Mentioned a couple times in various places... the question of how or why can't online forums, pages or interactions be more like they are in the pub or real life?

To me it is simple... because what happens online is not real life.

Emoticons and sarcasm fonts can't replace reading body language or a grin or change in eye contact or any number of other things. If you have the use of a backspace button while you are "communicating" it has no similarities to the real world.

Not to mention the lack of consequences... online that is. In the real world though very little of the nonsense that goes on online would be tolerated. Funny enough to see once in a while someone's online persona show up at a workplace and moderator is replaced by manager and getting "banned" is replaced by getting fired.