What is with the members of AOL?

[12voltman59]

I used to be a member or AOL, but dropped it late last year---but-since I had my AOL membership for a long time--I had so many things that I joined--like this site that I had used AOL addresses for--thankfully they did start that program that allowed old members to keep their addresses.

Since I use that regularly--I do like to read the news they post on the site and this evening read the story about the crash of one of the jets that belongs to the US Navy Blue Angels precision flying team and the death of that pilot.

They also have an area where you can post thoughts about AOL stories---it was not always so--but in the last year or so---they really get some people who post the most nasty and vile things about any news item imaginable.

I went to read the posts on the death of the Navy pilot and some of the things I read on the topic are just so incredibly stupid and ignorant---I mean ignorant to the Nth degree.

One such example: one person wrote, without knowing the racial origin of the pliot, a thread titled: "Stupid Nigger Pilot"

Others were just as bad---thanks to my days working as a journalist--I got to cover the Dayton Vectren Air Show that takes place each summer at the Dayton International Airport in Dayton, Ohio for the community newspaper I used to write for.

I have covered both of our military precsion air teams, the Navy Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds--both are impressive organizations with some interesting and impressive individuals.

I posted stuff for hours trying to refute some of the stupid, ignorant, vile, hateful stuff that so many posted on there--I think I was wasting my time trying to do that though--but ya do have to try, don't ya think?

The point of this ramble--it does seem that, for some reason, the population of AOL does seem to be especially ignorant, nasty, cranky, stupid, vapid and the like----does anyone else feel the same way? Do you think that the negative sentiments expressed by what seems to be the majority of those on AOL is representative of America in general or hopefully (thankfully) limited to those on AOL and just a rather small percentage of Americans in general?

To close--as a military vet and a journalist who has been priviledged to see up close, the inner workings of the Blue Angels---I want to offer my condolences to the family of the downed pilot and offer my apologies for those idiots at AOL who have posted some hateful and nasty things about this man---a person they do not know---I know that this pilot represents the best of America while those vile people who post such negative things represent America at its worst!!!!


I really hope that the population of AOL is not at all representative of America in general---if it is---we are in a very sad way!!!!!

I don't know how long they will keep up that news article and related message board--but just go to www.aol.com and find the link that reads: post your thoughts to see for yourself what I am talking about---I did not go to the boards on the Virginia Tech situation but I bet there were stupid and vile things posted about the Tech students too---like they somehow deserved to get shot or some such thing---

[Long Duck Dong]

lol we have the same issues here in nz

there is a major nz website / forum, and we have the usual grumps and trolls.... and then we have the few, that think that the net was created for them to be the vilest, nastest, rudest pieces of human trash on the net

the trouble is that they create so much shit, that the decent, respectful consider posters get sick of the ongoing BS and stop posting..... and thats why the trash heaps, slowly take over

I think the trouble is freedom of speech.... I understand that freedom of speech is a given right in the US, unless its something true and factual about a certain us president lol..... I support freedom of speech.... i don't support the freedom to be a obnoxious, ignorant, arrogant piece of shit, but we get them on the net
and sadly the net is the perfect breeding ground for some pond scum.....

I don't judge americans as a whole for the acts of subhuman gutter scum.....each person needs to be judged seperately....and for me, its the same in bisexual.com...
I look at a persons attitudes in regards to different issues....and while i may agree in some areas, and disagree in others.... its normally the overall posting attitude that forms my final opinion

its sad that we have below intelligent, toilet bowl licking, 7 day old dog faeces that post in a manner to deliberately offend and hurt others...but it actually helps to make the more intelligent, astute, polite, considerate and respectful posters, really stand out....lol

AOL could learn a thing or 6 about posting and community spirit from bisexual.com.....

[ambi53mm]

I was a member of aol for a while myself begining back in 96' when it was 2.0 but have since disengaged for over a few years now. It literally seems to take over your machine at times and now I just retain an email account I've had there for years for business reasons.
The overall aol community has changed and I think it seems to cater to a much younger crowd on average than what we find on Bisexual.com. I've seen the kind of comments you refer too and usually imagine some pimpled unabled to shave, teenaged kid with way too much time on his hands, tring to get a reaction from the population in general lazily sitting at his keyboard.
Very tragic day for the Blue Angels. I've watched them fly all my life growing up and living most of my life within a stones throw of the Naval Academy.
We've no shortage of ignorance in America but have always believed that the good far outweighs the bad and as I watch my own kids grow into the mature individuals they've become, my faith is restored.

Ambi :)

[allbimyself]

AOL is the internet with training wheels. So it wouldn't surprise me if there were a higher than national average number of idiots and ignoramuses using their service.

[Solomon]

internet with training wheels?? porno training wheels maybe? lol

when i was on there, like 10 years ago everytime ya chat ya get your e-mail STUFFED with porno ads!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

'course for me it was like a challenge to see how many i could get in a week lol :bigrin: :bigrin:

but i wonder how mom's across america felt about junior's eyes constantly bugging out!! :eek: :eek:

[welickit]

AOL started to direct their content toward the younger crowd a number of years ago. All kinds of front line AOL employees gave their opinion that it wasn't a good idea and wouldn't work. AOL didn't listen and lost millions of members. I worked for AOL for years and watched the downhill spiral. In addition to their redirecting their content they pretty much crippled their own tech support staff by limiting the time a tech could spend on a support issue with a member. Most of their support has been moved to India now so if you happen to need to call them, they may or may not speak English. AOL is definitely a resource hog. Newer versions set themselves up to load when you start your computer, whether you want them to or not. It just sits there running in the background. When you use AOL then shut it down it doesn't return the resources it was using. I use system engineer to cripple AOL's auto start feature. We keep AOL but only because an 83 year old family member finds it easy to use and we can let our sons in the military use the same account.

[littlerayofsunshine]

AOL is the internet with training wheels. So it wouldn't surprise me if there were a higher than national average number of idiots and ignoramuses using their service.


I agree, it was invented so even the slowest of the joe's (and janes for that matter) could log on and connect with the rest of the updated world. um.. no offense to all aol users. *puts on her riot gear*

[miller lite man]

I used to be a member or AOL, but dropped it late last year---but-since I had my AOL membership for a long time--I had so many things that I joined--like this site that I had used AOL addresses for--thankfully they did start that program that allowed old members to keep their addresses.

Since I use that regularly--I do like to read the news they post on the site and this evening read the story about the crash of one of the jets that belongs to the US Navy Blue Angels precision flying team and the death of that pilot.

They also have an area where you can post thoughts about AOL stories---it was not always so--but in the last year or so---they really get some people who post the most nasty and vile things about any news item imaginable.

I went to read the posts on the death of the Navy pilot and some of the things I read on the topic are just so incredibly stupid and ignorant---I mean ignorant to the Nth degree.

One such example: one person wrote, without knowing the racial origin of the pliot, a thread titled: "Stupid Nigger Pilot"

Others were just as bad---thanks to my days working as a journalist--I got to cover the Dayton Vectren Air Show that takes place each summer at the Dayton International Airport in Dayton, Ohio for the community newspaper I used to write for.

I have covered both of our military precsion air teams, the Navy Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds--both are impressive organizations with some interesting and impressive individuals.

I posted stuff for hours trying to refute some of the stupid, ignorant, vile, hateful stuff that so many posted on there--I think I was wasting my time trying to do that though--but ya do have to try, don't ya think?

The point of this ramble--it does seem that, for some reason, the population of AOL does seem to be especially ignorant, nasty, cranky, stupid, vapid and the like----does anyone else feel the same way? Do you think that the negative sentiments expressed by what seems to be the majority of those on AOL is representative of America in general or hopefully (thankfully) limited to those on AOL and just a rather small percentage of Americans in general?

To close--as a military vet and a journalist who has been priviledged to see up close, the inner workings of the Blue Angels---I want to offer my condolences to the family of the downed pilot and offer my apologies for those idiots at AOL who have posted some hateful and nasty things about this man---a person they do not know---I know that this pilot represents the best of America while those vile people who post such negative things represent America at its worst!!!!


I really hope that the population of AOL is not at all representative of America in general---if it is---we are in a very sad way!!!!!

I don't know how long they will keep up that news article and related message board--but just go to www.aol.com and find the link that reads: post your thoughts to see for yourself what I am talking about---I did not go to the boards on the Virginia Tech situation but I bet there were stupid and vile things posted about the Tech students too---like they somehow deserved to get shot or some such thing---
The Blue angels are the BEST of the BEST Navy Pilots! This city was honored to have them,last year. Their skills,and courage are nothing short of excellent, or "4.0",which is Navy talk for PERFECT .
My deepest condolences to the Pilots family,and friends.His color should NOT be an issue i n this. Even if he was colored..so what? a Navy man died. A tragedy!
I'm ex Navy,some of our best people were colored,Officers,and PO's.They weren't niggers,they were friends.

[miller lite man]

I saw the National news about the Blue Angels jet crash. Someone said the pilot was colored, "A nigger Pilot ".He was WHITE! I think whoever said this owes a big apology. Don't speak until U know the facts.

[miller lite man]

the Navy Blue Angels Pilot who died was LT Kevin Davis. . Caucasian. They were in our city last summer.

[FalconAngel]

As a Veteran, I understand the dangers that these pilots face. I have known men and women just like them and so I know that all of these pilots, like all military aviators in the free world, are the absolute best that their branch of service has to offer. They all take these risks knowing that something can always go wrong. This pilot died doing his duty, even though many may not think so, it does not change that he did give his life honorably in the execution of his duty as a military pilot.

I have been fortunate enough to see the Blue Angels, the Thunderbirds, Canada's Snowbirds, the R.A.F.'s Red Arrows and, of course, our own US Army's Golden Knights Helicopter Team. And they are under more stress than any other pilots in the world. Considering how they have to fly, it is understandable.

As I stated ALL of the men and women who fly these aircraft are the absolute best of their respective service and they all know the risks and take those risks willingly. It is always sad when one of them crashes and dies, but it happens. These pilots are all aware that it can happen to them and do everything possible to avoid it and, when it does happen, to do everything possible to prevent innocent bystanders from getting caught up in it should they "screw the pooch".

The training that these pilots get so that they may fly the best aircraft in the world is the absolute finest available and none of these maneuvers that they do are terribly difficult for them because of their training.

As far as the ignorant s.o.b. from AOL that made the racial epithet, well he should read about the Tuskeegee Airmen.

All military pilots in the US armed forces receive the same level of training and have the same standards to pass flight school. Not one of them got a free ride because of his ethnic background. Let that offensive individual know that basic fact.

We have the opportunity here to express our feelings about an American Airman who died in the line of duty. He should be remembered with honor and apropriate respect should be accorded him, his family and his service.

[mariersa]

Well, I'm kinda new to all this internet, computer stuff, but, just from what I have seenand heard AOL seems to be the right place for that caliber, unfortunatley a few of them found us here, wish they would go back.

You should be proud of your Military and it apperas from what I have just read, all of you are, (some of us can't say that) and all death is a tragedy.

[darkeyes]

You should be proud of your Military and it apperas from what I have just read, all of you are, (some of us can't say that) and all death is a tragedy.
Not all of us Marie... me really needs 2 talk 2 u bout that sumtime!!! :tong:

[Vuarra]

Epithet warning!!!

AO Hellers!

Back before the turn of the millenium, I remember being part of a few fora that absolutely banned anyone with an "aol.com" or "aol.xx" (where .xx is the country code) e-mail address. The problem was that a) they were newbies, and they didn't even know it, and b) they thought that they owned the web, just because they were an AOHell subscriber. Of these fora, the one for the Sailor Moon Universe was asked to shut down by AOHell because they advocated the original Japanese plotlines (with gay men etc.)

In Japan, Sailor Moon is an adult-themed cartoon, with mature storylines, and certainly not intended for youngins under 12.

Dang, this brings back 10 year old memories :)