First, let me link to a previous blog entry that will explain part of my point of view on this subject: http://lifeandtimesofaflyingfox.blogspot.com/2012/04/identity.html
And here's one of the links that is still open in my browser: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/27/randi-zuckerberg-anonymity-online_n_910892.html
I am offended to the most extreme by how pathetically idealistic this article is.
“People behave a lot better when they have their real names down. … I think people hide behind anonymity and they feel like they can say whatever they want behind closed doors.” -Actual quote
Let me tell you something; in the mid-2000s, I was a subject of cyber-bullying. Someone even went so far as to hack my email in hopes of finding my real name; in fact, all of these people involved were open about their names, some had Myspace accounts and photos, and they demanded that I give them my personal info. Sometimes, they would pull stunts online to try and torment me into giving them mine. I am certain that it would have been much worse for me if I had, so she can fuck right the hell off with that bullshit.
“Many people believe that requiring real names will solve the problems of trolls and bad behavior, but they don’t -- and that policy can have negative consequences in terms of suppressing dialogue about important topics.”
Any anonymous source used by journalists will tell you the exact same thing. Anonymity, in and of itself, is not dangerous or used for malevolent ends; sometimes, people want to be anonymous because they want peace and quiet.
Oh, and by the way, since when is the last time our government was honest and transparent? Or, I dunno, Mark Zuckerberg?
Though pressed several times to name what new features Facebook will offer to better safeguard security on the social networking site, Zuckerberg declined to offer specific examples of forthcoming initiatives.
Yeah, that's what I thought.
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