An OpEd from a college newspaper that describes GD-P to a tee

[Tommy_Carcetti]

http://www.flathatnews.com/opinions/2071/the-electronic-mob-mentality

The electronic mob mentality

18 March 2008 | By Dan Piepenbring, Flat Hat Staff Columnist |

This week, Kentucky Representative Tim Couch proposed to ban anonymous internet posting. It’s an illogical pitch, all but guaranteed to fail — even Couch acknowledges that his law would be next-to-impossible to enforce. Despite his draconian proposal, though, I have to admire Couch’s spirit.

Since Web 2.0 and the ascendancy of the blogosphere, anonymous internet discourse has run amok and then some. Need proof? Look no further than The Flat Hat’s website, where, at this moment, alumni, students, faculty and strangers are trolling the comments section, lobbing ad hominem attacks and taking nonsensical tangents wherever possible.

The notion of reasoned electronic dialogue has lost all efficacy. Detached from reality, unattributed and untraceable, these excoriating commenters encourage the grisliest side of human nature. They are out for virtual blood.. . . . (More at link)
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I cross posted this at GD-P, but I doubt anyone there will listen.