Hoping the keyboard warrior is moved to extinction

Whatever your view on how BJ and his Gang have handled this crisis, things are very different, and will be for a while yet. For anyone having a beer in the Black Swan last week a lot of the talk was around if it will be a permanent change, or we will do what we always do and revert back to type as soon as we are released back into the world?

Maybe I was too busy navel gazing before to notice, but the revelation for me over the past few weeks has been the amount of goodwill that has been created within our community. 

The Octo Pub Crawl, the lang cat weekly briefings, Next Wealth, Yardstick, Para PowWow. If you are like me, someone who loves to be continually learning, the last three weeks have been fantastic. I get the feeling that those who contribute have a genuine desire to help and support, nothing is expected in return, and debate is courteous, professional and productive. Bravo.

So I am confused as to why is it that other platforms still give air to cockwombles who post under pseudonyms? Why do we allow all of this goodwill and positivity to be overshadowed by a small group of keyboard warriors hiding behind a name that they, and they alone, think is clever or humorous.

I give you Succession's announcement yesterday as my example. I have never met the CEO but I very much doubt that he is anything other than extremely competent. Inflexion wouldn’t have him in place otherwise, and he certainly wouldn’t have been able to recruit people of the calibre of Sarah Lord if he was a fool. They have had to make some very difficult decisions and these decisions will impact peoples lives. Sad as it maybe, it's not the first time, and wont be the last, that events move against us. But the business decision is not what has made me pick up the keyboard.

My anger (?) is aimed at those who attack others who offer genuine feedback to the article, who are prepared to debate and offer a view, just like the forums mentioned above. Hayley North, of Rose and North, makes a very sensible point about business, or rather revenue, mix and the impact it has on her business only to receive online personal attacks from anonymous posters. I have never had the pleasure of talking to Ms North personally but have been in her company when she contributed to a group discussion in a room full of people I admire and respect, and her comments were professional, passionate, balanced and respectful. I am certain that it will mean nothing to her, but I was really impressed. She won me over.

There was nothing in her comments yesterday that warranted the responses, especially without filter or control over anonymity. Maybe the nature of Zoom, Teams, Crowdcast etc where you can see your accuser means the keyboard warriors are fearful of recognition, just like the thief with their hood up, but isn’t now the time for these other platforms to refuse comments from people not authenticated and named? The excuse that people will not contribute if their employer can see who they are should have been retired long ago. It is outdated and the success of forums like Octo only goes to show that debate, even disagreements, can be held in a constructive and professional manner.

I truly hope that when this is over we continue to share and be supportive, and that the keyboard warrior is moved to extinction just like all the other animals that refuse to adapt through changing times.