A few years ago, one of my essays appeared on a major news site. The first several comments were wildly negative. So, using a fake name, I posted a complimentary comment about the article and its highly talented author. The momentum shifted. Almost all of the new comments were positive. The world of Internet comments is endlessly interesting. On one hand, web comments often display the worst of human behavior (hate, cynicism, prejudice, spelling errors). I’ve often argued that every page with web comments should be sponsored by antidepressants. On the other hand, comments can often add value to a discussion, or, in some cases, provide a nourishing and supportive environment to share data or get valuable feedback. What determines what kind of comments you’ll find? Is it anonymity vs using real names? It turns out it’s not that simple. From The New Yorker’s Maria Konnikova, here’s a look at the weird psychology of online comments.