While this behaviour is rife among teenagers, what interests me specifically is when adults resort to it - but first, it might be in order to define the term. There's this, from Wikipedia:
Cyberbullying is the act of harming or harassing via information technology networks in a repeated and deliberate manner. According to U.S. Legal Definitions, "cyber-bullying could be limited to posting rumors or gossips about a person in the internet bringing about hatred in other’s minds; or it may go to the extent of personally identifying victims and publishing materials severely defaming and humiliating them."[1]
With the increased use of communication technology, cyberbullying has become increasingly common, especially among teenagers.[2] Awareness has also risen, due in part to high-profile cases like the suicide of Tyler Clementi.[3]
Aye aye!
While I'm the first to admit that I could moderate myself a little better sometimes, at least I actively try to self-moderate all the time. There's one thing I can't be charged with: I've never said anything to anyone on these forums that I wouldn't also be willing to say to his or her face; it's a useful rule of thumb that's served me well and by and large I think most people within the chess.com community act likewise.
Inevitably, there are some exceptions though. What can one say about the type of individual who will post a comment such as this one?
Princess tippy toes has awoken from her badly needed beauty sleep. Probably because she wet the bed. Never mind sweetheart, you might grow out of it, but I won't hold my breath.
Obviously, one doesn't encounter behaviour like this in normal discourse (else you should think about your social circle), these folk only behave like this when they're safely sat behind a keyboard, it's all a bit sad and pathetic really.
There appears to be some parallels with road-rage; some, otherwise normal, individuals will undergo a kind of transformation every time they sit behind a wheel.
Clearly, this behaviour isn't normal but seems to be quite common on the internet.
Why?