on the ‘anger’ part of the Kubler-Ross Change Curve

Everyone is at the end of their tether at the moment.

Yes people are now split into 2 camps I think. Those (like me) who have had enough and want restrictions lifted and are still going out and about within the rules and those who are scared, obsessed with covid and trying to out do each other with how infrequently they leave the house. I have noticed it on local Facebook pages. Someone asked earlier if our local WHSmith was open and people started snapping and saying it wasn’t essential (turned out it was for school supplies). People who respond to any question with “aren’t we supposed to be in lockdown?!?” empathy has gone out the window and anyone who dares to set foot out the door is a granny murderer. At the end of the day it all comes down to the same thing we are all utterly fed up and are now turning on each other.

Yes definitely people are more short fused, also agree with what @Katie517 just said.

Empathy has definitely gone out of the window and it’s horrible. I feel particularly for the elderly on our local groups who seem to inadvertently say the wrong thing and get piled on.

Yes! I have noticed

Yes. It’s mostly US politics and/or white supremacy causing major arguments on beauty and vintage pages that I use. It looks mostly that some people are searching profiles of people in the groups and posting about their political stance etc. These posts are left up and the admins seem to be encouraging it.
I stay well away!

Dissent is in the air... I'm feeling very world weary at present. I believe we are the precipice of great change. And not for the better. Evil is at large. People are angry and looking for something, anything to lash out on.

It does feel a bit that way @HartinClouds

Lots of tension. Lots of judgement. Lots of anger.

I've left a FB group. It was a local one, great in the first lockdown and helpful for shielding people. You could ask for say some milk and someone would get you some
Now? It's all anti vax conspiracy theories and if you ask for milk you get told it's fine to go out and it's all a lie anyway
The change is startling

empathy has gone out the window and anyone who dares to set foot out the door is a granny murderer. At the end of the day it all comes down to the same thing we are all utterly fed up and are now turning on each other.

Yes! Including grannies who should be staying home so that they don't take up precious hospital beds by getting covid.

When people are fearful, they try to control everything they can.

Hence the angry, aggressive, judgemental nature of posts (in particular regarding the behaviour of others).

In normal life, fear and panic are emotions we try to contain because we know they spread and cause harm. Under covid, it seems like everybody, politicians, the media, the police, individuals are trying their very best to the exact opposite.

It won't end well.

I am finding lots of people are not able to cope anymore, and it is coming out in all sorts of ways, not just on SM.
I have noticed basic manners at the supermarket have all but evaporated, erratic driving and shouting at people for no reason.

It is as if the fabric of society is slowly but noticeably unravelling.

I don't think the government messaging is helping.

It is creating more division. We should be pulling together, not pulling each other apart. We hear the 'rule breakers' being fined - when nothing illegal has taken place. Drinks described as picnics. Old people visiting dying relatives outside waving at the window, fined. We are expected to report each other to the police, everyone is checking on everyone else to ensure they are suffering as much as we are. I drove to my parents to deliver essential shopping and saw 15, yes 15 police cars and two licensing police cars with cameras recording number plates I assume. That to me was totally excessive.

It is like we have woken up in a police state. I know compliance is important, but the level of stress and pressure it is piling on a worn out, fatigued nation is in my view much too excessive.

Not just on SM, people do seem to be generally more hostile.

Time of year as well. January is a horrible month notoriously but people just bunker down after a busy Christmas and plan their summer holidays. This year we've hunkered down for months already and don't know if we'll even get a summer, so everyone has got the winter blues.

The reactions I've had to my children using a part time keyworker place so I can actually do my job (out of the house) have been horrible. Yesterday they were at home because I was (rightly) and I worked from 7am until midnight on homeschooling and work. I am at breaking point.

Yes! One long-standing friend lives alone and has MH problems started attacking another friend of mine (not mutual) because we were chatting about masks, it was really embarrassing. Then a few weeks later started commenting on something I had said on my Facebook which a few of us were chatting about (sadness about no proper Christmas) it was very clear she wanted a row with anyone who would respond (no one did) she she sent me some really nasty messages in messenger to try to provoke me into rowing. I ignored and we haven’t spoken since.

Another friend again long-standing and very close was chatting via text and I answered something she had said that was really insensitive, my response was kind and polite followed by returning to general chat. I then received a really nasty text again saying awful things, I didn’t respond Andy have heard nothing since. I sent screen shots to a couple of people to gauge opinions in case maybe I was missing something and I came across differently to how I perceived but everyone who has seen the texts is completely 😮.

I am at the point of being scared to say anything to anybody now! I shall sit and wait for apologies that I doubt I’ll get

I noticed it before Christmas - I was involved in a village volunteering activity with some normally lovely people, and honestly everyone seemed to get so angry about tiny things.

Not just on social media. My job involves customer service using many channels and people have been absolutely vile.

@Icanseegreenshoots that’s my experience re police everywhere too, I posted on another thread that I suddenly feel like I’m living in a police state and was told not to be ridiculous! I was stopped for the first time in 30 years of driving on pretence I had no insurance (I do) and then grilled as to why my driving licence is registered in a county 100 miles away and accused of driving 100 plus miles to where I was stopped (I hadn’t). My colleague was also stopped on pretence of checking insurance when he was driving his wife’s car and again grilled about why he was out etc I’m supportive of police EXH is in the force but this type of thing is going to slowly alienate the public.