Commenter Culture: What Makes Us Evil?

Time's Lev Grossman considers a phenomenon this week that was on our minds a few months ago: What is it about the ability to post a comment on a website that brings out the sociopath in people? And will it be ever thus?

Grossman considers two theories: "[C]ommenting either attracts loathsome people or somehow causes ordinary people to express themselves in a way that is loathsome." Of course he takes into account the "disinhibiting" effect of anonymity, which can turn the meekest kindergarten teacher in to a bloodthirsty fiend; but, on the other hand, "people are basically mean anyway." (I'm sure he wasn't talking about you, gentle Mixed Media readers.)

After weighing the evidence, he concludes that many of the most vicious commenters simply see themselves as participating in "a kind of communal game in which whoever is cleverest and pushes the most buttons wins." In other words, we're not really out to hurt each other (or drive each other to suicide) any more than NFL players are out to break each other's bones. We just can't pass up a chance to dominate.