My fellow human beings

People are rude. People are careless. People are apathetic.

On the other hand:

People are compassionate, helpful, and involved.

Why does it seem that I meet more folks belonging to the former group than the latter? Let's take driving for instance. Keep track of how many times in the next week someone either cuts you off, or waves you into the gap. Or how many times you see someone being a jerk as opposed to how many polite acts you witness.

People you meet driving are comparable to people you meet on the internet. In both cases, there is anonymity involved. More so on the internet, yes, but have you noticed that people in line at the grocery store are much more polite to each other than people queued up in a merge lane? I am aware that exceptions exist, however those seem more anecdotal than the general rule.

When people feel that they are anonymous, they seem to devolve into that base state of humanity where anything goes. It goes hand-in-hand with mob mentality. People in mobs loot, burn, and assault when they normally would not think of doing these things if they were alone. Folks in their cars and folks on the internet are the same way. Whatever level of depravity someone is at by default, they seem to set the bar a couple of notches lower when they feel there are no consequences.

What does this say for society in general? I am speaking from the standpoint of Western culture. If people will adjust their behavior down when they think they can get away with something, then what does it say about that individual? When a person can log on and become an entirely different person, why would they choose to be a Neanderthal rather than a Philosopher? An obscenity-spewing, racist, rabblerouser rather than a polite, considerate gentleperson.

In pseudo anonymous situations, many people choose to be themselves. Others choose their alter-ego. If the internet is any indication of these choices, it would seem that most people are boorish and moronic, while the diminishing minority of people hold themselves to at least a modicum of self-respect.

It's sad really. I am afraid we are living in an era later to be known as the "Fall of Western Culture".