Many people like the internet for the anonymity it grants. Unfortunately, this is the prime enabler for script kiddies and trolls. Without a physical manifestation of punishment (or even an enforceable virtual one), drifters without a developed sense of respect will do whatever they like, regardless of the consequences they have on people’s lives.
Anonymity is not the reason why I enjoy the internet, in fact, I would prefer it if miscreants could be reliably banned from servers by administrators, and if users would care about their identity enough to show a little respect for others and themselves. There are good arguments for anonymity (whistle-blowers, informants), but the ability is massively more often abused than not.
The reason I do like the internet is because of the world-shrinking effect it has on communication. Talented people from all over the world are on the internet. All you have to do is find them (and organizing data is an idea that empires have been built on, but that’s another story). The amount of useful information is only matched by the amount of noise. There’s tons of it.
This is why I like communities like tmbo and the channels I frequent on freenode. A collection of competent people with real identities from all over the world, with different backgrounds and cultures, coming together to communicate and share.
I don’t spend time on various portions of the internet as a user, developer, and/or administrator just because I care. I do it because other people care, and that makes it worth it.
Care.
ScottLog 