"I don't verbally abuse people face to face because there is a non zero chance of being punched."
So weird, I don't verbally abuse people because I'm not a dick, built different I guess...
So weird, I don't verbally abuse people because I'm not a dick, built different I guess...
Also, somewhat ironically (definitely not coincidentally) it seems that letting people be openly and "legally" pseudonymous like here allows for more careful and thoughtful people to flourish.
On the contrary, those who thrive equally well with real name policies are those who:
- use fake names anyway
- doesn't understand yet or doesn't care that being an a$$hole online has consequences
- are so sure about their opinions or feel so strongly about them that they ignore it
All these exist in pseudonymous forums too, but on open full-name forums they far outweigh thoughtful people in any kind of controversial discussion.
What are the consequences? I have never seen any. Trolls continue to be trolls. A$$holes continue to be a$$holes. Isn't that what the grandparented post was saying though (in a roundabout fashion - I am presuming they do not "verbally abuse people face to face" but perhaps I detected sarcasm where there was none).
I thought it was obvious since my first point was that trolls will happily create a real sounding but full name, but in hindsight I realize it isn't obvious.
If more people took the concept of don't be a dick just because you're safe behind the keyboard, I don't think we'd be where we are now.
I should have used a less violent example. We are social animals, breaking social rules leads to consequences(often implied and often trivial).
Abusing people in real life breaks social rules, which means that you feel bad. (in most situations, bullying is a notable exception, but again that's based on consequences, the abused party continues because they fear the consequences of not conforming. )
In the online world, you don't see the results, there is no person getting upset, there is no relationship, there are no friends that see you be a dick and shun you. its just text, its easy to "other"
Which was the entire gist of the OP, no? Perhaps I misread / misunderstood.