| I learned about internet venting in a basic psychology course. The theory states that, in general, relationships forged over the internet that do not involve immediate contact by the two persons takes the "second priority" to that of a relationship forged in real life.
What happens is that people, more commonly teens and younger kids, get the idea that the computer is just a fantasy world. It's sort of like a computer game, for example. The people you ally yourself with need to be treated "nicely" for them to like you. If you decide to turn on that group you can do so by lashing out by whatever which way. Of course, this is just a game and is not real. The relationships you build mean nothing if they have no value to you.
Unfortunately, this mentality travels to other aspects of life. You meet somebody over the internet, but "they are not real. They are just on the computer." Anything built in the internet has no value because it isn't real. This is where the mistakes are made because they don't realize that it IS another person that they are really speaking with.
Another example I've seen is between a person any myself. In real life this girl and I have had a few disagreements and have gotten into a trauma case. We refuse to speak to one another face to face. However, once we get to e-mail/messaging, we're both the bravest women and can say whatever needs to be said to get the point across. It's all about reality and being personal. it's much easier to be hurtful to somebody when you can't see them as apposed to being hurtful right to their faces.  |