Michael Kinsley observed ( http://www.slate.com/id/2154507 ) that Internet users are becoming less and less anonymous. If so, why is the standard for behavior still so much lower than in meatspace? Even among relatively small forum communities, where people come to know each other to a fair extent, there are still many habitually extremely rude individuals, many of whom are grown adults.
To the best of my knowledge, the prevailing theory for this could be summarized by "Gabe's GIFT" ( http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19 ). But is this really true, given that often, there's really not that much anonymity? Some people shrug it off with a comment along the lines of "LOL, it's the Internet." But why should this be an intrinsic characteristic of the Internet? Particularly with message boards, which allow you to carefully think through what you have to say before saying it; it's much easier to keep your temper. So WHY is there so much incivility?
2006-12-07
13:45:19
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14 answers
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asked by
Shay Guy
2