India, May 20 -- Growing up, most of us were taught certain basic rules of decency long before we ever learned words like etiquette or empathy. We were told not to laugh at anyone's physical appearance, to refrain from passing rude comments about someone's sartorial choices, and if we disliked someone, to simply walk away instead of standing there trying to tear them down. These were not profound life lessons delivered through grand motivational speeches. They were ordinary corrections offered by parents in everyday moments-a sharp look from a mother or a gentle reprimand from a father was often enough to remind us that mockery was not sophistication.

Which is perhaps why watching the internet today feels so profoundly strange. A Bollywo...