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Feric -> RE: Proflie pictures (1/17/2008 7:40:36 PM)
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Well, as others have noted, some people work in sensitive positions and fear association with BDSM could cost them promotions or pay raises; others are not yet comfortable with being openly associated with this site or all that it entails. But there are other reasons not yet cited.
In his excellent book, The Psychology of Cyberspace, John Suler wrote that "It's well known that people say and do things in cyberspace that they wouldn't ordinarily say or do in the face-to-face world. They loosen up, feel more uninhibited, express themselves more openly. Researchers call this the "disinhibition effect." It's a double-edged sword. Sometimes people share very personal things about themselves. They reveal secret emotions, fears, wishes. Or they show unusual acts of kindness and generosity. We may call this benign disinhibition.
"On the other hand, the disinhibition effect may not be so benign. Out spills rude language and harsh criticisms, anger, hatred, even threats. Or people explore the dark underworld of the internet....places they would never visit in the real world. We might call this toxic disinhibition."
Suler goes on to explain that because of the removal of personal risk through the Internet, the user employs anonymity as an additional tool to remove further dangers, thus heightening the experience. An elementary safety factor, of course, but an effective one.
One of the telling points that Suler makes regarding Cyberspace anonymity is this: "When people have the opportunity to separate their actions from their real world and identity, they feel less vulnerable about opening up. Whatever they say or do can't be directly linked to the rest of their lives. They don't have to own their behavior by acknowledging it within the full context of who they 'really' are. When acting out hostile feelings, the person doesn't have to take responsibility for those actions. In fact, people might even convince themselves that those behaviors "aren't me at all." In psychology this is called 'dissociation'."
Suler's work can be accessed http://www-usr.rider.edu/~suler/psycyber/disinhibit.html
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