This post is a long time coming and one of my reason why it is so late is that I think that it might not go over well with some. But here we go. If you read brad Hanson's blog then you have probably read the post on EC (if not read on here) The comments are really what i want to talk about. What makes me write this post is that I believe that the comments posted there by some people are unnecessary. And by that i mean the rentless pounding on anonymous by the main blog readers. I believe that all people that read blogs have the right to post anonymously. Why? Maybe this person knows that the views that the poster shared would have angered the blog author. I will admit that sometimes I leave anonymous notes, why might you ask? because I'm lazy and don't want to sign in. But back to the subject. Why is it so important for the crowd to know who this person is. if the person doesn't want you to know who they are, i believe that they should have the right (which is why there is the anonymous post button) to not tell their name. You should never press the point to where you ask a friend to hack, just so you can have the pleasure of knowing who it is. All the time I hear that we as Christians should play it "cool" not being the bible thumpers of the past, but isn't it the same where you relentless ask over and over what their name is, pressing the issue? So anonymous if you are reading this, i might not agree with you, but I think you are in your right to not give out name.
AJ
p.s. i know that everyone is going to post anonymously now, so whatever. also if you want to press this issue more with me let me know and i will gladly duke it out with you.
19 comments:
hacking a person us way off.
i believe in standing behind one's statements and backing them up. but shouldn't we be able to discuss ideas and disagree without having to go to work or church or school and deal with everybody's judgment?
posting anonymously online allows for free discussion.
if you are being a jerk and posting nasty personal attacks anonymously, well that is one thing. you're a punk and a day of reckoning will come.
but if you simply want to discuss freely then one should feel free.
I totally agree but i think that sometimes people don't want their coworkers to know, or church or school, to know their thoughts, which gives a lot of freedom to the anonymous posting, which doesn't have to be on a blog, some times at school i get "anonymous" notes. I see it as a way of venting a emotion without risking something. Do you guys get what i'm saying?
that "lack or risk" / accountability for your words seems to be closely tied in with cowardice.
anonymous posting for the purpose of pooh-flinging, as was done on brad's blog and on mine regularly is completely inappropriate.
life in darkness is not healthy. we are to walk in the light. the shadows suck us in.
I disagree, poo flinging is bad, but having a argument is what was happening. And with most "big" post are putting your views out on a line, and everyone should know that not everyone is going to like your views. Hence a argument.
Commenting on a post to provide correction or rebuke, in my opinion, should have a name. I think in some occasions, knowing who is commenting would validate what they had to say.
And i agree with James. If you want to have a respectful, intelligent conversation or even a debate, but have some legit reason to not be named, then thats cool. But have a pen name like our MrX friend.
As far as saying something that will get yourself into trouble (church, work, etc) one has to be thoughtful. Perhaps if saying would get you in trouble, its better to not say it.
Frankly, for an anonymous heckler, who is just being a punk, i wouldn't give any weight to their comments.
But what if it just a kid whos parnets don't want their kids name out on the internet? I do know kids that can't give their names. What about that? is that different?
Protecting kids names, i totally get and respect that.
Pen name, alias, etc. Like Anonymous Mr X. Its not YOUR name, but it is an identity, something that can be used, a way to establish "clout" or not.
so when someone post anonymously you don't know if their 100 or 16 or how old they are, so after the first time you ask whats your name shouldn't you drop it? Thats what I have the issue with, with the comments over and over anonymous was asked what their name was, after the first time shouldn't you relize that they can't/don't/won't give out their name. I have always been taught that you never hound someone over and over. So why are these people doing it here?
AJ, I agree with you. It is my opinion that you should be able to commment anonymously if you choose, that's why they have that feature. I also believe it is the choice of the blog's author whether they want to allow anonymous comments, which you don't have to.
all true danny, maybe its just a generation gap?
it's an integrity issue.
jeremy raises good points.
no its not, its a privacy issue.
I am dissapointed in the hypocracy surrounding this issue.
I just find it hard to believe that the same people saying "let's blog in community" are the same people tracking down where anonymous lives and saying things like "grow a pair," and
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!... GROW A SPINE!!"
I'm sure, when faced with these arguments, anonymous just wants to scream his/her identity. So lets blog in community.
3 of brads posts feel more like an attack on anonymous than debating the issue at hand. in Tase' 'em all 7 of the 15 comments were devoted to just this issue.
While i dissagree with "poo-flinging" i think it is wrong to constantly rag on anonymous for a name. it's immature. If he/she doesn't give you a name the second time you can bet he/she won't ever.
nicely but nate
nicely but nate
A-Ha, I agree completely. It's wrong to attack anonymous users. they have the right to comment anonymously. And as for using anonymous to say something that might be angering to co-workers,classmates, people at church..etc, I agree with your views there, too. What if "anonymous" still wanted to have a relationship with the blog author, even if the comment might anger him/her?
Using Anonymous isn't an integrity issue. And you shouldn't hound Anonymous users either. You say we should blog in community. well, then respect the anonymous users and quit asking time and time again for their name.
I agree with a.ha on this one. We should'nt need to know who "Anonymous" is. It should'nt matter who "Anonymous" and we should respect repect people even though we might think they are "cowardly". Besides, the old saying is curiosity killed the cat right?
wow, guys.
this is the part where you all breath out.
If you think we need to breath out on this post you need to read hefe's and brads. Nothing like being told I'm anonymous to start off the day!
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