Poll: The Anonymity Effect

[Vern5]

Its funny that this thought only surfaced in my head now. I guess I've been forced into accepting this idea a long time ago. Let me share with you what it is.

Do you think the Internet turns average, nice people into complete dicks? Maybe it doesn't change everyone into a douche but there is a noticeable amount of assholes on the internet to a various degrees. Nice, or at least quiet, people seem to take on a different form when presented with a medium of communication that allows for almost complete anonymity. I've seen it happen to one of my nicest friends; when he's on a forum or playing on of his MMOs he turns into a complete douche, which is shocking as he is one of the most humble and accommodating people I know.

Personally, I don't put much stock in the Anonymity Effect. I try not to insult people (emphasis on try) online or offline but that's just my personal philosophy of not stepping on people to go where I want.

So how about it? Do you think that the Internet turns people into jerks more often than not?

 

[SilentCom]

The answer is overwhelmingly yes. While not everyone will act like a "dick", many people will be more willing, knowing that they won't be caught and their public image will remain intact.

Edit: The internet doesn't turn people into "dicks", it just makes it easier for the more "dickish" ones to act out.

 

[-Drifter-]

I don't think being anonymous turns people into dicks. I think people are already dicks and being anonymous just lets them get it out there.

 

[Who Dares Wins]

It's called the GIFT or the greater internet fuckwad theory.

http://art.penny-arcade.com/photos/215499488_8pSZr-L-2.jpg

From Wikipedia:
John Gabriel's "Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory" was posted in the Penny Arcade strip published March 19, 2004. It regards unsociable tendencies exhibited by gamers while playing online multiplayer games. Mike Krahulik suggests that, given both anonymity and an audience, an otherwise regular person can become a "total fuckwad," i.e., a very disagreeable person. New York University adjunct professor Clay Shirky, who studies social and economic effects of Internet technologies, explains: "There?s a large crowd and you can act out in front of it without paying any personal price to your reputation,? which "creates conditions most likely to draw out the typical Internet user?s worst impulses." In an Advocate article about online homophobia, this theory was used to account for behavior on online forums where one can remain anonymous in front of an audience: for instance, posting comments on popular YouTube videos.[76]

 

[open trap]

I try to live my life as nicely as possible, not causing any problems etc, but when i get the chance i will grief in a randome match of call of duty. Soooo maby

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Allow me to direct you this equation.

You'll find that the only thing that stops a lot of people from being a dick in the real world is that there are consequences for being one.

This isn't to say that everybody will be a twat.

Edit: Damn ninjas!

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I'm not a fan of Yahtzee (as in, I almost never watch Zero Punctuation, although I do enjoy Extra Punctuation) but his version of the GIFT is a little bit closer to the truth; it simply states people=dicks. Now, unlike him, I'm not a misanthrope, so I'm going to say that Dicks-anonymity=social pressure not to be a dick, but dick+anonymity=that social pressure is gone, and they can show their true colors. It's not as catchy as the GIFT, but it's a heck of a lot more accurate. Much like alcohol consumption, it works the other way, too; nice people tend to be nicer, mean people tend to be meaner, and boring people tend to get ignored.

 

[Celtic_Kerr]

Its funny that this thought only surfaced in my head now. I guess I've been forced into accepting this idea a long time ago. Let me share with you what it is.

Do you think the Internet turns average, nice people into complete dicks? Maybe it doesn't change everyone into a douche but there is a noticeable amount of assholes on the internet to a various degrees. Nice, or at least quiet, people seem to take on a different form when presented with a medium of communication that allows for almost complete anonymity. I've seen it happen to one of my nicest friends; when he's on a forum or playing on of his MMOs he turns into a complete douche, which is shocking as he is one of the most humble and accommodating people I know.

Personally, I don't put much stock in the Anonymity Effect. I try not to insult people (emphasis on try) online or offline but that's just my personal philosophy of not stepping on people to go where I want.

So how about it? Do you think that the Internet turns people into jerks more often than not?

Just a heads up, this has been done a few times.

To answer your question, I find it's kind of a reverse. It's more of a willingness to be sarcastic and snarky with someone whom you know that you will never know, not the fact that they don't know you.

Such as myself. I'm a kind and caring person with my heart on my sleeve in my life. When I'm in a forum though and I see posts/comments by people I'm never going to know, my likelihood to post sarcasm at them or misunderstand their way of thinking is just higher. It's usually simply an unwillingness to hold your kind self in check, and just let whatever you want fly.

 

[Ghost]

No, a few noisy people will act like dicks if they think they'll get away with it with no repercussions, but I'll take anonymous image boards or forums over things like facebook any day.

 

[Gerdneek]

........no no not 4CHAN......... *panic* oh wait im here at the escapist where people are well behaved and express their opinions without vice. Happy days I love you guys you made me believe in the internet.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

Two people already posted the "Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory", so I'll use this post to say:

That. That that that that that that that that that.

 

[SkyrimOrBust]

Its funny that this thought only surfaced in my head now. I guess I've been forced into accepting this idea a long time ago. Let me share with you what it is.

Do you think the Internet turns average, nice people into complete dicks? Maybe it doesn't change everyone into a douche but there is a noticeable amount of assholes on the internet to a various degrees. Nice, or at least quiet, people seem to take on a different form when presented with a medium of communication that allows for almost complete anonymity. I've seen it happen to one of my nicest friends; when he's on a forum or playing on of his MMOs he turns into a complete douche, which is shocking as he is one of the most humble and accommodating people I know.

Personally, I don't put much stock in the Anonymity Effect. I try not to insult people (emphasis on try) online or offline but that's just my personal philosophy of not stepping on people to go where I want.

So how about it? Do you think that the Internet turns people into jerks more often than not?

I think the Anonymity of the internet is amazing and allows people to truly be themselves without judgment; no matter who you are you'll find somewhere you're accepted on the webz.

I do believe it can bring out the inner dickishness of people so I warn people to be careful.

 

[RatRace123]

Uh yeah, with the anonymity to act as they please, the assholes of the world can get away with some pretty horrible things.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

Well, Have you ever been put on probation for writing a comment in these forums that was pure insulting and dickish? Something you would never say to someones face? You probably have.

I actually did a while ago. A guy described something, but his definition wasn't correct, he just had his facts wrong. Instead of just correcting him, I rubbed it in his face, and was an absolute dick about it. He private messaged me saying it was a dick move, I read my post through again, and was a bit flustered at how badly I'd slagged him off. I edited it to remove the insults.
Since then I have always made an effort to not insult anyone, and if I'm writing about something, I make sure I keep my posts as impartial as possible, and try not to put my bias or beliefs into them as fact.

 

[tigermilk]

So six people (so far) said "No". Does this mean you/they think people are such dicks in real life that they couldn't be any worse online?

 

[Custard_Angel]

Yes. There's no question about this.

I don't think its a problem though. I leave my internet persona on the internet and it doesn't affect my real life.

No matter how many times I might get called a shitcuntarseeatingfaggot it never actually bothers me.

 

[Rough Sausage]

I find myself being more polite over the internet. In RL I tend to swear a lot, but over the internet I worry myself to death in case someone finds something I've said offensive, which I think is rather odd but there you have it.

 

[RivFader86]

No it doesn't turn average people into dicks....it just awakens the "inner dick" in some people...a normal person doesn't turn into an arrogant, antisocial, flaming weirdo just because he/she is annonymous.
And i also have my "elevator theory" which in a nutshell is that some people don't get that others are really "there" if they don't see them (like those people that stand 3 inches away from an elevator door and start getting in when the doors are only half open without thinking about the obvious fact that there could be people in there that needs to get out first) and thus are beeing complete assholes to others online because they don't see them as real people, well "not seeing them as real people" might be taking it a bit far but i bet there are a lot of people that don't get when they take it to far online because they don't think twice about the other beeing a regular person just like irl.

 

[Odbarc]

Generally, atmosphere affects the human psychology. In most places I go, like this website, I conduct myself pretty mannered.
A place like 4chan, people don't care what I post. No one gets upset if I 'offend'. I use adult language on this site? I might get banned or something.
If you got punished (actually) for misbehavior on Xbox 360 live, I'm sure you'd see a lot less cock gobbling racist ragers screaming into their microphones that the children emulating them are immature.

 

[dkyros]

I'm gonna go with they can be bigger asses option.

Real life reminds me of this poem

We Wear the Mask

WE wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,?
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!


But on the internet we are already 'protected' so to speak so we can allow our mask to fall showing perhaps our more ugly side. Yes, I am also guilty of saying things online that I will not utter aloud.