History Main / GIFT

[[quoteright:300:[[WesternAnimation/SouthPark https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/basement_5691.png]]]]
[-[[caption-width-right:300:Doesn't always have to live in a basement.]]-]

-->-- '''Timmy the Internet''', ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'', "[[TheAmazingWorldOfGumballS2E37TheInternet The Internet]]"

This is a {{Subtrope}} to SeriousBusiness. VocalMinority is from where most of this comes. See also InternetToughGuy, {{Troll}}, GarbagePostKid, ADarkerMe, BecameTheirOwnAntithesis, TheGadfly, and {{Griefer}} for specific forms of this, or any comment section. Compare to WhatYouAreInTheDark.

[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dickwad.png]]

This phenomenon has been studied in an academic setting; by all accounts, the comic's satirical analysis is spot-on: Normal people become more aggressive when they think their behavior carries no real world social consequences. When people do not have to worry about getting in trouble with their [[NeverLiveItDown loved ones, school, or place of employment]], or getting into [[TalkToTheFist a direct]] [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown physical altercation]] with anyone, they feel they have nothing to lose by being shameless, insufferable jerks behind the veil of anonymity that is TheInternet. [[labelnote:Although...]]''true'' anonymity is ''much'' more difficult to achieve. In fact, the illusion of anonymity can be extremely dangerous for giving people a false sense of security. Much of internet users' data and metadata is actually quite accessible, and many times, unwittingly so; IP addresses and other identifying information can be found using relatively basic tools by people with nefarious intent. Add to it that many active users on social media platforms will often give out their own information without realizing the potential consequences, and you have a recipe for disaster. True anonymity requires a lot of active privacy, threat modeling with cybersecurity, discretion with sharing information, and an overall change in lifestyle habits in general. Many organizations are privacy-oriented and encourage this kind of thing. The [[https://www.eff.org/about Electronic Frontier Foundation]] is one such organization that encourages anonymity, and definitely a good place to start if you want to be more secure. [[Wiki/{{Wikipedia}} The Other Wiki]] [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Frontier_Foundation has more info on them as well.]][[/labelnote]]

Sadly, this leads to a large number of people thinking that cyberbullying is funny, and that the Internet is the perfect place to spew all the bigoted, {{hypocrit|e}}ical, provocative, or otherwise hateful bile they would never say in-person. The GIFT also contributes to the pervasiveness of cyberbullying [[KidsAreCruel amongst young children]] [[TeensAreMonsters and teenagers]], which has led to [[DrivenToSuicide suicides]]. The academic name of the phenomenon is the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_disinhibition_effect Online Disinhibition Effect]]. It should be noted that the Online Disinhibition Effect cuts both ways: While some people become jerks, other people discover that the anonymity and lack of consequence on the Internet allows them to be more honest and talk about issues which, under normal circumstances, they would be unable to address. These issues can be as simple as [[PeripheryDemographic liking a movie, show, or musician normally seen as outside their demographic]], as serious as mental health issues, or somewhere in the middle like an embarrassing sexual fetish. In any case, the exact same anonymity that turns some people into jerkasses allows them to discuss certain things that they might want to talk about but are unable to do normally out of fear of social stigma.

The rise of social media networks such as Website/{{Facebook}} and comment sections, in which people may have to attach their real name and maybe even other details about themselves to any posts they make, has caused a re-evaluation of the theory. Plenty of people seem quite willing to act just as obnoxious, rude, bigoted, and abusive while posting under their real identity as they would if they were posting under a pseudonym. A lack of anonymity might dissuade some people from being jerks, but it does not appear to effectively push people into good behavior as was originally thought.

[[caption-width-right:350:The Greater Internet Dickwad Theory]]

The Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory ("GIFT"), first [[TropeNamer given a name]] by ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'', is a theory that tries to explain why many people seem to become anti-social {{Jerkass}}es online in spite of any in-person behavior.

This phenomenon has been studied in an academic setting; by all accounts, the comic's satirical analysis is spot-on: Normal people become more aggressive when they think their behavior carries no real world social consequences. When people do not have to worry about getting in trouble with their [[NeverLiveItDown loved ones, school, or place of employment]], or getting into [[TalkToTheFist a direct]] [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown physical altercation]] with anyone, they feel they have nothing to lose by being shameless, insufferable jerks behind the veil of anonymity that is TheInternet. [[labelnote:Although...]]''true'' anonymity is ''much'' more difficult to achieve. In fact, the illusion of anonymity can be extremely dangerous for giving people a false sense of security. Much of internet users' data and metadata is actually quite accessible, and many times, unwittingly so; IP addresses and other identifying information can be found using relatively basic tools by people with nefarious intent. Add to it that many active users on social media platforms will often give out their own information without realizing the potential consequences, and you have a recipe for disaster. True anonymity requires a lot of active privacy, threat modeling with cybersecurity, discretion with sharing information, and an overall change in lifestyle habits in general. Many organizations are privacy-oriented and encourage this kind of thing. The Electronic Frontier Foundation[[https://www.eff.org/about]] is one such organization that encourages anonymity, and definitely a good place to start if you want to be more secure. [[Wiki/{{Wikipedia}} The Other Wiki]] [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Frontier_Foundation has more info on them as well.]][[/labelnote]]

This phenomenon has been studied in an academic setting; by all accounts, the comic's satirical analysis is spot-on: Normal people become more aggressive when they think their behavior carries no real world social consequences. When people do not have to worry about getting in trouble with their [[NeverLiveItDown loved ones, school, or place of employment]], or getting into [[TalkToTheFist a direct]] [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown physical altercation]] with anyone, they feel they have nothing to lose by being shameless, insufferable jerks behind the veil of anonymity that is TheInternet. [[labelnote:Although...]]''true'' anonymity is ''much'' more difficult to achieve. In fact, the illusion of anonymity can be extremely dangerous for giving people a false sense of security. Much of internet users' data and metadata is actually quite accessible, and many times, unwittingly so; IP addresses and other identifying information can be found using relatively basic tools by people with nefarious intent. Add to it that many active users on social media platforms will often give out their own information without realizing the potential consequences, and you have a recipe for disaster. True anonymity requires a lot of active privacy, threat modeling with cybersecurity, discretion with sharing information, and an overall change in lifestyle habits in general. Many organizations are privacy-oriented and encourage this kind of thing. The Electronic Frontier Foundation[[https://www.eff.org/about]] is one such organization that encourages anonymity, and definitely a good place to start if you want to be more secure. Wiki/{{The Other Wiki}} has more info on them as well[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Frontier_Foundation]].[[/labelnote]]

Sadly, this leads to a large number of people thinking that cyberbullying is funny, and that the Internet is the perfect place to spew all the bigoted, {{hypocrit|e}}ical, provocative, or otherwise hateful bile they would never say in-person. The GIFT also contributes to the pervasiveness of cyberbullying [[KidsAreCruel amongst young children]] [[TeensAreMonsters and teenagers]], which has led to [[DrivenToSuicide suicides]]. The academic name of the phenomenon is the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_disinhibition_effect Online Disinhibition Effect]]. It should be noted that the Online Disinhibition Effect cuts both ways: While some people become jerks, other people discover that the anonymity and lack of consequence on the Internet allows them to be more honest and talk about issues which, under normal circumstances, they would be unable to address. These issues can be as simple as [[PeripheryDemographic liking a movie, show, or musician normally seen as outside their demographic]], as serious as mental health issues, or somewhere in the middle like an embarrassing sexual fetish. In any case, the exact same anonymity that turns some people into jerkasses allows them to discuss certain things that they might want to talk about but are unable to do normally out of fear of social stigma.

This is a {{Subtrope}} to SeriousBusiness and InternetBackdraft. VocalMinority is from where most of this comes. See also InternetToughGuy, {{Troll}}, GarbagePostKid, ADarkerMe, BecameTheirOwnAntithesis, TheGadfly, and {{Griefer}} for specific forms of this, or any comment section. Compare to WhatYouAreInTheDark.

This phenomenon has been studied in an academic setting; by all accounts, the comic's satirical analysis is spot-on: Normal people become more aggressive when they think their behavior carries no real world social consequences. When people do not have to worry about getting in trouble with their [[NeverLiveItDown loved ones, school, or place of employment]], or getting into [[TalkToTheFist a direct]] [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown physical altercation]] with anyone, they feel they have nothing to lose by being shameless, insufferable jerks behind the veil of anonymity that is TheInternet. [[labelnote:Although...]]''true'' anonymity is ''much'' more difficult to achieve. In fact, the illusion of anonymity can be extremely dangerous for giving people a false sense of security. Much of internet users' data and metadata is actually quite accessible, and many times, unwittingly so; IP addresses and other identifying information can be found using relatively basic tools by people with nefarious intent. Add to it that many active users on social media platforms will often give out their own information without realizing the potential consequences, and you have a recipe for disaster. True anonymity requires a lot of active privacy, threat modeling with cybersecurity, discretion with sharing information, and an overall change in lifestyle habits in general. Many organizations are privacy-oriented and encourage this kind of thing. The Electronic Frontier Foundation[[https://www.eff.org/about]] is one such organization that encourages anonymity, and definitely a good place to start if you want to be more secure. Wiki/{{TheOtherWiki}} has more info on them as well[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Frontier_Foundation]].[[/labelnote]]

This phenomenon has been studied in an academic setting; by all accounts, the comic's satirical analysis is spot-on: Normal people become more aggressive when they think their behavior carries no real world social consequences. When people do not have to worry about getting in trouble with their [[NeverLiveItDown loved ones, school, or place of employment]], or getting into [[TalkToTheFist a direct]] [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown physical altercation]] with anyone, they feel they have nothing to lose by being shameless, insufferable jerks behind the veil of anonymity that is TheInternet. [[labelnote:Although...]]''true'' anonymity is ''much'' more difficult to achieve. In fact, the illusion of anonymity can be extremely dangerous for giving people a false sense of security. Much of internet users' data and metadata is actually quite accessible, and many times, unwittingly so; IP addresses and other identifying information can be found using relatively basic tools by people with nefarious intent. Add to it that many active users on social media platforms will often give out their own information without realizing the potential consequences, and you have a recipe for disaster. True anonymity requires a lot of active privacy, threat modeling with cybersecurity, discretion with sharing information, and an overall change in lifestyle habits in general. Many organizations are privacy-oriented and encourage this kind of thing. The Electronic Frontier Foundation[[https://www.eff.org/about]] is one such organization that encourages anonymity, and definitely a good place to start if you want to be more secure. TheOtherWiki has more info on them as well[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Frontier_Foundation]].[[/labelnote]]

This phenomenon has been studied in an academic setting; by all accounts, the comic's satirical analysis is spot-on: Normal people become more aggressive when they think their behavior carries no real world social consequences. When people do not have to worry about getting in trouble with their [[NeverLiveItDown loved ones, school, or place of employment]], or getting into [[TalkToTheFist a direct]] [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown physical altercation]] with anyone, they feel they have nothing to lose by being shameless, insufferable jerks behind the veil of anonymity that is TheInternet. [[labelnote:Although...]]''true'' anonymity is ''much'' more difficult to achieve. In fact, the illusion of anonymity can be extremely dangerous for giving people a false sense of security. Much of internet users' data and metadata is actually quite accessible, and many times, unwittingly so; IP addresses can be found using relatively basic tools by people with nefarious intent. Add to it that many active users on social media platforms will often give out their own information without realizing the potential consequences, and you have a recipe for disaster. True anonymity requires a lot of active privacy, threat modeling with cybersecurity, discretion with sharing information, and an overall change in lifestyle habits in general. Many organizations are privacy-oriented and encourage this kind of thing. The Electronic Frontier Foundation[[https://www.eff.org/about]] is one such organization that encourages anonymity, and definitely a good place to start if you want to be more secure. TheOtherWiki has more info on them as well[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Frontier_Foundation]].[[/labelnote]]

This phenomenon has been studied in an academic setting; by all accounts, the comic's satirical analysis is spot-on: Normal people become more aggressive when they think their behavior carries no real world social consequences. When people do not have to worry about getting in trouble with their [[NeverLiveItDown loved ones, school, or place of employment]], or getting into [[TalkToTheFist a direct]] [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown physical altercation]] with anyone, they feel they have nothing to lose by being shameless, insufferable jerks behind the veil of anonymity that is TheInternet.

The rise of social media networks such as Website/{{Facebook}} and comment sections, in which people may attach their real name and maybe even other details about themselves to any posts they make, has caused a re-evaluation of the theory. Plenty of people seem quite willing to act just as obnoxious, rude, bigoted, and abusive while posting under their real identity as they would if they were posting under a pseudonym. A lack of anonymity might dissuade some people from being jerks, but it does not appear to effectively push people into good behavior as was originally thought.

The rise of social media networks such as Website/{{Facebook}} and comment sections, which require people to attach their real name and maybe even other details about themselves to any posts they make, has caused a re-evaluation of the theory. Plenty of people seem quite willing to act just as obnoxious, rude, bigoted, and abusive while posting under their real identity as they would if they were posting under a pseudonym. A lack of anonymity might dissuade some people from being jerks, but it does not appear to effectively push people into good behavior as was originally thought.

Fun fact: The German, Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish word ''gift'' means "poison", which seems oddly appropriate. The page in Spanish is Es/{{TONTO}}.

Sadly, this leads to a large number of people thinking that cyberbullying is funny, and that the Internet is the perfect place to spew all the bigoted, {{hypocrit|e}}ical, provocative, or otherwise hateful bile they would never say in-person. The GIFT also contributes to the pervasiveness of cyberbullying [[KidsAreCruel amongst young children]] [[TeensAreMonsters and teenagers]], which has led to [[DrivenToSuicide suicides]]. The academic name of the phenomenon is the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_disinhibition_effect Online Disinhibition Effect]]. It should be noted that the Online Disinhibition Effect cuts both ways: While some people become jerks, other people discover that the anonymity and lack of consequence on the Internet allows them to be more honest and talk about issues which, under normal circumstances, they would be unable to address. These issues can be as simple as [[PeripheryDemographic liking a movie, show, or musician normally seen as outside their demographic]], as serious as mental health issues, or somewhere in the middle like an embarrassing sexual fetish. In any case, the exact same anonymity that turns some people into jerkasses allows them to discuss about things that they might want to talk about but are unable to do normally out of fear of social stigma.

The rise of social media networks such as Website/{{Facebook}} and comment sections on certain news sites, which require people to attach their real name and maybe even other details about themselves to any posts they make, has caused a re-evaluation of the theory. Plenty of people seem quite willing to act just as obnoxious, rude, bigoted, and abusive while posting under their real identity as they would if they were posting under a pseudonym. A lack of anonymity might dissuade some people from being jerks, but it does not appear to effectively push people into good behavior as was originally thought.

This phenomenon has been studied in an academic setting; by all accounts, the comic's satirical analysis is spot-on: Normal people become more aggressive when they think their behavior carries no real-world social consequences. When people do not have to worry about getting in trouble with their [[NeverLiveItDown loved ones, school, or place of employment]], or getting into [[TalkToTheFist a direct]] [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown physical altercation]] with anyone, they feel they have nothing to lose by being [[{{Jerkass}} shameless, insufferable jerks]] behind the veil of anonymity that is TheInternet.

This leads to a (depressingly) large number of people thinking that cyberbullying is funny--and that {{the Internet}} is the perfect place to spew all the bigoted, [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocritical]], provocative, or otherwise hateful bile they would never say in-person. The GIFT also contributes to the pervasiveness of cyberbullying [[KidsAreCruel amongst young children]] [[TeensAreMonsters and teenagers]], which has led to [[DrivenToSuicide suicides]]. The academic name of the phenomenon is the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_disinhibition_effect Online Disinhibition Effect]]. It should be noted that the Online Disinhibition Effect cuts both ways: While some people become [[{{Jerkass}} jerks]], other people discover that the anonymity and lack of consequence on TheInternet allows them to be more honest and talk about issues which, under normal circumstances, they would be unable to address. These issues can be as simple as [[PeripheryDemographic liking a movie, show, or musician normally seen as outside their demographic]], as serious as mental health issues, or somewhere in the middle like an embarrassing sexual fetish. In any case, the exact same anonymity that turns some people into [[{{Jerkass}} Jerkasses]] allows them to speak things that they might want to talk about but be unable to do normally for fear of social stigma.

The idea of anonymity's irresistible corruption due to lack of consequences and escape from [[BigBrotherIsWatching restraints caused by being watched]] is extremely pervasive. Think of the people who leave [[DisgustingPublicToilet unholy messes]] and/or [[BathroomStallGraffiti graffiti]] in public restrooms. Nobody sees them do it, and they almost certainly would not make such a mess in their own bathroom where they would have to clean it up ([[TrashOfTheTitans hopefully]]), or when they're a guest in someone's home. The basic idea [[OlderThanFeudalism was first proposed by]] Creator/{{Plato}} in ''Literature/TheRepublic'', where he recounts the myth of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_of_Gyges the Ring of Gyges]], one of the original InvisibleJerkass stories. At least one psychology paper has confirmed that Internet anonymity [[http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/climate_desk/2014/02/internet_troll_personality_study_machiavellianism_narcissism_psychopathy.html is attractive to narcissistic, psychopathic, and sadistic people]] who take pleasure in making others suffer.

The rise of newer social media networks such as Website/{{Facebook}} and comment feeds on certain news sites, which require people to attach their real name and maybe even other details about themselves to any posts they make, has caused a re-evaluation of the theory. Plenty of people seem quite willing to act just as obnoxious, rude, bigoted, and abusive while posting under their real identity as they would if they were posting under a pseudonym. A lack of anonymity might dissuade some people from being jerks, but it does not appear to effectively push people into good behavior as was originally thought.

Fun fact: The German, Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish word ''gift'' means "poison", which seems...oddly appropriate. The page in Spanish is Es/{{TONTO}}.

Fun fact: The German, Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish word ''gift'' means "poison", which seems...oddly appropriate.

This leads to a (depressingly) large number of people thinking that cyberbullying is funny--and that {{the Internet}} is the perfect place to spew all the bigoted, [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocritical]], provocative, or otherwise hateful bile they would never say in-person. The GIFT also contributes to the pervasiveness of cyberbullying [[KidsAreCruel amongst young children]] [[TeensAreMonsters and teenagers]], which has led to [[DrivenToSuicide suicides]]. The academic name of the phenomenon is the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_disinhibition_effect Online Disinhibition Effect]]. It should be noted that the Online Disinhibition Effect cuts both ways: While some people become [[{{Jerkass}} jerks]], other people discover that the anonymity and lack of consequence on TheInternet allows them to be more honest and talk about issues which, under normal circumstances, they would be unable to address. These issues can be as simple as [[PeripheryDemographic liking a movie or show normally seen as outside their demographic]], or as serious as mental health issues. In either case, the exact same anonymity that turns some people into [[{{Jerkass}} Jerkasses]] allows them to speak things that they might want to talk about but be unable to do normally for fear of social stigma.

%% Image moved here from ADarkerMe per Image Pickin' thread: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1315456059076531600

[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/PennyArcade http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/greaterdickwad_6440.jpg]]]]

The rise of newer social media networks such as Website/{{Facebook}} and comment feeds on certain news sites, which require people to attach their real name and maybe even other details about themselves to any posts they make, has cause a re-evaluation of the theory. Plenty of people seem quite willing to act just as obnoxious, rude, bigoted, and abusive while posting under their real identity as they would if they were posting under a pseudonym. A lack of anonymity might dissuade some people from being jerks, but it does not appear to effectively push people into good behavior as was originally thought.

The '''G'''reater '''I'''nternet '''F'''uckwad '''T'''heory. First [[TropeNamer given a name]] by the boys at ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'', it is a theory that seeks to illuminate why so many people seem to degenerate into antisocial {{Jerkass}}es online, when they might only be mildly unpleasant or even polite in-person.

The [[https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19 equation]] is ''"Normal Person + Anonymity + Audience = [[{{Jerkass}} Total Fuckwad]]"''.

This phenomenon has been studied in an academic setting, and, by all accounts, the satirical analysis is spot-on: normal people become more aggressive when they think their behavior carries no real-world social consequences. When people do not have to worry about getting in trouble with their [[NeverLiveItDown loved ones, school, or place of employment]], or getting into [[TalkToTheFist a direct]] [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown physical altercation]] with anyone, they feel that they have nothing to lose by being [[{{Jerkass}} shameless, insufferable jerks]] behind the veil of anonymity that is TheInternet.

Hence the depressingly large number of people who think that being a cyberbully is funny, and that {{the Internet}} is the perfect place to spew all the bigoted, [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocritical]], provocative, or otherwise hateful bile they would never say in-person. The GIFT also contributes to the pervasiveness of cyber-bullying [[KidsAreCruel among kids]] [[TeensAreMonsters and teenagers]], which has led to [[DrivenToSuicide suicides]]. The academic name of the phenomenon is the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_disinhibition_effect Online Disinhibition Effect]]. It should be noted that the Online Disinhibition Effect cuts both ways; while some people become [[{{Jerkass}} jerks]], other people find the anonymity and lack of consequence on TheInternet allows them to be more honest and talk about issues that, under normal circumstances, they would be unable to address. These issues can be as simple as [[PeripheryDemographic liking a movie or show normally seen as outside their demographic]] or as serious as mental health issues, but, in either case, the exact same anonymity that turns some people into [[{{Jerkass}} Jerkasses]] allows them to speak things that they might want to talk about but be unable to do normally for fear of social stigma.

The idea of anonymity's irresistible corruption due to lack of consequences and escape from [[BigBrotherIsWatching restraints caused by being watched]] is extremely pervasive. Think of the people who leave [[DisgustingPublicToilet unholy messes]] and/or [[BathroomStallGraffiti graffiti]] in public restrooms. Nobody sees them do it, and they almost certainly wouldn't make such a mess in their own bathroom where they'd have to clean it up ([[TrashOfTheTitans hopefully]]), or when they're a guest in someone's home. The basic idea [[OlderThanFeudalism was first proposed by]] Creator/{{Plato}} in ''Literature/TheRepublic'', where he recounts the myth of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_of_Gyges Ring of Gyges]], one of the original InvisibleJerkass stories. At least one psychology paper has confirmed that Internet anonymity [[http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/climate_desk/2014/02/internet_troll_personality_study_machiavellianism_narcissism_psychopathy.html is attractive to narcissistic, psychopathic, and sadistic people]] who take pleasure in making others suffer.

Of course, the advent of newer social media sites such as Website/{{Facebook}} and comment feeds on certain news sites, which require people to use their real name and maybe even other details about themselves when posting, has put the theory a bit into question and re-evalutation, as plenty of people (barring the ones who use fake names and throwaway accounts) seem quite willing to be just as obnoxious, rude, bigoted, and abusive while posting under their real identity as people posting under a pseudonym. Lack of anonymity, it seems, might dissuade some people from being jerks, but it doesn't appear that it is as effective a way to keep people on good behavior as originally thought.

The only reason why it's not a law like GodwinsLaw is because of the FunWithAcronyms.

Fun fact: the German, Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish word ''Gift'' means "poison"... which is oddly appropriate.

A {{Subtrope}} to SeriousBusiness and InternetBackdraft. VocalMinority is from where most of this comes. See also InternetToughGuy, {{Troll}}, GarbagePostKid, ADarkerMe, BecameTheirOwnAntithesis, TheGadfly, and {{Griefer}} for specific forms of this, or any comment section. Compare WhatYouAreInTheDark.

The [[https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19 equation]] is ''"Normal Person + Anonymity + Audience = [[{{Jerkass}} Total Fuckwad]]"''

This phenomenon has been studied in an academic setting, and by all accounts the satirical analysis is spot-on; normal people become more aggressive when they think their behavior carries no real-world social consequences. When people do not have to worry about getting in trouble with their [[NeverLiveItDown loved ones, school, or place of employment]], or getting into [[TalkToTheFist a direct]] [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown physical altercation]] with anyone, they feel that they have nothing to lose by being [[{{Jerkass}} shameless, insufferable jerks]] behind the veil of anonymity that is TheInternet.

Hence the depressingly large number of people who think that being a cyberbully is funny, and that {{the Internet}} is the perfect place to spew all the bigoted, [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocritical]], provocative, or otherwise hateful bile they would never say in real life. The GIFT also contributes to the pervasiveness of cyber-bullying [[KidsAreCruel among kids]] [[TeensAreMonsters and teenagers]], which has led to [[DrivenToSuicide suicides]]. The academic name of the phenomenon is the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_disinhibition_effect Online Disinhibition Effect]]. It should be noted that the Online Disinhibition Effect cuts both ways; while some people become [[{{Jerkass}} jerks]], other people find the anonymity and lack of consequence on TheInternet allows them to be more honest and talk about issues that, under normal circumstances, they would be unable to speak about. These issues can be as simple as [[PeripheryDemographic liking a movie or show normally seen as outside their demographic]] or as serious as mental health issues, but in either case, the exact same anonymity that turns some people into [[{{Jerkass}} Jerkasses]] allows them to speak things that they might want to talk about but be unable to do normally for fear of social stigma.

The idea of anonymity's irresistible corruption due to lack of consequences and escape from [[BigBrotherIsWatching restraints caused by being watched]] is extremely pervasive. Think of the people who leave [[DisgustingPublicToilet unholy messes]] and/or [[BathroomStallGraffiti graffiti]] in public restrooms. Nobody sees them do it, and they almost certainly wouldn't make such a mess in their own bathroom where they'd have to clean it up ([[TrashOfTheTitans hopefully]]), or when they're a guest in someone's home. The basic idea [[OlderThanFeudalism was first proposed by]] Creator/{{Plato}} in ''Literature/TheRepublic'', where he recounts the myth of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_of_Gyges Ring of Gyges]], one of the original InvisibleJerkass stories. At least one psychology paper has confirmed that Internet anonymity [[http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/climate_desk/2014/02/internet_troll_personality_study_machiavellianism_narcissism_psychopathy.html is attractive to narcissistic, psychopathic, sadistic people]] who take pleasure in making others suffer.

Of course, the advent of newer social media sites such as Website/{{Facebook}} and comment feeds on certain news sites, which require people to use their real name and maybe even other details about themselves when posting, has put the theory a bit into question and re-evalutation, as plenty of people (barring the ones who uses fake names and throwaway accounts) seem quite willing to be just as obnoxious, rude, bigoted, and abusive while posting under their real identity as people posting under a pseudonym. Lack of anonymity, it seems, might dissuade some people from being jerks, but it doesn't appear that it is as effective a way to keep people on good behavior as originally thought.

A {{Subtrope}} to SeriousBusiness and InternetBackdraft. VocalMinority is where most of this comes from. See also InternetToughGuy, {{Troll}}, GarbagePostKid, ADarkerMe, BecameTheirOwnAntithesis, TheGadfly, and {{Griefer}} for specific forms of this, or any comment section. Compare WhatYouAreInTheDark.

A {{Subtrope}} to SeriousBusiness and InternetBackdraft. VocalMinority is where most of this comes from. See also InternetToughGuy, {{Troll}}, GarbagePostKid, ADarkerMe, BecameTheirOwnAntithesis, and {{Griefer}} for specific forms of this, or any comment section. Compare WhatYouAreInTheDark.

A {{Subtrope}} to SeriousBusiness and InternetBackdraft. VocalMinority is where most of this comes from. See also InternetToughGuy, {{Troll}}, GarbagePostKid, ResidentFreak, ADarkerMe, BecameTheirOwnAntithesis, and {{Griefer}} for specific forms of this, or any comment section. Compare WhatYouAreInTheDark.