"You'd never say that offline, I bet."
This is a common phrase used in e-debates. I'm sure you've seen it before. Opinions clash, views differ, and suddenly people are arguing back and forth. It gets to a point where the argument reaches a stand still, and all that's left to say is, "I bet you wouldn't say any of this offline or to any real people! I bet you're just safely hiding behind your screen!"
As if that means anything.
Let me be frank: I am an asshole (Not a self-proclaimed one, unfortunately -- how cool would that be? Hint: Not cool at all.). I've been an asshole plenty of times offline, where I speak my mind (I've also been very sweet and loving, just to clarify) in public, with other people looking on.
But see, that's the thing. The other people just look on. I have never, in my life, been confronted by anyone else on anything I've said that might have sounded disrespectful or mean spirited.
It's as if a mother were to beat her kid down at your local Wal-mart (and I've seen this), where the child is crying and throwing a fit, and the mother gives the child a (well deserved, in my opinion) backhand to the face, I can see some people feel uncomfortable, or want to say something. But they don't. People don't confront other people in public. It's not common. Most don't have the nerve to walk up to someone and be like, "Hey, stop being an asshole." or "Why don't you shut up?" (Which sucks, because there's nothing more lulzy than two grown-ups going at it in a Wal-mart.)
So it really pisses me off when people use that line, trying to make a point. It all comes down to this: Sure, someone might not say such things offline and might be hiding behind a computer screen (that's not the issue here), but even if they did say it, you wouldn't do anything about it.
In my most humblest of opinions, I think "you" (meaning anyone who uses this phrase as a valid point) are a fucktard.
"You" are just as bad as that person that is an asshole offline. "You" are a as much a part of the problem. The question here isn't, "But why be mean, it's not necessary!" It's also not, "There are other ways to react!" I'm not talking about whether the person is mean or not, because I don't care. I'm talking about the reaction of the so-called Knights In Shining Armor of the internet, who are quick to point out that someone is too much of a pussy to actually say whatever they say online, offline. Yet they don't do shit themselves.
If you have confronted someone offline, then more power to you. However, I know most of you haven't. And until you do, do me a favor, and shut the fuck up.