Six point six degrees of separation

The results from a Microsoft study into the relationships between users of its MSN messenger service have shown that the theory of there being six degrees of separation between any two given people on the planet is actually not that far off. By their calculations it's more like 6.6. Even so, I still find it incredible; especially considering the original theory is close to 100 years old and the hypothesis has been notoriously difficult to test.
From a sample of 30 billion instant messages the researchers took messages between a pair of unnamed users as a link and then compared how the 180 billion separate pairs of users in their database were connected. It's a fascinating piece of research which only reinforces the importance and relevance of social networking. It highlights where this element of both professional and personal life is heading.
On a rather darker side to net behaviour, I also have to recommend this article
on trolling that ran in the New York Times earlier in the week. 'trolling' or 'trolls' is the name given to users of online communities who post off-topic and/or inflammatory comments, they can be the bane of both the webmaster and regular members of online communities. It is something that risks pervading any social network.
The NYT's story is a thorough examination on how the anonymity the net can offer us also blurs the boundaries of what is acceptable online to what would never be in the real-world. It's a must-read for anyone who has ever posted online and gives a glimpse into the world of the most voracious of those trolls out there.
The reason I mention any of this in the blog today is the news that Lori Drew, the mother accused of driving a teenager girl to suicide by using a false identity to conduct a bullying campaign via MySpace, is to be charged under Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). The Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Center for Democracy and Technology, Public Citizen groups are campaigning against this move (although not for Drew's sake). They argue, that if she is convicted there could be significant implications for anonymous usage online.
In order to overcome such problems, such as trolling or cyber-bullying, should we consider being more open or consistent about our real identities? I don't know the full implications for going down that route.
Comments of course are welcome.