If you don't have anything nice to say...

So, for those who surf the web a decent amount, this small rant may hit a chord with you. I rarely use my blog as my platform to discuss the world at large or my problems with it, but today that is what I'd like to do.
How many people have had this scenario happen to them (or something similar): you are on the Internet and decide to read, lets say, a news article. Well the article gets you to thinking and you have comments about it, so since it is the Internet and everyone on the Internet welcomes your comments, you may leave one, or go to a forum and leave your opinion for others to read and enjoy. As boredom persists you are curious if others had similar comments to you, so you go back to that web page and see what other people have written and there it is...someones very rude comment directed at what you had written! Not simply "I disagree with your point of view on this subject" but "That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard, you are an idiot for saying it, go die." Now, I have exaggerated a tiny bit (really not that much) to make my point. These types of things bother most people and can enrage some to leave angry, belligerent, and childish comments in return ("nuhuh, you're the stupid idiot!").
Unfortunately, I am not perfect (I know, shocker, right?) and I have at times let these ridiculous comments bother me to a point that I realize I am being foolish for letting this stranger get to me at all. I was discussing this with Zack and he gave me an interesting insight into the world of the Internet dork.
Most people know that Zachary plays World of Warcraft, but luckily he still maintains a job, a relationship and in general does not let it consume his life. He will go online to forums and discuss the game with other players, one thread, he tells me, is actually called "bored at work." He has told me about this thread a number of times and the silly, fun, time filling links and posts people will add to it. He has also informed me about trolls. These are people that just out of boredom will go somewhere and post a comment/message that is the exact opposite of what the general consensus is, basically just to be an ass. To stir up trouble and then when people write angry and emotional rebuttals, they mock them and I'm sure are quite proud of themselves that they can anger strangers and feel superior to someone on the Internet.
You can probably assume from my tone that I find this completely deplorable. Alas, what can be done? The Internet gives people the anonymity and courage to be complete jackasses to complete strangers with no risk of retribution.
I like to think of it this way, and although I will see these "trolls" and they will probably make me angry, I have a new way to look at it, and maybe it will help other people out there. Whenever I see that someone is just trying to bate me, or tick people off in general, I will wonder why they are doing it. Is it because they have no true friends to value their opinions? Because they don't have a fulfilling job and are angry at the world? Or are they an Internet pariah who lives in their mother's basement at 35 or 40 years old and does nothing but searches the web for people to make feel inferior because they do not share their vast knowledge of World of Warcraft (for example).
Now, I realize that my blog is public. I can easily set it to private if I didn't want strangers to read it or leave me comments, and I can easily avoid reading comments/posts elsewhere on the Internet. But I like to use the Internet as an opportunity. Where maybe someone will happen across my blog, find it amusing or interesting, possibly tell me so, and go on their merry way. Having filled a few minutes of their life where they had nothing better to do.
Well I guess that is just me in a nutshell; I spread sunshine, while others try to spread gloom. Just call me Rainbow Brite.