Actually I think there is a great deal in common between some things that go on on the internet and other types of sociopathic behaviour. Flaming, trolling, stalking, internet viruses, false fire alarms, bomb hoaxes...and the spectrum goes a lot further of course.

And no, those things aren't the same as each other - but there is a continuity, an element of disregard for other people and a kind of casual enjoyment of hurting others.

It's that which lies behind the genuine worry a lot of people have even when are come up against even the relatively mild end behaviour, which is really malicious teasing rather than anything more serious. It also underlies the fact that many people are genuinely frightened of risking their anonymity, not because they want to be free to hurt other people, but they are frightened of being in some way put at risk.