So is it an age thing?

I teach undergrads, and during a spirited class discussion today, the students all seemed to agree that people their age (unlike older folks) know how to have productive arguments on the internet with getting their feelings hurt. They complained about "old people on Facebook" who are incapable of dealing with anyone disagreeing with them without melting down or flouncing away.

I didn't say, "That is SO not my experience on Tumblr," for obvious reasons, but it did get me thinking. I grew up arguing with people face-to-face, and there is a certain amount of social nicety that goes along with that. But current college-age people grew up with internet discussions and anon hate memes and YouTube comments sections and everything else. Do they have thicker skin as a result?

Is it a generational thing that I'm so uncomfortable arguing with strangers on the internet, and that I expect people to treat each other like human beings even behind those avatars?