BS: Anonymity

Subject: RE: BS: Anonimity
From: kendall
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 01:18 PM

Really? well, I'm a member, I use my real name, and no one takes ME seriously.

Subject: RE: BS: Anonimity
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 01:13 PM

As you may have noticed, there are a few of us who always use our real names. Joe Offer, Art Thieme, Dick Greenhaus, Jon Freeman, Clinton Hammond, Don Meixner, Don Firth, Rick Fielding, Malcolm Douglas, are a few whose names I could find in recent threads. (Funny, they're all male. And no doubt, that's not just a coincidence.) There are quite a few who use a first name and middle initial, and these include some women - I presume these are genuine. And I suspect there are some who use a nickname, but are known by the same nickname in real life.

But more important than a real name - as far as Mudcat is concerned - is a consistent name. That's the main thing you get when you become a Mudcat "member." I wonder if most "guests" understand that. I posted for a long time as "GUEST, Jim Dixon" mainly because I didn't realize that becoming a "member" was SIMPLE AND FREE. I just didn't bother to investigate, and that was my loss.

My impression is that people will take you more seriously if they know you're a member - not that members can't be flamers, or that non-members can't be serious - but IT HELPS. And who doesn't like to be taken seriously?

Subject: RE: BS: Anonimity
From: Kim C
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 12:25 PM

Well, I agree with all that... but also in the past there have been members who had legitimate questions of a sensitive and personal nature, which were posted anonymously, usually with the disclaimer "You all know me but due to the subject matter I can't tell you who I am." Of course that's a far cry from somebody who doesn't have anything better to do...

Subject: RE: BS: Anonimity
From: Wesley S
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 12:21 PM

Unfortunatly anonymity is used often here for the purposes of flaming and getting people all worked up. I can't respect that. It takes a special kind of weasel and/or coward to use that method. My guess is that your average anonymous flaming poster is a male, owns a computer and has a very, very, tiny pecker. And has a complex about it. But that's just my opinion. Wesley Smith

Subject: RE: BS: Anonimity
From: catspaw49
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 12:06 PM

Well, my Mom, sainted to me, always told me I could say and do what I wanted, but I always had to be prepared to back it up, to have the courage of my convictions, but to always challenge what I believed. to do any of that required that I stand up and stand behind who I am. Anonymity just doesn't figure into that.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Anonimity
From: Bert
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 11:50 AM

Nice thought guest, but unfortunately some guests seem to think

"it's easy to be an asshole when no one knows who you are"

We're glad that's not you.

Bert.

Subject: Anonimity
From: GUEST,guestguestguest(intruder)guest.
Date: 14 Feb 01 - 11:38 AM

watching the various threads lately, and i'm reminded of something my not-quite-sainted-but-very-often-correct mother said to me...

"it's easy to be civilized when someone is watching, but it's more important to be when no one is."