Anonnymous

As a denizen of the internet, I happen to be a fan of the anonymity that is afforded to people who use it. Like most things in the world though, it is a double edged sword. The greatest boon that anonymity gives us is that it protects you from recrimination, like being able to be a whistle-blower without the accompanying stigma that comes with it. But the worst thing about anonymity is that it protects people from recrimination. The same anonymity that protects people who show injustice also protects people who are fucking assholes. I have seen in the news lately a lot of stories about women who post their views on comic books or release video games, or really do anything on the internet being threatened with rape or violence. I used those two specific examples because they hit close to home. I am a geek. I love video games and comic books, and just because I didn't list others doesn't mean they don't happen, I just would hope that the group I identify with wouldn't end up being fucking terrible to people because they are different. You would think that people who come from a group that is stereotypically ostracized would be more open to people. But I digress: Because of the anonymity granted by the internet these people feel comfortable threatening people they have never met with an action that I would classify as one of the worst things to do to a person, simply because they are the "wrong" gender or have a different opinion.

 I am a firm believer that people have the capacity to be good without anybody watching, however the internet constantly pokes holes in that ideal. People will threaten death, rape, violence, or even just try to ruin someones life because they don't agree with what the targeted people are doing, and they do so without fear of reproach, and I think there in lies the issue. If someone makes these kinds of threats, I think that they should have that anonymity revoked. The internet has done it before for different reasons. If these people cannot respect their anonymity as a whole, they should not be allowed access to it. Seriously though, why the hell say shit like this to people? Just because they disagree with your opinion? Or because they killed you in Call of Duty? Or because they didn't go make you a sandwich? Fuck you, you solipsistic cunts. You bring shame to a group that should be better then that.

 On a lighter note (because making fun of stupid people should make me feel better, right?) some people are stupid enough to think that even when they post on websites like youtube and facebook that they remain anonymous. Like all of these folks. Holy shit, right?