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Anonymous posters on the Internet can’t save America

By DOUG THOMPSON-Capitol Hill Blue
July 8, 2013




On any given day, several thousand interlopers at keyboards fire off a comment to one of the stories or columns published here on Capitol Hill Blue.

Less than a handful of those comments, however, ever appear on the web site.

The failure comes not from any attempt by our editors to limit or wean out comments.

Instead, the vast majority fail to pass the security check of our automated filtering system and — in 99 percent of the cases — they fail because the email address provided by a poster doesn’t check out.

Most of these posts are anonymous, as are the vast majority of comments posted around the clock to stories on news sites such as ours. The Internet, sadly, is a teeming repository of those who lack the courage to use their names or who use some flimsy excuse for hiding behind an anonymous “handle.”

Ironically, those who themselves hide their identity, are the fastest to jump on sites like ours for using anonymous sources for stories. Such hypocrisy is also typical on the Internet.

Over the past 50 years, I’ve worked for a variety of news publications that require names and proof of identity for letters to the editor. Yet such fact-checking seldom exists in the online world.

Over the 18 plus years that this web site has been online, I’ve considered — from time to time — requiring those who post comments and opinions here to use their real names. Someone on the staff has always talked me out of it. We’ve compromised with a requirement that real email addresses be used to gain approval for a first posting but that really isn’t much of a check because of the widespread availability of free email services that don’t require any proof of identity.

Some of those who do post here use names that aren’t real. Others use only their first name and still others choose to hide who they are behind “handles.”

Often, those who try the hardest to hide their identity are those who also post the most vociferous remarks about the need to stand up and be recognized to “take the country back.”

Which makes us laugh. How can people who hide who they are have any real commitment to freedom or American rights?

Often, the anonymous posters who use handles like “American Patriot” or “Founding Father,” cite the founding fathers as their true heroes. That’s a crock because the founding fathers who signed the Declaration of Independence didn’t hide who they were. John Hancock signed his name in large script, declaring that he wanted King George III to be able to read his signature without the use of glasses.

I am often inclined to discount opinions posted by people who don’t use their real name or hide behind anonymous “handles.” I do know the real identities of some who post here regularly with “handles.” Some have good points to make. Some don’t. But I have a hard time taking seriously anything that is posted by someone who hides their name if I don’t have the foggiest idea who they are or what or who they represent.

Today’s America has many problems that require commitment by Americans who are willing to take a stand.

And as far as I’m concerned, those stands cannot be taken by those who hide behind anonymous handles or fake names.

For that reason, I’m considering — once again — requiring those who post comments to our stories and columns to use their real names.

Haven’t made up my mind yet and I’m willing to hear your thoughts on the subject.

You might try something unique — like telling us who you are and why your thoughts are worth publishing on this web site.

Fwiw
My first name is sufficiently unique that I could be easily identified if anyone were really interested... Which I doubt

When Phil has expressed similar concerns, I sent him full particulars of my identity and contact info

And the email address that you have on file for me is first name dot last name at gmail dot com

And in case anyone is interested I will send all my particulars to them

If using my full name was useful I would do that also

But I think no one can credibly accuse me of hiding

I choose not to use my full name just in case it might impact other family members in some unexpected way. But for me, I am well past caring of anyone knows who I am or what I think

I haven't noticed the problem with anonymity here at RR. Is this an itch in search of a scratch? (or a bitch in search of a be-atch?)

No one here would know, or care, if I used my "real" name, or not.

I also post frequently on a local community forum, where I am in the 10% who use their real name. I think it's important there.

Mazebus Orsquer, the Third
I live on the planet formerly known as Pluto

Feel better? Farting in the wind does that for a body...

Just two months ago, on another forum, I had a scary psychotic sociopath gather my IP address (which is easy to do, even here), found my very old Myspace account which I hadn't signed on to in 3.5 years, and posted its entirety on said forum. Given how easily it is to get an IP address, I logged her IP address, contacted her Internet provider, filed a case, received a case number, and have never heard from that idiot again.

I'm the president of my HOA and our HOA email account started receiving some very odd emails as my name is associated with our HOA in public postings.

With all of the idiot psychopaths out there, I don't need anyone, who I don't want to know me, looking me up.

I'm not on Facebook, never have been, never will. Only a handful of Ranters know who I am in real life. If one doesn't know who I am on a personal level, there's a reason for it. Just sayin'.

Obviously, what one writes is only useful, valid and interesting if the writer's real name and all personal information is readily available to the reader. Most haven't read this far since this post is written "anonymously". Like Mark Twain, the Tattler, the Federalist Papers and tens of thousands of other works created anonymously, this post and all others posted by people using handles should be ignored - nothing stated in any of them is real or important since the author does not have the courage to leave themselves open to personal attack or have their writings judged by who they are rather than on the writings' own merits.

It's funny that you write this. Because on Greta, I use the handle "Guest" for the simple reason the instant that "CRick" enters the room, I'm attacked. I don't care if I write how nice the grass is green. I'll be attached simply because I'm a "Liberal."

I can only write something pro-neocon such as how Obama is ruining the country or what a Mooslim he is and total lover of the Brotherhood...

When I use "Guest" as many do, my posts are actually responded to and debated because they don't know who posted it. It's just the way it is...

I understand what Doug is saying: There are trolls who use dozens of different handles to pose as different people on various forums, or just coin a new handle to do their worst.

But there are also people who always use the same handle to post across multiple web forums, and have a reputation to maintain even if it just a "pen name". I use mine on Slate, Yahoo, Huffington, and several different newspaper forums.

That happens constantly at the aforementioned blog. I don't understand why people do that. Perhaps because it's easy to do? They're bored?

After awhile you learn someone's posting style and even if they change monikers, you still know it's them.

I've never seen anyone here change monikers.

I have seen a few, but they were minor changes so everybody could still tell who they were.

You DO have to use a working email address you can access, if you want to post here or on the front page stories. I can only assume Doug gets to see countless troll posts that fail that test. I would suggest simply tossing those without even glancing at the content.

The way it works here, an Administrator has to approve the email address before one can post.

Some get though as evident by the occasional spam. In the eight years I've been here, I think I've only seen one or two trolls. Perfect Fit being the last one - and that was two years ago.

We're lucky.