Unfortunately I've seen a lot of this in a lot of MMOs. Not just TOR. I think it just comes down to this:
John Gabriel's Greater Internet Theory:
Normal Person + Anonymity + Audience = Total F***wad
Personally, I think there are a lot of people out there that use the internet to air the "dirty laundry" of their attitudes because they have anonymity and what they feel is immunity for their words and actions. IRL, they are forced to exercise more social grace or risk losing friends / family members. Couple that with the possibility that many MMO players are nerds / geeks, which have an abnormally high number of socially stunted people, and we get MMOs that are full of people who are selfish, immature and refuse to conduct themselves in a civil and friendly manner.
I mean think about it. There are MMOs that are purposefully left so open and free that half the point is just running around and ganking / griefing other players. *cough*eve-online*cough*
MMO communities and American politics are doing a fine job of killing my faith in the human race.
My my. I ranted a bit long there, didn't I? Move along. Nothing to see here.