Sometimes the internet seems a bit like a free-for-all. The anonymity – or at least the separation implied by not being face-to-face – so often gives people license to write things they never would dream of uttering out loud. A different set of rules seems to prevail, or at least I thought.

Recently I saw a facebook post from an old school friend announcing the birth of their daughter. Great news to be able to share, and of course there were already lots of comments from acquaintances offering...