One of the main characteristics of the virtual worlds of the internet that we discussed is the ability for users to create their own identities. But what I think is just as interesting is the fact that within the anonymity of the internet, users can choose to have no defined identity at all. Perhaps no identity is not the right way to describe this. What I’m referring to are the horrible things that people will say online that they would never actually say in real life. Go read through any discussion board on a popular Facebook group or YouTube video to read some of the most disgusting and hateful thoughts you will ever see. If you really want to ruin your day, try a race-themed discussion.
I suppose my question is this: with one person expressing two distinctly different personalities (one online and one offline), which is their true self? Are they truly as angry and hateful as they seem in their online posts, and this side is just repressed by the conventions of society? Or rather, are they in reality kind and accepting, and something about the internet brings out these hateful tendencies? That said, is there actually a difference between these two possibilities?
This is something that has been bothering me for a while, because it is frankly disturbing to think that the authors of these comments living among us. Another possibility: could it be that people with these socially unacceptable beliefs seek out these online communities to express themselves, and it is for this reason that they are seemingly overrepresented? I don’t know. It scares me.