Anonymous posting

Posted May 9th, 2007 at 08:22 AM by Gregg
in

I have been a registered poster for a couple of months, it's not that hard to do. I'm more than tired of these "hit & run" posters. Hiding behind anonymity when making personal attacks on anyone that is on here or doing the same to public officials. If you have something to share please do but get a screen name and act like an adult. I would like to see the site require registering and using some kind of screen name, I use my own name, I post nothing here that I would not say to someones face. Let's grow up!!!

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IlliniPundit's picture
On May 9th, 2007 at 08:55 AM, IlliniPundit said:

"I would like to see the site require registering and using some kind of screen name, I use my own name, I post nothing here that I would not say to someones face."

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm never going to require registration. 

IMHO, the contributions made by anonymous commenters more than outweigh the negatives, and allowing anonymous commenters fits nicely with my philosophy for the site as a whole.

On May 9th, 2007 at 09:05 AM, Anonymous (not verified) said:

Honestly, half the time I can't remember my password, and don't feel like creating extra screen names.  Besides, screen names are usually anonymous anyway, so what's the difference?

IlliniPundit's picture
On May 9th, 2007 at 09:10 AM, IlliniPundit said:

And, frankly, if I see an over-the-top personal attack, usually I can get an apology just by scolding, and the discussion can return to some degree of civility.

And, to me, it seems like just as many attacks come from registered users as from anonymous users.

"Honestly, half the time I can't remember my password, and don't feel like creating extra screen names. "

If you do register, the site can remember your identity so you don't have to remember your password every time you visit.

On May 9th, 2007 at 09:20 AM, James Mortland said:

IP is such a fascist, forcing us to accept first amenment rights because HE believes we should be allowed free speech...

;)

IlliniPundit's picture
On May 9th, 2007 at 09:27 AM, IlliniPundit said:

Heh.

On May 9th, 2007 at 11:05 AM, Run4cvrlib said:
I think there is a difference between being anonymous and being anonymous and having a screen name. Being an anon with a screen name at least you can follow the discussion with the person. However there are people with multiply screen names that do try do deceive the other posters. I should know who some of you are and don’t and since I am semi anonymous (some people don't know who I am and some do) do know me, which is an advantage. I think all of these issues are just the way blogging is and you have to know how to "play the cards your dealt".
Some Anonymous posters of course are another issue, it's one thing to just post anonymously that’s OK, it's another to just attack people without foundation, merit or reason.
 
IlliniPundit's picture
On May 9th, 2007 at 01:24 PM, IlliniPundit said:

"However there are people with multiply screen names that do try do deceive the other posters."

The same email address can't be used to register more than one screen name.  There are ways around it, but I'm pretty sure there aren't people posing as multiple users.

"Some Anonymous posters of course are another issue, it's one thing to just post anonymously that’s OK, it's another to just attack people without foundation, merit or reason."

We get just as many senseless personal attacks from people with screen names as without them.  If people want to clean things up around here, they should start by ignoring the personal attacks rather than responding.

On May 9th, 2007 at 02:32 PM, Run4cvrlib said:

You can say that, they won't attack you, you can block their IP address. So they generally don't attack you.

IlliniPundit's picture
On May 9th, 2007 at 02:51 PM, IlliniPundit said:

"You can say that, they won't attack you, you can block their IP address. So they generally don't attack you."

Plenty of them attack me, and I don't block their IP addresses. 

The difference is that I try not to attack them, either before or after they attack me.

On May 9th, 2007 at 03:00 PM, Anonymous (not verified) said:

The problems with blocking IP addresses include the fact that IP addresses come off of routers and several people may be coming off the same wireless router and that routers change IP addresses and people can spoof their IP addresses anyway with free masking software.Plus when someone says something really stupid they should be called on it.

Glock21's picture
On May 9th, 2007 at 03:34 PM, Glock21 said:

As obnoxious as a drive-by anonymous post can be, it doesn't seem out of control here by any means.  Compared to managing an IRC channel with roughly 100 users (upwards of 500 during elections or big political events) full of anonymous users, including many on occassion that literally attempt DDoS attacks and other methods of cutting off access to or the ability to use the channel... it's quite a bit more relaxing here.

 

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Glock21 Op/Ed

On May 9th, 2007 at 11:12 PM, Run4cvrlib said:
Of course most people use personal computers and have static IP's. I really don't care, but your right , you are the expert on stupid posts but you don't have to respond every post.
On May 10th, 2007 at 02:39 AM, Wenalway (not verified) said:

I agree that the numerous Anonymous posts have run their course, if for no other reason than it's annoying trying to differentiate them.

A log-in name would fix that problem.

I still think, though, that if you write something, you should be willing to put an ID behind it. There are a handful of sites where I use different names, but that's partially for my amusement and partially to keep those people and their software guessing.

Primarily those sites are news design sites where the people think opinions become facts if they're chanted long enough. They also fear the facts because those don't work in their favor.

This site has some of those symptoms, but other than the rampant HSQDs who can't develop a rational argument on any issue, it's not too widespread.

Glock21's picture
On May 10th, 2007 at 02:57 AM, Glock21 said:

"the rampant HSQDs who can't develop a rational argument on any issue"

 

Oh sweet irony.

 

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Glock21 Op/Ed