You should read some Marshall McLuhan if you are interested in how different mediums sometimes change the perception and deliverance of certain concepts.
Personally (and obviously) I believe that this medium magnifies certain views - probably mainly due to the promise of anonymity that is offered. So to effectively translate some of the stuff we read here, we almost have to lessen the degree of intensity of each message... ie. in a "real life" conversation, someone may say, "i am not particularly in favour of x" whereas on the internet etc., the same person might say "i absolutely loathe x". so i think there's something to be said about the distortion effect that can occur here, and other places online.
i'm largely in favour of the notion that if you wouldn't say something in person, then why say it in another medium simply due to lack of fear of reprisal? it only serves to confuse your audience as to your true intentions.
edit: oh yeah, and of course there are real racists on the internet... and that just sucks, but oh well.