I think that you make a good point about bad behavior becoming the norm. It's not exclusive to the web, but to society in general. One of the indicators is the venom and hatred that have spewed from political pundits on the radio and TV since the 1990s. Our political "leaders" can't be civil to one another, can't have a difference of opinion without resorting to ad hominem insults, can't admit that another person from the opposing party might have a valid perspective, and can't debate an issue without questioning the other's intelligence. It seems that the level of political discourse in this country sinks to new lows with every passing year. Since name-calling now passes as a valid argument by people who have the education and experience to know better, how can we expect anything better from Mr. Anonymous on the web? We are rapidly forgetting how to be civil to each other because rudeness and shock value have replaced reason and logic as a means of persuasion.