Chat anonymity

It's too bad that the internet chat and discussion rooms have to be anonymous (although I understand the need).  So often they cause more depression because of some of the people on them.  Otherwise they would be ideal for lonely and housebound people.

I know I have to watch myself, so I appreciate the problem, and the standard discipline of throwing people off a board actually in my opinion makes things worse as it is probably the person with the most serious problem who ends up getting tossed overboard.  Of course the process is needed to remove spammers and con artists, so I am of split mind and just don't know.

One thing I remind myself: the behavior of a person when they are anonymous tells you more about them than when their personal face is up front.

Skepticism

To take an old joke from Oscar Wilde, skepticism is like society; it is downplayed by those who aren't for one reason or another, usually an inability or unwillingness to think honestly.