While there might be some valid solutions that can be conceived for the problem, I highly doubt the problem will ever go away. People on the Internet use the v

While there might be some valid solutions that can be conceived for the problem, I highly doubt the problem will ever go away. People on the Internet use the veneer of anonymity afforded to them by the Internet to behave in a manner very different from a face-to-face interaction. The chat box in the post isn't very different from being approached in a retail store by a salesperson. And while I'm sure retail salespeople receive their share of abuse/rude comments from customers for asking "Can I help you", I think it's a safe bet that abuse/rudeness is still way lower than the same interaction online. When I read that article, I just felt sad. I'm probably a little older than the average HN'er -- the Internet didn't become "a big thing" until my 20s, and in my lifetime, I've seen how technology has undeniably advanced and changed the world for the better. But I often wonder whether that same technology has made people better or worse.