Taking the Pulse on Anonymous Commenting
We’ve been getting more and more requests from readers to eliminate anonymous commenting. (The topic has also been on the front-burner because of a certain article this week.) There are clearly major flaws with a system that allows commenting without accountability, but doing away with it carries its own set of drawbacks in the form…
We’ve been getting more and more requests from readers to eliminate anonymous commenting. (The topic has also been on the front-burner because of a certain article this week.) There are clearly major flaws with a system that allows commenting without accountability, but doing away with it carries its own set of drawbacks in the form of diminished information flow, opinion and overall energy on the site. We’re curious to know how the community feels about the issue so please take a moment to fill out this survey and chime in below.
Thanks,
Mr. B
p.s. Just to clarify, just because you register, and comment under, a username, does not mean that your true identity is on display for the world to see. It means we can easily block a disruptive commenter, or contact him/her by email about bad behavior. It also means that other readers can begin to associate comments over time with a particular online identity, theoretically improving the ability to carry on discussions.
Yeah, if Dave and Biff work in finance as they claim, no wonder the economy’s tanking. Although things may not be that busy in the mail room, I suppose…
“3:24 you must be new here after reading about The What. Aside from the fact that there are now too many What impersonators (male and female), The What is just an object for our entertainment.”
Your attempts to marginalize The What, because he’s dissed you from time to time, are pretty sad and quite revealing. If his/her comments are purely “for out entertainment,” why are you bothering to respond? I sense a green-eyed monster.
Now go post your snarky “guest” retort.
Gotta say, I’m baffled by all this fear of people knowing your real identity. Bloody hell, all of you must have visited hundreds of stores and restaurants where you have quite possibly said or done something controversial and a few minutes later handed over your credit card with your real name on it. How many thousands of times have you had a revealing and possibly gritty exchange of words with a co-worker, tradesman, or neighbor that knows your name and where you live? I reckon there’s a parallel between this phenomenon and the fact that a lot of people feel more comfortable in handing over a credit card to a waiter they don’t know from Adam than using the card online. It’s new so it must be feared.
Dave and Biff should realize that the more people they piss off, the more people are going to want to “out” them.
dave you’re posting at work? Do you work for yourself or do you work for someone else? If you work for someone else than aren’t you misappropriating company time and resources?
bxgrl…i must have missed that one..could you explain (without names) what was the phone number issue???
Serenity now. Serenity now.
Mr. B…I will be expecting my royalty check in advance this time. Look at all these ridiculous guests that have gotten themselves into a posting frenzy because of what I’ve written here.
In due time, my friend Biff. In due time.
Your arrogance is going to get you in trouble…