Examining the Pseudonymity of Sports Message Boards and the Subsequent Effects on Levels of Self-Disclosure, Expressing Extreme Opinions, Emotional Flaming, and Fandom

This study examined how not revealing one\u27s identity (i.e., being pseudonymous) on sports message boards affects levels of self-disclosure, expression of extreme opinions, frequency of emotional flaming, and levels of fandom. Quantitative scales were developed to measure self-disclosure, expressing extreme opinions, emotional flaming, and fandom. After participants read two competing sports message board scenarios (one including a positive message and the other a negative message), they responded to the survey questions