Most people (myself included) chalk it up to the separation that you have with internet relationships. You're not there in person. It's sometimes easy to forget these are people you're talking to, with lives and existence outside the computer.

I agree with you that it happens so much more often in smaller groups. In every example in my post, it happened when I was in a small group situation. Maybe me and like five or six other people. And when you're literally the odd one out, it makes things difficult and the pressure is insane.