One of the most desirable things about being in an online world is the freedom it offers. Being in an imaginary world, one is freed from real-world consequence and real-world accountability. With any reduction in accountability, there is always a strong temptation to explore the limits of one's newfound freedom, in particular by pushing the boundaries of acceptable behavior. This is exactly what toddlers do during the "terrible twos "; having discovered a new world and a new perception that other peoples' feelings and judgments are not the same as their own, they attempt to discover the boundaries of this world ”much to the consternation of parents whose job it is to set those boundaries. |