End internet anonymity

[Conservative Republic Of Huang]

So we should doxx everyone just on account of what they say that we do not like or disagree with?

Depends, some people engage in horrible sexual practices as well. What about those people?

What about those who are trolls? harassers? Some people are just assholes, too. i'd like to know who they are. They should be willing to put their name on their words if they're going to be dicks. imo.

When you RL identity is attached to it, you seem less likely to engage in those behaviours imo.

You know those aren't illegal.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

How about this - everyone just behave their damn selves, learn some self control, and remember The One Rule:

Don't Be a Dick.

Problem solved.

Impossible!

The internet is literally the only place I can be a dick.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

well with a vote of 254-9 I'd say it's not a very popular one. but believe it or not, only one of those 9 votes is mine haha.

I'm actually mildly surprised there aren't more votes in favor. I know we have more than 9 authoritarian-favoring users around here. Although... authoritarian viewpoints tend to be rather unpopular, and those who like to express agreement with such ideologies probably don't want to deal with the disapproval or harassment for such opinions IRL... Oh dear.

I mean, I have a pretty authoritarian streak.

There's just no sense in actually removing anonymity off the internet for no good reason. It's impractical, and dangerous.

[Chessmistress]

What..? IP addresses don't exist yet?

Well, lets say an individual on an internet forum insulted my mother or said he hopes I get raped or something crazy like that. I can simply post their poor behavior and find where they work.

If an individual on an internet forum is really a criminal and/or mad, he could find where you live and really rape you and/or your mother.
You seems to presuppose that you're always the stronger and harassers are always weaker than you - but in real world it could be the opposite.
Have you ever thought about that?

[Shazbotdom]

How about this - everyone just behave their damn selves, learn some self control, and remember The One Rule:

Don't Be a Dick.

Problem solved.

Impossible!

The internet is literally the only place I can be a dick.

We all have an evil side....


Some of us just let him out more often than others. I do all the time at work.

[Forsher]

They are, effectively, anonymous.

Sure, you know, probably, their real names and what they look like, but unless you know them, it's basically the same as some random builder shouting stuff at you from the third floor of a construction site. In this sense, then, it's probably distance that enables trolling or, perhaps, it's proximity that makes people behave respectfully to each other.

People have lost jobs over Facebook comments.

I still have lying around somewhere in my dropbox a series of screengrabs I wanted to dunk someone into hot water with their company in, over the Lee Rigby murders.

It should be obvious that I'm not talking about that. That people generally aren't anonymous, and that you can be identified by, say, your employers really doesn't mean anything about how your being effectively anonymous to the people you're trolling (assuming you are not trolling your friends).

Take the builder example. Again, identifiable to their employer. In fact, even more obviously.

They are, effectively, anonymous.

Sure, you know, probably, their real names and what they look like, but unless you know them, it's basically the same as some random builder shouting stuff at you from the third floor of a construction site. In this sense, then, it's probably distance that enables trolling or, perhaps, it's proximity that makes people behave respectfully to each other.

As another counter example, compare and contrast long-term users of usernames/handles... they've built something up in a particular "brand" and by behaving in a way that isn't in line with the brand image they would destroy the brand's equity. This is a way of interacting with other users of the internet which simulates proximity rather than yelling at people down on the street.

I think it's just that people act differently when they're talking to a person than when they exchange text combined with the ease of responding immediately. It's too easy to forget that there's a person on the other side of the computer screen.

I really don't think that is different to my point vis a vis proximity.

They are, effectively, anonymous.

Sure, you know, probably, their real names and what they look like, but unless you know them, it's basically the same as some random builder shouting stuff at you from the third floor of a construction site. In this sense, then, it's probably distance that enables trolling or, perhaps, it's proximity that makes people behave respectfully to each other.

As another counter example, compare and contrast long-term users of usernames/handles... they've built something up in a particular "brand" and by behaving in a way that isn't in line with the brand image they would destroy the brand's equity. This is a way of interacting with other users of the internet which simulates proximity rather than yelling at people down on the street.

Almost everybody's facebook profiles contain enough public information to track down their home address.

I'm not sure that's true?

I sometimes have to screen people to enter Facebook groups. Generally, there is not much information there and these people often have mutual friends with me. Now, sure, we're often talking about the same people (who have friends in the group sometimes) so there aren't quite so many independent observations and they have similar interests (hence applying to two similar groups) which may mean more generally similar information privacy behaviour and we're talking people mostly within a five year span of each other centred around 21 (I guess), but still. I'm also the sort of person who would notice because I have a very information scarce profile.

But, the question one asks is, even if you are being trolled, do you look? And, more to the point, do trolls assume people are looking? The former, I think, is 50/50 and the answer to the latter generally not.

[Kaschovia]

Ending internet anonymity would do so much more harm than good. Think of all those bad people who would want to find your address... An innocent person could be caught in the crossfire of an argument they didn't start and find a psychopath at their door in the middle of the night, do any of us want that?

I'm obviously exaggerating, but no, this is a terrible idea. People should be able to maintain the current level of anonymity we have right now. Not just any random person should be able to see your address AND your name.

[Vistulange]

I don't think this even needs to be discussed further, the poll says enough.

[American Imperial State]

I don't think this even needs to be discussed further, the poll says enough.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argumentum_ad_populum

[North Arkana]

I don't think this even needs to be discussed further, the poll says enough.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argumentum_ad_populum

You might try to pull a "that's a logical fallacy" move to counter this, but at this point, through debate and votes, you can't. Nice try though.

[Northern Freikur]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argumentum_ad_populum

You might try to pull a "that's a logical fallacy" move to counter this, but at this point, through debate and votes, you can't. Nice try though.

Oh! Oh! Oh!!!

He dropped the "F" bomb, the word "Fallacy"!!!

[Northern Freikur]

well with a vote of 254-9 I'd say it's not a very popular one. but believe it or not, only one of those 9 votes is mine haha.

I'm actually mildly surprised there aren't more votes in favor. I know we have more than 9 authoritarian-favoring users around here. Although... authoritarian viewpoints tend to be rather unpopular, and those who like to express agreement with such ideologies probably don't want to deal with the disapproval or harassment for such opinions IRL... Oh dear.

When u mess with the online people's identity, everyone goes libertarian, all at once, even if they are usually heavily authoritarian...

[Dread Lady Nathicana]

How about this - everyone just behave their damn selves, learn some self control, and remember The One Rule:

Don't Be a Dick.

Problem solved.

Impossible!

The internet is literally the only place I can be a dick.

Lies. One can be a dick anywhere one has the balls to pull it off.

>_>
(I am so gonna get slammed for being sexist at this rate, I swear.)

[Donut section]

How about this - everyone just behave their damn selves, learn some self control, and remember The One Rule:

Don't Be a Dick.

Problem solved.

Being a dick means differen things to different people.

I find the inability to appreciate some quality trolling to be quite dickish. As well as the inability to differentiate between actual trolling and people disagreeing.

[American Imperial State]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argumentum_ad_populum

You might try to pull a "that's a logical fallacy" move to counter this, but at this point, through debate and votes, you can't. Nice try though.

No, that's pretty legitimately what he's saying.

[Kubra]

I don't think this even needs to be discussed further, the poll says enough.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argumentum_ad_populum

incontrovertible proof that policy should not be decided by elected officials
right?

[American Imperial State]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argumentum_ad_populum

incontrovertible proof that policy should not be decided by elected officials
right?

I think we would do better under a dictatorship ran by myself or a like minded individual.

[Kubra]

incontrovertible proof that policy should not be decided by elected officials
right?

I think we would do better under a dictatorship ran by myself or a like minded individual.

And opinions like that r why internet anonymity is gr8

[The Two Jerseys]

You might try to pull a "that's a logical fallacy" move to counter this, but at this point, through debate and votes, you can't. Nice try though.

No, that's pretty legitimately what he's saying.

When one side is winning the opinion poll by a margin matched only by the margins of victory in Falkland Islands sovereignty referendums and elections in countries where your ballot choices are "the incumbent President-for-Life" or "torture my family to death while making me watch", it's not really a fallacy.

[American Imperial State]

No, that's pretty legitimately what he's saying.

When one side is winning the opinion poll by a margin matched only by the margins of victory in Falkland Islands sovereignty referendums and elections in countries where your ballot choices are "the incumbent President-for-Life" or "torture my family to death while making me watch", it's not really a fallacy.

It is a large margin but lets not forget the sample of people we are polling. I suspect they are more inclined to this position than the general population. Not saying the general population is in favour, but I suspect the "margin of victory" is a lot smaller if indeed it does exist. It also does not prove your argument.

It's still a fallacy if your argument is that popularity makes your opinion right/correct.

[Wisconsin9]

incontrovertible proof that policy should not be decided by elected officials
right?

I think we would do better under a dictatorship ran by myself or a like minded individual.

Thought everybody who has ever had any opinion on anything.

[The East Marches]

incontrovertible proof that policy should not be decided by elected officials
right?

I think we would do better under a dictatorship ran by myself or a like minded individual.

[CAT XIII]

Ending Internet anonymity? Oh hell naw! *runs away*

[Shazbotdom]

When one side is winning the opinion poll by a margin matched only by the margins of victory in Falkland Islands sovereignty referendums and elections in countries where your ballot choices are "the incumbent President-for-Life" or "torture my family to death while making me watch", it's not really a fallacy.

It is a large margin but lets not forget the sample of people we are polling. I suspect they are more inclined to this position than the general population. Not saying the general population is in favour, but I suspect the "margin of victory" is a lot smaller if indeed it does exist. It also does not prove your argument.

It's still a fallacy if your argument is that popularity makes your opinion right/correct.

What makes the "keeps Anonymity" position right is the whole "There are too many psycho's who will use said information to commit mass murders and/or serial killings" idea. Unless you don't give a crap about that...

[Imperializt Russia]

You might try to pull a "that's a logical fallacy" move to counter this, but at this point, through debate and votes, you can't. Nice try though.

No, that's pretty legitimately what he's saying.

Except it's not fallacious.