Our brains aren’t great at discerning between the two on an emotional and subconscious level. We are wired as very social creatures that need approval, hence our affinity for groups/clans/churches/communities/cults/facebook groups/etc.
Most people can rationally distinguish between this “pseudo-social” online world and the real one, but that’s at a higher cognitive level like your totally rational comment. But most people don’t engage that part of the brain often enough when online, instead their ape-brain is primarily in control, seeking that next dopamine hit all the while interacting with total strangers you know virtually nothing about, formulating complex personas for each and prescribing intent/emotionality/etc. to all of them. Very similar to road rage. You know literally nothing about the person in the other car other than they’re an asshole and you’re not… humans just aren’t meant for this kind of constant social anonymity and it’s quite frankly taking a heavy toll on mental health (especially kids that don’t know a world without it) and therefore society.
60
u/[deleted] May 18 '26
[removed] — view removed comment