I looked up the book by Malcolm in the post below. Interestingly, the only very negative review of the book is by "A Customer." Someone did a bunch of mind reading and personal attacks. Unsurprisingly they didn't give a name, a link, or an email. The indulgence of cowards by the Internet's ease of aliases is one of the reasons I don't blog more politics and religion anymore.  Basically I see no reason in dealing with moral cowards. It appears their are lots of people out there willing to be quite rude as long as they can hide, either by a false name, no name or just by not seeing you face to face. Interestingly in the latter, after saying stuff that would get you killed or cut off by the more civilized if said in person, they seem to expect friendliness and courtesy when you meet in person. I know someone who has said absolutely insulting and vile things by email on a list and then expected a hug in greeting. He still doesn't seem to get why I refuse to speak to him.  A couple more examples can be found here by searching the archives: in one, the offending cultist admits to a name after she has her connection tracked. Wanna bet she expects me to be polite if our paths cross? (Editor: Wanna bet she's gonna be shocked?) It kind of reminds you of the joke about why you never date a woman with more than 2 years of therapy: you come home late one night, and she's killed you dog, mircowaved the cat, and trashed your car but she feels better for it.

Megan McArdle has another good one, though I was surprised as how strongly she claims to feel about politeness as I don't always see that from her comments. Her outrage comment is interesting because it ahs the same issues as mine. It's safe. You don't have to back up the statements or worry about someone calling you on it as we are, in the middle class, a non-voilent society. The ideas that words can get you killed is only seen now in ethnic or working class areas. Also upper class, there they will just destroy your business although being "removed" is still a possibilty. The middle class response is not the norm around the world however.  It's really important you realize that if you plan to leave the safety of middle class America.

There is also a large chuck of the blogosphere where a funky super macho attitude is normal. These guys tell the President off, who boast how bad they are, threaten to mess folks up. One wonders what they are in real life. Some of the people who scare me to death in the real world are the soul of manners in their normal dealings.

All in all, I have to wonder is the internet the problem or is it an expression of the general corruption of our culture? Maybe Harold's words to Alfred from the Ballad of the White Horse are coming true?