Where Has all the Kindness Gone?

Have you ever read the comments that follow an online article?  I have been completely blown away by the rampant rudeness of commentators.  It doesn't even seem to matter if the subject matter of the article is controversial or not, a battle tends to ensue full of insults and childish name calling.  Are these really mature adults or have their children taken over the computer?  Why is it that people are prone to behave so disrespectfully in faceless communication? Is it so hard to remember that there are actual people with actual feelings typing those words?  Or is it possible people truly would say such horrible things to another's face?  While I would hope not, I do believe that kindness is not as prevalent as it should be, both online as well as in person.

Why is this the case?  Has it always been this way or is there a decline?  Am I the only one that is bothered by it?  What can be done about it?  All these questions and more have been running through my mind for some time now.  I would love others insights, experiences, and perceptions to help me in this exploration, so please leave your comments on this and any other post that follows on this topic (but remember to be nice!).  Maybe together we can find a cure for this infectious epidemic.