The new Road Rage - Net Rage

Everyone that's been in a car before has either experienced or been the target of road rage.  I think road rage happens in part because of the social norms established by the vehicle itself.  These norms that cause this to be so common include:

• While in a car you are typically isolated from the other drivers on the road visually
• Cars are machines capable of tremendously accurate speed and direction that most of us really don't understand the mechanics of
• Humans are error prone as they are not tremendously accurate

Everyone does it, you immediately get (very) ticked off because another car cut you off. Why didn't that person see me? Don't they know I have to get somewhere as soon as possible too?! Hey asshole, *honk*, MOVE OVER. Can you believe this? Wow, simply amazing.  Oh yeah, real nice, slow down so I can't pass this truck.  Oh yeah, I can play this game. Boom, blind spot, how you like that. High Beams now if onl....

Whoa, sorry.  Flashback there for a sec..

A similar type of aggression is caused (I think) by similar circumstances.  Those of you reading this that are in the IT sector have probably experienced this as well: Net Rage.  The internet allows us to "connect" with people, from a distance.  This visual separation makes it a lot easier to assume that someone has intentionally wronged us.

The internet and computer technology is fast and tremendously accurate through the use of GPS, search engines, web browsers, and fiber channels.  All things that most of us really don't understand, we just begin to accept that they work because they always have (this week, month, year).

And now for the last part of the problem: Humans.  Humans are error prone, illogical and not fast or accurate.  So, anytime we're engaged in a digital transaction that involves a human, we immediately place blame on them or the entity involved.

Why is the font different on my website?

Why can't I get to this website?

They can't see anything, Fix it your making me look stupid!

{tech company of your choice} can do it so I know it's possible, why can't we?!

I'd just like to point something out that's obvious here but is sadly overlooked: No one intentionally breaks your website, internet connection, software, etc.  If you work with other people and furnish their technology solutions, your goal is (essentially) to make it so that they never need to contact you.  Things should just work so you can get to other things to make "just work".  Things don't always work because there will always (until Singularity ;)) be a human involved in the transaction.

This isn't targeting anyone in particular (or any situation really), it's sadly something I've seen coworkers and friends experience and have a lot of grief over.  I don't ask that you not report issues, I just ask that you use a civil tone indicative of the problem and deal with other people as if they are people.

Don't let technology dehumanize you and your interaction with others. Assume that people are always trying to do their best in a world where they can't compete with the accuracy of the digital services they create.