I think your instincts/experiences are largely true. Something about the anonymity of the Internet encourages people to be dicks. We say things to each other we'd almost never say to one another in person, for fear of different kinds of reprisals. And I think a lot of people say hurtful things online purposely to make themselves feel better about their own life circumstances.
Last year in one of my classes we read this article by a Stanford professor about online trolling. Apparently, many people do take pleasure out of hurting other living things (animals, other humans...). One reason seems to be to escape boredom. Another is the empowering (to them) feeling of control over others. And still another is really a non-reason: just because they can--like a kid at a beach who destroys someone else's sand castle that took a lot of effort to build, just because she could.
I'd use sites like this one, IIN, for fun, not for serious inquiries. That's what trusted friends and family are for. Best of luck to you...
IIN I think this site is the wrong place for advice?
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I think your instincts/experiences are largely true. Something about the anonymity of the Internet encourages people to be dicks. We say things to each other we'd almost never say to one another in person, for fear of different kinds of reprisals. And I think a lot of people say hurtful things online purposely to make themselves feel better about their own life circumstances.
Last year in one of my classes we read this article by a Stanford professor about online trolling. Apparently, many people do take pleasure out of hurting other living things (animals, other humans...). One reason seems to be to escape boredom. Another is the empowering (to them) feeling of control over others. And still another is really a non-reason: just because they can--like a kid at a beach who destroys someone else's sand castle that took a lot of effort to build, just because she could.
I'd use sites like this one, IIN, for fun, not for serious inquiries. That's what trusted friends and family are for. Best of luck to you...