Anonymity - Why allow it?

[drdel]

So it has be revealed that Obhama tried to get Facebook to address 'fake' posts during the US election.

Facebooks' business model, like most internet 'social' media use anonymity as a core feature. We see it on this Forum where, I suspect, a few posters write stuff for which they would not wish to be accountable and have attributed/traceable to their name.

Numerous examples exist of kids/people in the public eye (often unwillingly, are subject to abuse which result in very bad consequences.

My Father always said "..never say, behind a person's back, what you would not say direct to their face..." which I've tried to adopt.

'Freedom of speech', is the cry; but it not the same. In my book you can say what you like but you should also be prepared to be held accountable for what you've said.

So, IMHO, no Internet posts/publications should be anonymous. What say you?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

So it has be revealed that Obhama tried to get Facebook to address 'fake' posts during the US election.

Facebooks' business model, like most internet 'social' media use anonymity as a core feature. We see it on this Forum where, I suspect, a few posters write stuff for which they would not wish to be accountable and have attributed/traceable to their name.

Numerous examples exist of kids/people in the public eye (often unwillingly, are subject to abuse which result in very bad consequences.

My Father always said "..never say, behind a person's back, what you would not say direct to their face..." which I've tried to adopt.

'Freedom of speech', is the cry; but it not the same. In my book you can say what you like but you should also be prepared to be held accountable for what you've said.

So, IMHO, no Internet posts/publications should be anonymous. What say you?

No way - I wouldn't anyone to know my name was Hugh (don't say anything Pike)

 

[Hacker Khan]

So it has be revealed that Obhama tried to get Facebook to address 'fake' posts during the US election.

Facebooks' business model, like most internet 'social' media use anonymity as a core feature. We see it on this Forum where, I suspect, a few posters write stuff for which they would not wish to be accountable and have attributed/traceable to their name.

Numerous examples exist of kids/people in the public eye (often unwillingly, are subject to abuse which result in very bad consequences.

My Father always said "..never say, behind a person's back, what you would not say direct to their face..." which I've tried to adopt.

'Freedom of speech', is the cry; but it not the same. In my book you can say what you like but you should also be prepared to be held accountable for what you've said.

So, IMHO, no Internet posts/publications should be anonymous. What say you?

Facebook doesn't use anonymity as a business model. The whole point of Facebook is to connect with people, so not knowing who they are kind of defeats the object of it.

And if you are so against anonymity, assuming you were not christened drdel, then why have you got an anonymous name on here?

 

[Kellfire]

I find it surprising how openly threatening people are on this forum to each other when there's a good chance they'll bump into each other at forum meets and the like and that's amongst the people who aren't really anonymous.

I've seen some really tough guy posturing on here but then nothing at meets - baffling.

 

[drdel]

Facebook doesn't use anonymity as a business model. The whole point of Facebook is to connect with people, so not knowing who they are kind of defeats the object of it.

And if you are so against anonymity, assuming you were not christened drdel, then why have you got an anonymous name on here?

My post said it is a "...Core..." feature, not the only strategy! - as it is for many others. The business model they all use also lets the technology platform be a free-for-all so there are very few employees needed to watch over the exchanges keeping costs low!

 

[Jensen]

I've seen some really tough guy posturing on here but then nothing at meets - baffling.

Oh go on do tell, or at least give us a cryptic clue

 

[Kellfire]

Oh go on do tell, or at least give us a cryptic clue

Read any thread where opinions get heated - football and politics are the big two.

 

[rosecott]

Read any thread where opinions get heated - football and politics are the big two.

Then it's not me, since I avoid both threads.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Who would want to go on a public internet forum and use their real name? That is surely a recipe for major problems.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I am totally upfront about my name and picture on this forum :clap:. Nothing to hide here..............

I don't tell people on a car forum that I am a major character on GoT, what a surprise they'll get if we ever meet, but I also work to the theory of only typing what you would say to someone's face. Always a good thing to remember before you press reply.

I think I agree with HK about Facebook being a rare example of people not hiding behind anonymity but it clearly applies on lots of other social media. I don't get involved on twitter but there seem to some real prize chumps on there who hide behind false names whilst coming out with some horrible comments.

 

[Liverbirdie]

I find it surprising how openly threatening people are on this forum to each other when there's a good chance they'll bump into each other at forum meets and the like and that's amongst the people who aren't really anonymous.

I've seen some really tough guy posturing on here but then nothing at meets - baffling.

Presume your talking about Pin-seeker?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

SiLH and Hobbit are now best of pals

 

[rosecott]

SiLH and Hobbit are now best of pals

One with sore knuckles and one with a bruised face?

 

[chrisd]

SiLH and Hobbit are now best of pals

Dont see that at all, Hobbit's real name is Boris Johnson 🤣🤣

 

[Dasit]

Why allow it? What kind of authoritative world do you want us living in

Government and large companies already have too much power to watch and analyse us. Freedom is very close to being lost, if not already.

 

[Hobbit]

SiLH and Hobbit are now best of pals

No we're not!:ears:

C'mon Hugh, we've also swapped pleasant PM's behind the scenes for a good while that others on here won't have seen. Still think your politics is too much of the Tim Farron ilk

 

[ManinBlack]

You have to use your real name on Facebook. I had a second account on Facebook & I got a message from them asking for evidence that my real name was Testicoli del Cane. When I couldn't do it my account was suspended until I changed the name.

 

[Pin-seeker]

Presume your talking about Pin-seeker?

We really do need to go for a pint sometime😁
That's one of your favourite lines isn't it Sinbad😳

Or you just throw a girly strop 'I'm never playing golf with you again' 😂😂😂😁

 

[Kellfire]

Presume your talking about Pin-seeker?

Haha. No actually it's not about any one person just an obvious feeling that permeates this forum. I just can't be bothered with it. Life's too short.

 

[Hacker Khan]

My post said it is a "...Core..." feature, not the only strategy! - as it is for many others. The business model they all use also lets the technology platform be a free-for-all so there are very few employees needed to watch over the exchanges keeping costs low!

Well there has to be a lot of freedom or people won't use it.

Having a forum that is heavily moderated and on which they pretend no one ever swears won't overly appeal to anyone under the age of 50... ;-)