Being on the end of someone teeing off via instant messaging is not pleasant.

It’s not hard to be nice to people. Saying cruel, nasty or mean things in comms channels is a dumb move.

It’s the bigger person who can control their emotions and step back, think, before firing off another message.

The context to any situation doesn’t always come through. There could be mitigating factors, bad things happening that either side is unaware of.

This is no excuse to say bad things, or act like the schoolyard bully.

Keep doing it and that bad karma piles up.

Keep an account of your ‘human capital’. Think of it like a cash account at the bank.

Act like a dick, down goes the balance. Be nice to someone, treat people well (especially your colleagues at the office), and the balance increases.

Start each day as if the balance is nil and your main goal in life is to build it up.

This type of keyboard warrior will always be around. Find a way to make the effects of their nastiness wash over you. Their angst and rage is rarely your fault.