Anonymity and Online Discussions

[Greg]

Here is a question for all your hard-core forum participants.

Would you still participate in an online discussion if you were required to post under your real name? The anonymity of the internet means people will say things that they would never say in a real person to person discussion (or even in public).

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Don't worry, I'm not changing the rules of this forum - I'm just investigating this issue for another project I'm involved with.

Thanks for your insights!

[Michael Hardner]

Here is a question for all your hard-core forum participants.

Would you still participate in an online discussion if you were required to post under your real name? The anonymity of the internet means people will say things that they would never say in a real person to person discussion (or even in public).

Most people wouldn't.

Why ? Because what you say on these boards could stick to you. Your family, friends, employer could find out opinions that you keep secret.

The good thing might be that it would force people to be responsible. Anonymous posters come on boards like this, and post anything at all without fear of being held to it. Interstingly, after somebody has been on a board for awhile they gain an identity that goes with their handle, and they tend to be more careful in what they say.

Another good thing, would be that it's a more natural form of assembly. Tribal gatherings, and town halls were never anonymous.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Don't worry, I'm not changing the rules of this forum - I'm just investigating this issue for another project I'm involved with.

Thanks for your insights!

I'd be interested to hear about the other project.

I've always wondered about the possibilities for a hybrid of live meetings and web board discussions.

[Renegade]

Here is a question for all your hard-core forum participants.

Would you still participate in an online discussion if you were required to post under your real name? The anonymity of the internet means people will say things that they would never say in a real person to person discussion (or even in public).

I probably wouldn't. Not because I shy away from my opinions, but if your opinions are tied to your real identities, there is a chance it could spill into your life. For example, what if your boss or neighbour linked your opinions to your real identity. Might not be a problem if they agreed with you, but the nature of your relationship might change if they disagreed passionately.

While I would be happy if most people were mature and accepted opinions as just that, I think in the real world, you need to interact with these people on a civilized basis. This is made much easier if they are not aware of your stances.

[Cameron]

This is my real name. And these are my real opinions. I have no problem with using my name. I wouldn't use my full name because of privacy issues.

[Riverwind]

The good thing might be that it would force people to be responsible. Anonymous posters come on boards like this, and post anything at all without fear of being held to it.

Posters may be anonymous in this forum however they may be banned if they do not choose their words carefully. So I disagree with the premise that fear of social censure is the only way to encourage people to be responsible.

[Canuck E Stan]

I prefer to stay in the closet.

I feel safer there.

[FTA Lawyer]

No anonymity here...my profile reveals who I am.

I like the idea that anonymity allows people to speak honestly about their opinions, however it is a double-edged sword in that anonymity also allows people to speak irresponsibly.

Not sure if anything can be done about it...it's just the way it is.

FTA

[scribblet]

I wouldn't because of internet security issues etc. Never a good idea to reveal anything personal about yourself on line. I might if it were private and not in googles cache or whatever. I belong to a private yahoo discussion group where real names and ridings are used, but membership has to be vetted and posts cannot be found doing an on line search.

[Leafless]

Sure, I'd feel comfortable using my real name providing no other personal information is revealed.

[August1991]

Interstingly, after somebody has been on a board for awhile they gain an identity that goes with their handle, and they tend to be more careful in what they say.

That's a good point, I agree. Posters tend to be more provocative or confrontational at first and then more reasonable with time.

We have secret ballots in elections, and if we pay cash, our purchases are anonymous - and that's a fundamental feature of market relations. Newspapers have a tradition of protecting sources, and letters sometimes are published with "Name Withheld" at the bottom.

There are many reasons people might want to remain anonymous, and there are degrees of anonymity. I suspect that for most posters here, if their name were known, it would make no difference to anyone.

Afterall, a good idea is a good idea, whatever its origin. No one knows the name of the person who invented the wheel. Some of the best political commentary in Quebec was written by Frère Untel. Voltaire was a pseudonym. The Canadian journalist Peter Newman writes under a pseudonym since that's not his real name. Does the poster known here as "Michael Hardner" receive mail addressed to the same name? Tony Curtis was born Bernard Shwartz.

Radio talk shows used to accept anonymous callers but I notice now that they tend to broadcast first names, and locations. The US is into a "reality fad" and people seem to want "real world" and not "fiction". Fictional novels are marketed as biography because it commands a premium.

So, it may seem that this is a new problem, but it's not. Newspapers would not print a column written by "August1991" because it might seem strange. Really? Woodward & Bernstein relied on "Deep Throat" and "Ann Landers" (not her real name) had a popular column for many years, and it may still exist (although I think she's dead, and been replaced by a committee). Newspapers often have gossip columns penned by "In The Know", "Around Town" or "Global Eye". Editorials in English newspapers are unsigned.

This seems to be a new problem because the Internet is changing the newspaper business. That's all.

----

Greg, if you insist on real names, you are certain to get the cranks. They don't care, and even seek the attention. You'll also get retired people because, for them, it really doesn't matter anymore.

Other people will start to think: If I have to go on the record, I'm going to spend some time thinking about this and then maybe I should get credit for my efforts.

This forum is a chat in a pub (albeit a recorded one). We know the faces of the regulars, and we know what they're likely to say. But that's all.

I don't know if this answers your question Greg, but such are my thoughts. BTW, I have given serious thought recently to asking you to change my forum name to my real name. I'll let you know.

[theloniusfleabag]

I personally would be ok using my real name. I like the moniker I use here, but really, as August points out, it is more or less irrelevant.

I suspect that for most posters here, if their name were known, it would make no difference to anyone.

However, there is some opportunity for abuse, real or perceived. (eg. there was a poster here called 'Scott Brison', though he admitted he wasn't the 'real Scott Brison')

[RB]

What I post should not be taken seriously and so I prefer to post anonymously. Well, apparently, my motives currently, are packed of extreme views.

I think writing freely about certain sensitive issues can easily get spilled and translate into forming and denouncing a person, notwithstanding the headaches of responsibility for what you write. I mean even the newspapers censor their writers.

For this reason if I were to choose reveal my real initial RB, my writing would certainly change and become more constrain to reflect views I would like to portray as me. Basically, the politically correct way to write.

I believe what you write under your revealed identity could very well easily expand into your public sphere and invade private lives and create havoc of "Avoidances Revealed"

Posting anonymous allow folks to be removed from accountability plus it facilitates any perceived wrong that they might incorporate into their exaggeration.

I think posting anonymous dishonors any writing, and should never be taken seriously and is analogous to an anonymous phone call. So I don't usually worry at all when I write on the forum. I mean the penalty is banning and you are simply told don't show up again.

You can always use personal messenger function if you would like to reveal your identity to others and I have NOT done this for the time I am here.

[Montgomery Burns]

Michael Hardner:

Interstingly, after somebody has been on a board for awhile they gain an identity that goes with their handle, and they tend to be more careful in what they say.

followed by August1991:

That's a good point, I agree. Posters tend to be more provocative or confrontational at first and then more reasonable with time.

I agree with both of you.

As for myself, I would be okay with using my first name but, for obvious reasons, not my surname.

[politika]

Here is a question for all your hard-core forum participants.

Would you still participate in an online discussion if you were required to post under your real name? The anonymity of the internet means people will say things that they would never say in a real person to person discussion (or even in public).

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Don't worry, I'm not changing the rules of this forum - I'm just investigating this issue for another project I'm involved with.

Thanks for your insights!

I would still post on this forum with my real name, I am open about my oppinion and, Nobody can question my oppinion as I have the right of free speech

[geoffrey]

I use my first name. I don't think I'd have a problem with it past that, but why? The big problem would be enforcement, and how to make a level playing field. Any of the annoyances would still be around, under fake names or what have you.

It's an impossible system really, unless you had some kind of ID verification concept going on.

Even then, why? August is right, eventually everyone settles down and moderates after their name gains a personality to others on the board.

[Nocrap]

I use my first name. I don't think I'd have a problem with it past that, but why? The big problem would be enforcement, and how to make a level playing field. Any of the annoyances would still be around, under fake names or what have you.

It's an impossible system really, unless you had some kind of ID verification concept going on.

Even then, why? August is right, eventually everyone settles down and moderates after their name gains a personality to others on the board.

I don't think I would censor anything I post because I would have to give my real name. Most of my freinds know of my political beliefs and we often debate sensitive issues. I've written two letters to the editor with my real name and accepted the fallout.

I'm a fan of political satire shows like Airfarce and 22 minutes, so at times my off-handed remarks are taken more seriously than I intended them to be, but other than that, I stand by what I write.

The only reason I wouldn't like to share my personal info, is for security reasons.

[sideshow]

No because of privacy issues. Othewise Yes. I am proud of my beliefs.

[PocketRocket]

Many who have received PM's from me know my first name.

I would have no problem posting under my real name, first and last, but I would take care in one respect; my postings regarding marijuana.

Other than that, have at 'em.

[theloniusfleabag]

Dear PocketRocket,

but I would take care in one respect; my postings regarding marijuana.

I think that this is one of the reasons pot legalization has not had stronger support. Mind you, not everyone is willing to admit to being a 'closet farmer', but usually people only publicly admit to pot use after they stop smoking it...like most of our parliment did.

[idealisttotheend]

I would be willing to post under my real name. I think that the people who aren't trolling and are posting reasoned posts that are thought through usually would. Some people like August 1991 or Black Dog could probably be columnists of some sort in their own right and so should be proud of what they write. IMV it's mainly the people who are trolling and making inflamitory remarks who need to hide behind assumed names.

[Melanie_]

I use my first name, and I've sometimes thought that was a short sighted decision, but I didn't have much experience with internet forums at the time. Generally, though, I'm not shy about sharing my opinions, and I don't feel the need to hide what I think, so I don't really have a problem with having my name attached to my posts.

[BubberMiley]

Maybe I am Bubber Miley.

[Naci Sey]

My quick answer is: It depends.

A couple of boards I've seen recently have posters who are heavy into character assassination. Makes no difference what you write. They'll rearrange the words or spin new meaning from perfectly innocent posts. If the moderating doesn't take care of such things, then I'm happy to remain under a pseudonym.

On a board like this - which to my limited exposure, seems respectful and well-moderated -, I'd have no problem using my real name, which is my preference anyway.

Another consideration would be for politicians or people who may run for political office in the future. Whatever you write on these boards under your real name becomes accessible fodder to any member of the public, including people with questionnable ethics.

That said, I usually include sufficient info in my profile that people will be able to sort out who I am. I figure that anyone who's inclined to look me up is more likely just to be curious rather than mean-spirited.

[sahara]

I would certainly still post, as I when I write letters to the editor in my daily as I do quite a bit and there you MUST include name.

[scribblet]

I wrote a letter to the editor a number of years ago about employment equity, (was against reverse discrimination and raising people above their levels etc. etc. )

My company at that time was heavily into EE having 3 highly paid Employment Equity officers. A close friend of mine reported that she was close by when one of the officers was reading my letter out loud, and remarked that 'she'll never get another promotion'. So, when they offered an early retirement program to all eligible employees, I took it. Since then I use my maiden name when I write letters to the editor.

It was a good move as I got full pension and was able to get a job elsewhere within a month of retiring.

In today's age of PC its not a good idea to use your real name on a public board. This board is better moderated and more civil then most, but even so, I wouldn't use my real name. Actually there was incident on another board prior to the last election. A person did use their real name, which was used publicly against him by people from Rabble.ca Politics can be nasty and that was a good example of why not to use your real name.

Cheers