For a phenomenon with such a long and complicated name, in actuality it’s a very simple and straightforward concept. The Online Disinhibition Effect (ODE) is the technical term given to hiding behind the anonymous veil of the internet and creating a more uninhibited and open persona for oneself. For some, this could be a positive thing. For example, your courageous and wise guild leader could be a more shy and reserved person in real life. Or the author of that hilarious and outspoken blog you love, may normally be overlooked or ignored in their day-to-day existence. However, in a startling majority of cases a more negative face can emerge. The hallmark of ODE is not only self disassociation, but losing touch with how ones words and actions affect others as well.
Online, we are all equals. With the removal of face-to-face contact and awareness of each others surroundings, there is no sure fire way to tell the difference between a CEO 
lounging in their office, or a couple of kids sharing a computer in their school library. Even if the people you are interacting with in games and online know some details about your offline life, what more greatly affects how people treat you in cyber space is the strength of your words and actions there, and the strength of any in-game characters you may embody. The removal of both ‘class’ and ‘authority figure’ tends to foster a more open-minded and open-forum atmosphere. In essence, people are more willing to speak their minds and act upon their feelings; both positively and negatively.
The key to healthy and fun gaming and online interactions, is to first look within yourself. The timeless phrase “treat others as you want to be treated” is the hallmark of good advice when it comes to human interaction. Being anonymous is not a free pass to foster a negative environment or practice unfair gaming. While it’s important to remember “it’s just a game”, your fellow gamers are actual people with emotions and day-to-day lives offline. While treating everyone like AI or a background character may be ‘easy’ or even cathartic, it’s not right or fair to everyone else.
The virtual world can be a harsh and unforgiving place. There are a lot of online bullies out there who were born out of experiencing a lot of cruel words and unfair play directed towards themselves in the past. To them, the online world is a ‘dog eat dog’ kind of place. As a former victim, instead of rising above the cycle of negativity they prefer to perpetuate it as a means of protecting themselves, or even retribution for former infractions they experienced. By following even the most basic human code of interaction, we can help break the negative cycle of ODE and foster a better gaming environment.
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Great article. Thank you for contributing Jessica!
Thanks! Always a pleasure 🙂