Online Disinhibition Effect

Another blog recommendation, the Best of Wikipedia. Apparently there's a phrase for people acting differently online:

The core concept of the online disinhibition effect refers to a loosening (or complete abandonment) of social restrictions and inhibitions that would otherwise be present in normal face-to-face interaction during interactions with others on the Internet. Because of the loss of inhibition, some users may exhibit benign tendencies; people may become more affectionate, more willing to open up to others, less guarded about their emotions and may speak to others about what they are feeling in an attempt to achieve emotional catharsis.

And as any blogger would know, it can make people quite mean. Other worthwhile Best of Wikipedia posts are the Moon Treaty, Project Pigeon, and the Streisand Effect.