Anonymous Posting? Not Really, Ever!

[Jim O'Bryan]

Judge in Sowell case thrown off because of message board postings on cleve.com
they found out who she was.

Of course, there is zero anonymity online.

It is just who has the key to the ip addresses and who they confide in.

Ownership of words, real names, honest discussions with real people.

The only thing that makes sense.


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[David Lay]

"Anonymity weakens any argument. If a speaker is a known person, he takes responsibility for what he says, and listeners can assume he is speaking in earnest. I use my name because I don't mind being held accountable for what I've said, and I think the long-term continuity gives useful perspective on what I'm saying currently. It makes me speak sincerely." -- Steve Albini

[Jim O'Bryan]

"Anonymity weakens any argument. If a speaker is a known person, he takes responsibility for what he says, and listeners can assume he is speaking in earnest. I use my name because I don't mind being held accountable for what I've said, and I think the long-term continuity gives useful perspective on what I'm saying currently. It makes me speak sincerely." -- Steve Albini

David

You know the a huge part of the Observer project was about ownership of words and ideas.

Also allowing civic personalities to flourish and take ownership of their words, actions, plans, etc.

While the second part has failed because residents seem to accept the blackout, the first
has gone beyond our expectations.

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[Will Brown]

I think this issue is not as simple as you cast it.

There are certain subjects which most agree should be discussed, but without revealing the identity of the perpetrator or victim. Most news organizations agree that the names of sex crime victims, or even of juvenile offenders, should not be made public. So if there is a spate of rapes in a neighborhood, the crimes themselves should be published and discussed, in the context of protecting the public, but the names and identifying information of the victims should be kept private.

Without anonymity, if I write that my neighbor was raped in her garage, her identity is revealed, because I don't have that many neighbors.

Now, the case of a sex crime is, I hope, extreme. But the same reasoning applies in less extreme circumstances; if one of my children did something really stupid in school, that might be something worth discussing, but not at the cost of embarrassing my child; if one of my neighbors attempted a home repair for which he was poorly prepared, and caused severe damage to his house, that might be worth discussing, but probably not at the cost of embarrassing my neighbor.

On the other hand, lack of anonymity doesn't guarantee honesty; some of us are just dishonest. I'm not even convinced it insures civility; some posters say fricken when they mean fucking. I wonder who they think they are fooling. Anyway, some people are just coarse, even when they are using their real names.

This isn't usenet, where there is no way of controlling posters, short of individual filters. It is a moderated forum, where I think you can, and have, control posters who violate your sense of civility (your dress code, so to speak).

On balance, I think disallowing the use of screen names does not broaden the scope of information and opinion, but rather narrows it.

[Jim DeVito]

I have to disagree, Will. Rape aside, I think the debate is much more open and honest when you are forced to use real names. At the end of the day you make better arguments, you refrain from personally attacking other people who may not share the same views as you but are people none the less. (with few exceptions)

I am sure I do not have to mention it but look at any place where screen names are allowed. (youtube and reddit (to an extent) come to mind) The quality of discourse usually boils down to who can make the funniest "your mom" joke. A friend once came up with the idea of a "stupid room" a dark where you are forced to read youtube comments all day.

This is a moderated board. That said I can not remember the last time I ever edited a post. Once I think, a link about teabagging and as I look back I suppose I should not have done that. As for the interchanging of words like fricken and fucking. I doubt anyone is trying to fool anyone, maybe they do not feel good about using such words. You are more than well to use the word and I will not care. As long is it is a reflection of you in real life.

I am not sure I have some other thoughts on the subject but in real life I am not so good at framing arguments

[Will Brown]

I can't speak to youtube as I have not, by choice, used it. And I've never heard of Reddit. I do recall the Buzz (I think) having a forum with the types of problems you describe.

But there are active forums that do not have the problem. Fodors, for example, has forums for travelers that are models of decorum and provide valuable information. I can freely post my plans to visit Germany on Fodors, because I have a screen name. I would never post that information on your board, because someone could use it to rob my house. There are many more such forums, using screen names, that have no problems.