Mob Mentality

John Barry: They say the sole survivor of a boat capsizing must have hoarded the life jackets. They say a Mexican baby saved from a kidnapping should be deported, along with her parents. They say a legendary St. Petersburg barbecue cook who died should be remembered for his arrests, not his spare ribs. They say a state veterinarian who tried to explain policies on injured wildlife should have his arms and legs broken.

All these are postings from recent Web-published news stories in the St. Petersburg Times.

The anonymous authors constitute an Internet phenomenon that psychologists describe as something like lynch-mob behavior. They are cyber necktie parties that vent anger and dispense frontier justice through millions of anonymous e-mails and Web postings. They have become a growing force as all forms of media — newspapers, TV, the blogosphere — seek instantaneous interaction with readers and viewers.