Lack of Humane Interaction, not Anonymity is the cause of bad behaviour

Story about death threat against blogger Kathy Sierra is making headlines right now, but I’d argue that it’s nothing to do with anonymity, but classic group think and group behaviour. It’s the same kind of thinking that led to tacit support among the general public for Nazism in Germany.

Conditions for this are: you belong in a group, and you can’t see the victim.

Really, no different to a pilot dispensing a large bomb far down to the people in the city. This is why the technologically advanced US is more primed for war than anybody else. They are insulated from the consequences of their personal actions. That is until they have to patrol the streets.

Sure, the actions of those involved are reprehensible, but don’t assume you won’t stoop that low. It’s human behaviour at it’s very basest.