Discussions on Internet forums show a higher tendency towards incivility than those conducted in person. This is partially caused by the anonymity of the web; therefore, some have suggested that the solution is requiring website commenters to provide their real names. There are many benefits to allowing people to maintain their privacy, however, so this thesis examines alternative methods that websites could use to promote civility.
A website was created to study the effectiveness of asking users to agree to behavioral standards and allowing them to vote on the quality of each other’s contributions. Users who chose to participate in the “Red Room” were expected to follow the agreement, and those who commented in the “Green Room” had no such expectations. The study compares and contrasts the behavior of posters as well as participation levels in both rooms.
Results show that users will adhere to some expectations and will behave with civility when they have agreed to do so. The voting system was underutilized and did not appear to influence behavior. While discussions in the Red Room were polite and fact-based, discussions in the Green Room appeared to more meaningfully explore differences. Therefore, it might be advisable for website administrators to weigh the benefits of encouraging civility against the benefits of encouraging free expression.