If you thought the internet was getting nastier then you were right. A report by the Simon Wiesenthal Center for Tolerance shows an increase of nastiness online of 20% in 2009:

The report, based on some 11,500 problematic Web sites, social networks , chat forums, twitter posts, other Internet postings, found that hate-filled language is increasingly filling social networks. In compiling it, researchers for the Wiesenthal center found such disturbing online content as video footage showing bomb-making instructions and hate games — including one about bombing Haitian earthquake victims.

The report found a 20% increase to 11,500 in hate-filled social networks, Web sites, forums, blogs, Twitter feeds, and so on (up from 10,000 last year). It notes that beyond its role in our social lives, the Internet often acts as the incubator and validator of dangerous conspiracy theories surrounding 9/11 and organ theft.

(h/t Alan Colmes)

They forgot to add birthers to that list of conspiracy theorists.

The great thing about the internet is that it is a global forum based upon free thought. The bad thing about the internet – it is a global forum based upon free thought. That’s one reason a lot of sites have zero tolerance policies against hate speech and violence. Of course it appears that the left wing blogs are far more vigilant on these commenters than the blogs on the right.