Many studies have shown people will show their true selves online more than in person. Primarily because they are in a �safe� place to do so. It�s harder to be yourself in front of others. Of course, the opposite of this is that people can �be� whoever they want online as well. I actually believe both of these theories. However, I combine them together. The honest people will be more open and show their true selves. Then we have the not so honest people who will pretend to be something they are not. The problem with this is that you can only pretend to be something else for so long before the �real� you is exposed. Either way, the �real� you will be revealed.

Along with this combination of theories, I�m also a firm believer that anyone who passes through my life has some how affected my life in some way. Whether they enhance my life or are just a big old pain in the butt.

I also apply this to the internet. I�ve been an internet user for several years now and in that time many people have passed through my life via the net. There were positive experiences and negative experiences. In the positive, I have personally met about 200 people through the net and they are the most amazing and wonderful people! Some were inspirational, some taught me various lessons, and some have become very close and loved.
On the negative side, I have also encountered some of the most annoying, pompous, arrogant, abusive people on the net. The most amazing thing about this is that I have never personally met any of these people. This leads me to believe that they were hiding their true selves OR all those rude, pompous people are only on the net.

Why do we tolerate such terrible behavior from people? Why are these social idiots only idiots online? Time and time again, I see various people being treated so incredibly disrespectfully, that I�m stunned. In the real world, would these social idiots actually behave the way they do to others on the net? I�m guessing not because most likely if they did, someone would be kicking some serious butt.

The biggest instance I have seen over and over again is where someone gives an opinion and they are blasted for it. We aren�t talking about a simple difference of opinions. I�m talking about people literally �gang blasting� someone with insults, swearing and even threats. Why? Because someone had a different opinion? Because someone didn�t follow the rest of the crowd? Because deep down, they are defensive because maybe they know something is true and they don�t like it?

Personally, I am not new to being blasted myself. Anyone who knows me also knows that I am 100% genuine. I will say what�s on my mind and call it like I see it. I do not follow the crowd just because it�s the thing to do. And I do not hover over the lower backsides of people for any benefits. However, I have made it a point to do my best to be respectful of others and their views, regardless of how I believe. But regardless of the respect I show others, there are still those who can not restrain themselves to act respectfully and choose to abuse instead.
I do not accept that behavior in the real world and I sure as hell will not accept it on the internet.

There is no excuse for showing such blatant disrespect for anyone. Not age, not a bad day, not even being a pompous, arrogant, jerk.

So to those of you who feel the need to: blast people, hurl insults, show disrespect, abuse others, rudely disagree with opinions and anything else that shows you to be lower than human kind, I say this with the deepest of feeling on behalf of myself and others who have been your recipients�Y�all can just kiss my ass!!!

Author�s Note: This is the opinion of the author, myself, and has no reflection on anyone, any place or anything. If by chance, any of the readers feel like this is directed towards them, then I would strongly suggest they take a look at their own behaviors on the internet.
Written April 2003