GreaterInternetFuckWads

ThoughtStorms Wiki

It doesn't work quite like that, but the liberation of freedom to speak your brains on the internet coupled with some degree of anonymity, pseudonymy or even just distance between cause and effect has unleashed a slime-hose of InternetTrolls, CyberHarassment etc.

Don't need to list all examples. But a long time ago, JaronLanier said WeAreBasicallyOK. Boy was that wrong.

Counter

Some research which claims the opposite. Anonymity doesn't have much effect.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20563051211036939

I suppose one possibility is that it evolved. Initially norms of politeness were stronger and anonymity gave cover for incivility. But as internet speech coarsened over time and we got used to the incivility, people became more willing to do so under their own names.

https://guides.coralproject.net/real-names-dont-fix-trolling/

https://gizmodo.com/online-trolls-actually-just-assholes-all-the-time-stud-1847575210

Interesting and important. Who enables the worst? And why?

https://splinternews.com/meet-the-man-keeping-8chan-the-worlds-most-vile-websit-1793856249