Social Networks with real name policies can be just as anonymous as 4chan. And sometimes, an IRC channel where everyone has a pseudonym can be more intimate tha

Social Networks with real name policies can be just as anonymous as 4chan. And sometimes, an IRC channel where everyone has a pseudonym can be more intimate than anything else. What makes the difference is: - Moderation - Small Groups - Regulars who get to know each other You can achieve this anywhere online. But I think IRC lends itself to smaller, closely knit communities.