Anonymous

With such anonymity on the Internet, people are free to spew ideas and feelings all over the world wide web and smack in the face of authors. Boo ya! They don't need to feel the eyes of their audience or the tension or awkwardness thick enough you could cut it with a knife. They don't even identify themselves. They comment, rant and come unglued. Let it all out and it's all better like having a good cry.
This anonymity turns cowards into outspoken pioneers. These harsh comments, which would otherwise be left scribbled on tear-soaked pages in a journal or used as fuel for an angered inner or outer monologue, are released, exorcised like demons.
These anonymous authors, who don't leave contact information, create hurt feelings, frustration, damaged egos and heated discussions. They are safe to say whatever they desire because there is no filter -- the filter that halts people before they press send on that e-mail they typed for 30 minutes or press send on a cell phone. That hesitation ... do I really want to do this? Should I just let this go? They take a deep breath and remind themselves why they are sending this e-mail or calling this person, maybe have the reasons jotted down on a piece of paper. They look at the send button and a wave of nervousness rushes over them.
This filter keeps people from being rash. It is crucial and keeps a-holes from being bigger a-holes and keeps the entire a-hole population down.
Anonymous egomaniacs quickly press send or enter because there are no consequences. They sit in their underwear on a Friday night eating out of a gallon size container of cookies and creme Turkey Hill and comment on websites and blogs, anywhere, petting their cats before they find another victim. Or send anonymous letters or leave anonymous voicemail without their name or phone number, all so they feel tough and heroic.
The filter is present with secondary sources of communication, such as e-mail, but weakened because a person can slowly compose a message, wording it just so, without face-to-face awkwardness, without nervously watching for a response. How cutting edge! Look how far we've come grandpa!
Anonymity should be illegal. How many people would still send that rant they composed, without giving their words or emotions a second thought, if they knew they would be identified?
People who send these rants don't want a response. They don't want to hear the other side, they want that exhilaration, that "well I sure told them what's what!" Big man with the guts! Let's all fawn over how tough he is because Americans love the bad ass, the man or woman who will do all the things they wish they could -- act out all those thoughts and fantasises they've silenced over the years like screaming at their boss or that guy who cut in front of them in line, or that loudmouth in the back of the movie theatre who feels the need to comment on every f-ing thing.
I'm sure good could come out of anonymous letters or messages but why let all these a-holes get by for a few shy heroes?
In "real" life, not found on the Internet, people need to stand up for themselves when situations happen, not days later in an e-mail or on a voicemail. Those loud people walking down the street cat calling or that woman in the grocery store who said, "look at that tall white girl. Good God she sure is tall." Not many people respond to these speech crimes and when they do it's only brief. Keep on walking and keep your head down, don't make eye contact. Are we afraid if we say something these people will attack us?
All those bullies in schools across America picking on kids who won't or can't fight back. Why not call them out on the spot? I got picked on because I happen to be the size of an Amazon, among other reasons. How I wish I would have responded to the taunts with, "So did that comment make you feel better about yourself? Make you feel all tough and glorious?" What would they have said to that?