[ainiriand]

> 'today you can just run your mouth off whenever you want and the crowds can all hear'

This sums it up. Also worth taking into account the abuse of anonymity. Some people would not speak in the same way to some people in front of that given person or relatives.

[CM30]

I think distance has as much or more of an effect here. Plenty of people are willing to act like jerks under their real names and profile pictures on Facebook and news site comment sections, and it's likely in part because they know they'll never encounter the people they're attacking or ever have to fear retribution for their comments online.