I am going to use this article to explain the inner workings of an internet ego. I will do this in a question and answer format. So that I know what I am talking about, I shall use my own humongous ego as a point of comparison.

I am doing this for many reasons, one of them is because I just feel like clearing up some misunderstandings, and two is that it is uncomfortable, I ran out of my prescription and I am just itching to write something, both literally and metaphorically.

Q: Why do people get egos on the internet?

A: Various reasons, including simple attention seeking, actual medical conditions, Extreme douchebaggery (I like to call this one Mitt Romney Syndrome), and others. See the last question for a more detailed explanation.

Q: Where do people get egos on the web?

A: Well, to answer your question, I would say that it can start a variety of places, but most prominently, this person has had an ego in real life for quite a long time, and is just not willing or in most cases, not able to let go of it. Perhaps they have received praise for something and believe that is enough validation to declare themselves lord of the internet, or something similarly ridiculous, in that vain.

Q: Do people with egos have ill-intent?

A: They can, and sometimes, they will, but they don't have to. I have a huge ego and it is about as harmless as me talking about myself a lot, but that is about it. On the other hand, some people can reach Scientologist levels of ego-driven jerkassery, but if they are acting like that, they are probably just jerks, with or without the ego. People without egos are just as likely to be jerks than those with ego, but you would assume that all people with huge egos are jerks because they just (usually) make a lot more ruckus than those who are just nice people with abnormally high self-worth.

Q: Why are egos more prominent on the web than in real life?

A: To put it simply, because the internet is set up specifically to form egos. You are communicating with people who you cannot see the face of, and the whole emotional aspect is lost in transition, so in order to succeed on the internet you need the approval of complete strangers. Some people just get way too used to being approved and can't let go of it.