Staff Infection

WHEN IS ANONYMITY ON A WEBSITE OK?

Will SwaimWed. December 05
 

A bunch of us are discussing the merits of anonymity in postings. District Weekly senior writer Dave Wielenga says:

“The SoLongDeLong website, like any political position, is only as strong as the willingness of people to stand behind it. There are many people concerned about, among other things, the way Mr. DeLong undertook his most-forceful effort for change–the secret and exclusive meetings of the SEADIP committee. And they have spoken out. But if they are lumped together with people who don’t have the guts to identify themself, it hurts their cause. I guess it’s similar to the fact that I sign my full name to all of my stories and e-mail posts, and wussies don’t.”

Others fsay anonymity preserves the reasonable privacy of citizens fighting their own, more powerful elected officials. Still others felt the whole conversation only gave more publicity to DeLong’s critics–and then signed anonymously.

Then the brawl spilled out onto the streets and into this totally separate conversation.

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    The difference that I see is that some people are paid to do this (Dave) and risk less than those who might have a reason to hide behind an alias.
    Maybe Mr. SoLongDeLong works in the DeLong offices. Maybe he’s a double secret agent gathering information that he wouldn’t be privy to were he to find himself suddenly unemployed! More likely he's wasting company time writing song parodies, but hey, that's important too!
    As for me, Selfish Causes, I’m not hiding. I’m just trying to sell a few t-shirts. Hey, we got greeting cards here!
    www.selfishcauses.com
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    Imagine the turnout at the polls if voters had to sign their ballots and their votes were published. Good or bad, this country still respects a "silent" opinion, no more or less that that of a courageous journalist.

    You, District, have provided a forum for the "wussies" of the world. If you feel their anonymity marginalizes their opinions or undermines others, then do like the PT does with Speakout...find a margin to put them in and don't engage. If you think your readers need a "bravery filter", kick anonymous comments off altogether. The fact that invited posters are labeled "wussies" will go a long way to "fix" this publication, too, if that's the way you want to go. This is sort of a fundamental, journalistic thing that should be defined by YOU, certainly not a bunch of wussies.

    Like others, I have my reason for anonymity. Personally, I don't need or want filters. You appeal to a more thoughtful crowd who will consider the source, accuracy and content of comments and websites, anonymous or otherwise. To suggest that names are important suggests there are other, perhaps less objective, filters at play.

    Dave is right about a couple of things. Passion on high-impact issues is important. Those who have it will make a difference and those who don't, won't. He says the SoLong site is only as strong as the people who stand behind it and since no on did, its dead....much like this anonymous post a nano-second from now. Neither is really worth recessitation.

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