The Anonymity Issue

[_Kishkumen]

I have been re-reading Yahoo Bot's comments on anonymity in online religious discussions here.

I have to say that I struggle with this issue. What say you? Why do you post anonymously? What kinds of limits do you place on your own behavior as an anonymous poster?

[_Equality]

I'll tell anyone who wants to know my real name. I post with a handle so when someone googles my real name, they are not inundated with thousands of message-board posts. I'd rather my professional web pages come up in a search on my name. It's nothing so sinister as Bob suggests.

[_Fence Sitter]

I post anonymously for a variety of reasons.

I live and associate with mostly LDS people and I do not wish them to have to deal with the extent of my disbelief were it to become known.
The internet is not a safe haven. I see no reason to give out personal information to the entire world. As we have seen with one of our own posters recently, there are crazy people out there. You really never know how close or far away someone may live from you that you meet online. I know, for example, that one poster in this forum was or is in my own stake, though I have no idea what his RL name is.
I try and treat people online with the same respect I do in real life, I do not see anonymity as an excuse to treat people poorly because I will know what I have done. I am not always successful at treating people well online or in RL.

I also think that eventually, regardless of how well we try and hide it, everything we place on line will be traceable to our RL identity.

I establish online relationships the same way I do in RL. With some people I give out more information but to most I do not.

Unless you are trying to establish your RL identity online for specific reasons it seems idiotic to post under your real name. That would be like attending a major sporting event and handing out business cards with your name on it to everyone there. What's the point?

[_LDSToronto]

The topic really dictates the anonymity, for me. If this were a math, technology, philosophy or other such board, I'd post with my real identity. However, places that discuss religion are different. I mean, look at the cast of characters who trot through this place and other LDS boards - I would not feel safe revealing my personal details. And though I wouldn't fear personal harm, I would have to worry about some zealot out to teach a critic a lesson putting two-and-two together and finding out where I work, contacting my employer, and causing a problem for me in my vocation.

A number of posters on MDD have told me they would love to have my in real life information so they can contact my bishop. That's reason enough for me to stay veiled, and only open the kimono for those I trust.

H.

[_Morley]

I think this is a great topic. It’s a thread I’ve thought of starting myself for some time, now.

It’s true that we all post anonymously to some extent. For instance, I may know Bob Crocket’s name but I notice he’s not posting an address and phone number. (Not that I’d want him to.) That I know his name, and have a photo he’s selected, means little. I don’t even have an email address for him. “Bob Crocket” might as well be a user name.

It’s also true that we’re all also knowable to some extent. Though I’ve only been here a year, I’m known to at least couple of dozen others who post on this board. Some of those I’ve trusted and revealed myself to. Others, who know me in real life, have deciphered my identity from my writing style and the things I’ve exposed about myself. We all have unique, discernible modes and histories.

Online, I try to act the way I would in real life, face-to-face encounters. I try to be honest about my expressed beliefs, experiences, and proclivities. When I find that I not being genuine, I try to remedy it. The posters I enjoy the most are those who seem to do the same.

Posting under perceived anonymity doesn’t mean others don’t know who you are.

Likewise, revealing your name doesn’t mean you’re honest. It just means that you revealed your name.

[_Kishkumen]

Thanks for the thoughts, guys. Do you observe any rule of thumb in what kind of comments to steer clear of? Do you consider yourself to be engaging in defamation of others? What do you think crosses the line?

[_SteelHead]

I post under a pseudonym because in real life my name is Mortimer Snert.

Life is difficult enouh with a name like Mortimer Snert, without broadcasting it all over the internet.

[_Stormy Waters]

The only reason I can think of to post with your real name is if you have some relevant academic credentials and want to utilize it to add credibility to your posts. I don't have any such credentials.
Also basically everyone I know is Mormon and if they knew some of things I posted here I would fear for my job. Really this is my only outlet for my thoughts on these topics.
Also the crazies such as Darrick that stalk people in real life. Yes it's a remote chance anything would happen, but why risk it?

[_Bond James Bond]

I post anonymously because in real life my name is Daniel Peterson. Not *that* Daniel Peterson, but you know it would just be weird.

[_MCB]

I post under a pseudonym because in real life my name is Mortimer Snert.

Life is difficult enough with a name like Mortimer Snert, without broadcasting it all over the internet.

My name is so plain Jane, I could advertise it everywhere, and no-one would know the difference. There are thousands of us. Cue the theme song for "V"