Dickwad theory

The Dickwad Theory or John Gabriel's Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory[1] states that:

“”Normal Person + Anonymity + Audience = Total Fuckwad
Someone is wrong on
The Internet
Log in:
v - t - e

Face it, this explains everything.

Examples and applications

It seems to happen slower in more lefty circles, mostly because one of the values being clung to is 'try not to be a dick.' But given enough time, cliques find a way.

When your group considers being an asshole a virtue, well, the process accelerates.

Variations

Yahtzee Croshaw of Zero Punctuation fame has postulated that the theory is actually too complex, and proposes removing the "Anonymity" and "Audience" sections to leave the formula as "Normal Person = Total Fuckwad", on the basis that *all* people are fuckwads and that it's not so much the presence of anonymity or an audience that causes issues, but more the lack of consequence for being outwardly the complete dick someone necessarily is on the inside.[2]

gollark: I'll ask them to thing it.
gollark: It's hosted on heav's computer, which experienced ??? some time ago.
gollark: GEORGE™GEORGE™GEORGE™GEORGE™GEORGE™GEORGE™GEORGE™GEORGE™GEORGE™GEORGE™GEORGE™
gollark: It is IN NO WAY subliminal pizza advertising because I DO NOT work for pizza companies in any form. __*This is NOT true*__. I have not in any way been sponsored by pizza companies. There have been no advertising agreements whatsoever with any companies producing pizza or otherwise to have me subliminally advertise pizza, as my profile picture is not a pizza. *Since it is not a pizza*, this is obviously not pizza advertisement whatsoever. No monetary exchanges or otherwise have occurred with companies engaged in pizza production for any reason relating to my profile picture. *It's not pizza.* There were no deals, under-the-table or otherwise, with pizza companies. No pizza companies pay for any kind of subliminal advertising involving me. **I'm DEFINITELY not** paid by pizza companies to have ANY subliminal pizza advertising, actually. It is not a pizza. People say that it's subliminal advertising for the delicious pepperoni pizza offered by PizzaCo, but really it's not. __It has never been a pizza__. My profile picture is not, will not, has not been and cannot be, in any way whatsoever, a pizza.
gollark: Factually incorrect.

See also

References
  1. http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19/ – they also produced a version euphemised to "dickwad"
  2. Extra Punctuation, "On Multiplayer", 1 December 2009
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