Anonymity allows for the expression of ideas and communication without the imposition of social, moral, and ethical barriers. Within this anonymous realm the user is allowed freedom of expression without the fear of repercussion, but when does this phenomenon become a sort of “hive mind” where unorthodox and even potentially dangerous ideas gain traction? 4chan, for example, has come under scrutiny several times for it’s user’s conversations preceding school shootings and other violent/immoral acts. These anonymous message boards often become a hotbed for dissent among the disenfranchised where both encouraging and trolling can tip someone past his or her breaking point. In it’s most innocent form, a site like 4chan still seems to be a circlejerk of willfully ignorant beta males arguing on the internet. At what point does total anonymity become a danger, and if it isn’t dangerous what benefit does it provide?
I think anonymity is a very important aspect of the internet and allows for an uncompromised conversation to take place, but aspects of it are unhelpful if not bothersome.