Kids, it's time for another conversation about how we treat others. This week Rotten Tomatoes took away the users ability to comment on or review films prior to their release.
Why? Well, it seems a lot of us have forgotten the golden rule...again. If you don't remember what the golden rule is please keep reading.
Treating others the way you would like to be treated (that's the golden rule, btw) seems to be a forgotten pastime for many of us, and I'm not sure it ever existed on the Internet. But there's good news. We have the power to change this.
In the past, I've expressed my own reservations regarding the Rotten Tomatoes system of scoring. I stand by what I've said, but I also think that what they did this week was a step in the right direction.
I am all for free speech, but that is not what was happening on Rotten Tomatoes. While some used the site to share their excitement over a film, others used it as a platform for hate, harassment, and just general rudeness. Not surprisingly, female-led movies like "Captain Marvel", "Star Wars: Episode IX", and 2016's "Ghostbusters" seemed to bear the brunt of it.
I'm not naive enough to think that removing one platform is going to suddenly make the Internet a much more tolerant place. It does make the trolls slightly less visible, which is a good start.
To those who would still cry free speech, obviously people are entitled to their opinions (however wrong they may be). Trashing a film or the people who helped to make it before you've even seen it, that serves no purpose.
The modern world can be very isolating. It's easy to forget that actual people are going to see the words you send out into the Internet. Don't forget to be kind, be compassionate, and exercise some empathy before you post. And above all else, ignore the damn trolls.
More on the Story: Entertainment Weekly
...just for fun:
