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Being anonymous make it easier for people to express their "true self", and there's more empathy when you actually see people you're talking with.
by yodsanklai 4y ago
Being anonymous make it easier for people to express their "true self", and there's more empathy when you actually see people you're talking with.
- rhn_mk1 4y agoYou're anonymous on the streets in a big city too, but people don't become their "true selves" just because of that. On the other hand, swathes of the internet are not anonymous, and that doesn't stop immaturity. I'm not convinced by this argument.
- CyanBird 4y ago> become their "true selves" just because of that. Yeah, because of the danger of a physical altercation, that potential drawback is taken away while interacting online What's the drawback of making some alt accounts/sockpuppet accounts and going harass someone you dislike? Getting an Ip ban at most I'd gather rather than getting your nose broken by a punch from someone on the street There is little to no credible deterrence in online discussions
- rhn_mk1 4y agoI'd go even farther: what's the drawback of not making some alt accounts and still doing the harassment? There will be no physical altercation. And indeed, this is what happens. Alts are used to evade bans. Anonymity clearly is not the cause.
- Tao332 4y agoWhile this is sometimes true, I like to think the nastier elements are an emergent side effect of the medium, and not some "true self". Maybe it's an aspect that's suppressed in polite society, but not the whole personality. I might be naive.