Keyboard Courage & Comment Sections: The Double-Edged Sword of Online Expression

I was just thinking about this today as I was scrolling through a comic book movie website and reading an article addressing how the Snow White movie didn't perform well over the weekend. The comments were supremely negative but not so much about the movie itself as I was wondering if anyone commenting had actually seen the movie. It was more or less about the politics of Snow White not being white and race swapping in fictional media nowadays. Of course its not just one site. You can scroll through almost any website or social media feed these days, and you’ll eventually hit a comment section where being disingenuous and mean is a common thing. At their best, comment sections are a place for discussion, connection, and shared enthusiasm. At their worst? A cesspool of cruelty, judgment, and performative outrage.

We live in a time when anyone with a phone and a Wi-Fi signal has a voice—and while that’s powerful, it comes with consequences.

The Rise of the Keyboard Cowboy

Behind the comfort of a screen, people say things they’d never say out loud. We’ve all seen it: someone dropping an insult on a stranger’s photo, ridiculing a creator’s work, or twisting someone's personal story into a punchline.

These folks aren’t fearless truth-tellers—they’re keyboard cowards. And a lot of ‘em confuse brutal honesty with plain ol’ rudeness.

The anonymity of the internet acts like a mask. No eye contact. No tone. No human reaction. And when there’s no immediate accountability, it’s easy to forget that the person you’re commenting on is, well… a person.

The Human Cost: Mental Health on the Line

Here’s the real danger: when you’re on the receiving end of that noise, it starts to wear on you. Whether you’re a small creator, like myself, a teen posting selfies, or someone sharing vulnerable parts of your life online—being constantly bombarded with judgment, criticism, and hate can chip away at your self-worth. You may also say that "if you can't stand the heat don't get in the kitchen." While that may be true is that really a strong justification to be mean? Is this what we are going to teach our kids with this technology? Many of us graduated high school years ago to escape this kind of behavior but it seems that because we are now privy to a platform or thought WE JUST HAVE TO SHARE IT. In the meanest way possible.

For some, it creates anxiety. For others, it leads to depression, burnout, or withdrawal from online spaces entirely. You start asking yourself: Am I good enough? Do I deserve this? Should I even be sharing at all?

And what’s worse? Sometimes the hate drowns out the support. You could have fifty kind comments—but that one nasty one echoes the loudest in your head.

This is the reality many face in a world where posting something as simple as a drawing, an outfit, or an opinion invites not just feedback—but scrutiny.

Social Media: A Platform With Power

It’s easy to forget: just twenty years ago, most folks didn’t have a platform. No blogs, no TikTok, no Twitter. You had to be somebody to speak to the public. Now, we all can. And that’s incredible. Social media gives people autonomy, agency, and the chance to amplify voices that have been historically silenced.

But like any powerful tool—it cuts both ways.

The good? Marginalized communities can rally support, share stories, and demand change. Artists can find an audience without needing a gallery. Activists can organize with a hashtag. Survivors can speak truth to power.

The bad? Misinformation spreads like wildfire. We now even see firsthand how it can even sway elections. Online harassment has become normalized. And the algorithm often rewards drama, division, and outrage over nuance, kindness, or empathy.

It’s the paradox of the digital age: the same platforms that uplift voices also expose them to an overwhelming amount of judgment, hate, and pressure to perform.

What We Can Do

We all have a role to play here.

If you’re someone who comments, think before you type. Ask yourself: Would I say this in real life? And if not—what’s the point of saying it at all?

If you’re a creator or just someone trying to exist online: remember, your worth isn’t tied to strangers' opinions. Not everyone deserves a reaction. Protect your peace where you can. Mute, block, walk away—whatever you need to do to keep showing up as yourself.

And as a society, we need to normalize empathy over ego. Encourage compassion. Make it cool to be kind. Because words carry weight, even in pixels.

Final Thought:

The internet gave everyone a voice. But with that voice comes a choice.

We can choose to build, or tear down. To connect, or to divide. To speak with care, or to shout without consequence.

Let’s make better choices. If fact I implore you to if you care enough to do it.

Because behind every screen is a human being—and behind every post, there’s a story we don’t fully know.

Excelsior

-DP

D.P. Brown is the writer and creator of the comic book series The Theme of Thieves now available in comic book stores nationwide and at comicsburgh.com