Emotion substitutes for understanding. To be real blunt, any issue one has a limited perspective on will foster emotions.

Do you get emotional when the server acts up? Does it change the performance of the server? Would pounding on the table help it?

Folks don't realize that emotions and ego are constantly trying to shore up feelings of inferiority and insecurity. Laughter is a defense mechanism, attack is another. In posters here you can see which use which to preserve their egos from the thousand and one posts crafted to elevate one over another - elevate one partisan position over another.

Tom is liked/disliked because he unknowingly wounds others egos with his posts. This naturally makes him a target because folks want to retaliate for years of perceived slights and affronts to their ego. Engaging Tom, with a critical post, often then is a form of compensation. And here folks don't necessarily target the individually personally. No need to go after the individual of one is capable of harpooning the beliefs or worldview of others - this is good enough.

And why? What's it all about? Why do folks hang out at BBS or chat rooms? Why do folks become journalists or authors? Why do they become politicians, leaders or priests?

Primarily it is to receive compensation. And not just financial compensation, this is the least of it. Expressing themselves in any venue, in front of others, fortifies the ego to a varying degree. Artists, performers often have the exact same need and motivations. Very few folks have freed themselves of their ego.

The 'healthy ego' is an oxymoron. Such an ego simply means you are still subject to feelings of inferiority/superiority and have a constant desire to compensate for these feelings. Granted if such egos disappeared so would most of the participation on these boards.

Take away the ego, take away the emotions and you have feelings and action based upon reason, judgment and understanding.

Emotions are a convenient escape mechanism. Hate, fear, insecurity, anger, laughter and sadness act as substitutes for intelligent action/reaction to all that surround us and are simply forms of cheap compensation - in lieu of resolution.