Do posters intend to hurt the feelings of other members?

The Internet can be a strange place. I like to assume the best of people and in most cases, I think writing for posting on a chat board tends to be clinical sounding even if that isn’t the intention. Most of the time, people are dashing off a response which can seem brusque.
Trolling has been commonplace since I first started using the (bulletin) boards, back in the mid-’90s. There were people with some pretty aggressive personas who, in person, were meek individuals.
I find myself spending far more time than I like on the Internet and I am only on line when I’m home in front of a laptop. (I don’t post from my phone or even surf from a handheld when I’m out and about). Even so, there is an aspect to being on the Internet that is addicting-- and I think we are all worse off for it, despite the value of being able to access vast amounts of information remotely.

It will take a 12 click program and a mentor (who you'll have to PM)  to kick the habit. 

Does that, "12 click program" require one to believe in a Cleaner Power?

No. Just an open mind to remove all that nasty grunge lodged therein. 

@celander ...just how long have you been online?
+1 millercarbon

*chuckles

@mental How long have I been here? That you need to ask means that you can’t figure that out on your own? Seriously?

Wow!  This just typifies the problem with written communications such as emails and blog posts - devoid of all the subtle and not so subtle verbal clues that a real conversation has.  When I read Mental's "how long" post, I took it as a jest because of the added "*chuckles."  I also believe that Millercarbon was trying to be funny with his "triggered" comment.  BTW, I don't like the term "triggered" either but for completely different reasons. I do, however, understand the humor in his comment.
When I post or write and email, I always try to proofread (a lost art I'm afraid) what I wrote from the standpoint of the person reading it to see if it might be misconstrued (and to see if I've made any embarrassing typos).  That said, I think it's constructive to not always assume that a seemingly hurtful post was meant that way BECAUSE of how easy it is to misinterpret a comment.  On the other hand, I DO see an awful lot of comments that are intentionally hurtful and it makes me sad (and I second what Gdnrbob said about the state of this country).