Anonymity is the downfall of the Internet
Reality Vs. Perception
When it comes to remaining anonymous on the Internet, the reality is not a reflection of perception. In reality being anonymous on the Internet is an ideological fallacy for 99% of the population. They either lack the knowledge or simply do not take the time to cover their tracks. Perception tells them that if their name or address aren’t available, nobody can identify them.
Perception allows the weak minded to act without regard for personal responsibility. The loss of personal responsibility leads to a lack of accountability. Acting with a false sense of impunity these people adopt a standard of behavior far below that of acceptable social norm. They are the poster children for what’s wrong with the Internet.
While certainly the most thought of, it is not only the weak that fall victim to the lure of anonymity. Many people from all walks of life open up and share something that they shouldn’t. Not because the thing they share is bad in a broad sense, but because it may have negative connotations in their daily life. The stories are not uncommon. A job lost, a relationship destroyed. Yet the lure of anonymity leads people to continue to jeopardize these things even with the knowledge of consequences.
Is it the thrill of the rush? The lure of being able to get away with something? A simple pleasure in being bad? The answers are as varied as the personalities involved.
Human Nature
Opposable thumbs are not what separate us from every other animal on earth. It’s our capacity to feel hatred and jealousy and envy. Of course there are a whole range of emotions that are unique to mankind. Unfortunately all of these emotions are harmful to complete coexistence. All that is good in man is shared throughout the animal kingdom. The capacity to love and nurture is not our own. The capacity to kill for pleasure is.
Evolution has not yet worked its magic on the human need to destroy itself. This is not a concept held unto the Internet itself but you will find a greater concentration of such behavior there. That behavior again stems from anonymity.
There will always be people who will act against the social norm whether they are anonymously on the Internet or not. The key is that those who would not exhibit such behavior in their daily interactions outside the Internet, will give into their urges within the Internet.
We’ve all done it, myself included.
Solution
Their is no cure all for the societal failure on the Internet. Although I believe eliminating anonymity would go a long way to alleviating the issue, I also believe it shouldn’t be done. It’s nice to dream about an Internet where everyone is accountable for their deeds, but it’s just not feasible. It’s up to each person to rely upon their own moral compass for guidance. Just try to remember that just because everyone doesn’t know who you are, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to improve society instead of tear it down. Remember that your friends and co-workers may some day know what you have written. Outside of extreme cases if it’s something you can’t tell them now, then don’t tell it on the Internet.
