In case I haven't stated this before

[megwrites]

The reason I allow anonymous posting on my LJ is because I realize that not everyone who might come across my little square inch of the internet has a LiveJournal (or Open Access account). Or maybe can't conveniently log their your account. That's fine. I'm not going to make somebody jump through hoops just to leave a quick comment.

But it is nice to sign a name or otherwise identify yourself when you do that. Not asking for your social security or mom's maiden name, just a nom de interwebs if you have it. Something that lets me know that you didn't just come here to hide under a mask of anonymity because you're too chickenshit to stand by the things you say.

I also don't mind people disagreeing with me. I'm often wrong or mistaken about things. Comes with being human. I will do my utmost to be polite about it, so long as I know things are being said in good faith and with some amount of respect.

But disagreeing with me when you're clearly very wrong, in an anonymous comment that you didn't sign? Revokes your right to any politeness, and I will probably be very rude to you and when I'm tired of you, just delete your comment, ban you, and promptly forget your existence.

Seems to me that people who want to say things worth listening to take credit for them. You want to nail your 95 Theses to the church door? Go right on ahead. But either sign them or GTFO.

Thank you, that is all.

I will now resume working on the thing that I'm supposed to be working on rather than farting around on the internet with stupid people.

Comments

[madwriter.livejournal.com]

No disagreements from me. I've long since lost count of the nasty, brutish, and short unsigned anonymous comments I've gotten on LJ over the years, usually over political entries. I don't bother unscreening them.

I would, however, unscreen nasty, brutish, and short comments if they're signed.

[denoue-moi.livejournal.com]

Hey, you look smart. I got a question.

Why is it people treat others they communicate with online so differently from how they treat people in real life?

Do you think it's the anonymity? Because they know they won't get slapped? Do they forget they're talking to human beings?

[madwriter.livejournal.com]

I know this is going to sound pat, but I've always figured it was all or any combination of the above.

I think it comes down to a question that people have asked since long before the Internet: How many people would obey the law if they knew they wouldn't get caught breaking it? The Web's anonymity guarantees--or at least most people assume it does--that no matter how much of an ass you are, you won't get caught. I think it ties in with the same impulse that makes people behave like asses (or dangerously) in traffic--the person getting cut off or nearly sideswiped doesn't know who the driver that almost ran them into another car was.

[denoue-moi.livejournal.com]

Gotcha. It hinges on your own sense of morality & love for your fellow humans.

[madwriter.livejournal.com]

That's what I think, too. You or I would sign our names, but that's because we have that sense of morality. Either that or if we feel strongly enough about something to comment we want people to know who was making the point. :)

[fiction-theory.livejournal.com]

Word. I'd set up screening, but I'm lazy like that and I have no problem with the delete comment button.

usually over political entries

I've never really understood the point of going and saying rude things to someone who has different political views. I get being upset by them. I get ranting about it in your own space. But commenting? Seems pointless because I've never really seen anyone go, "Oh, wow, this anonymous comment has caused me to completely rethink my entire world view!"

I have seen a few people, in rational, polite, civilized discussions say, "You may have a point" or "I didn't think about that" or "Maybe you're right".

The internet will help you grow a thick skin mighty fast, won't it?

[madwriter.livejournal.com]

Just yesterday, in an article about Dubai's economy spiraling down, the author and a commenter got into a point-by-point detailed and civilized argument that ended with the author admitting that the points against his piece were so well done and thoroughly thought out that he had to admit most of them were right. It's a pity that this is so rare on the Internet, but it almost certainly wouldn't have happened if the commenter had started with some version of "D00D U SUX!!!!!!!"

[denoue-moi.livejournal.com]

Word. That's why I've been forced to disallow anonymous comments. People like to play Tough Guy of the Internets. And I'm like, "Dude, it's my personal journal, not frickin' Fark. Go be a douchemonkey elsewhere."

[fiction-theory.livejournal.com]

Just so you know, people who are rude to you make me want to punch them. In the facial area. Hard. With brass knuckles.

Go be a douchemonkey elsewhere

I think that shall now be my motto and I shall make a sign and hang it over my door, to let all the world know my stance on douchemonkeys.

Also, I LOVE THAT WORD STILL AND I'M SO GLAD YOU INVENTED IT. SO GLAD THAT I AM WRITING IN ALL CAPS. :)

[fashionista-35.livejournal.com]

Seems to me that people who want to say things worth listening to take credit for them. You want to nail your 95 Theses to the church door? Go right on ahead. But either sign them or GTFO.

Baby, you are on a ROLL, today.

And you happen to be right. Because seriously-- even old Martin signed his name.

[fiction-theory.livejournal.com]

Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week.

Because seriously-- even old Martin signed his name.

Yeah. Very few works, historically or literarily, have been anonymous. There are a few, though most of those are anonymous because the author either faced persecution of the Torture-Maim-Kill kind or because history has forgotten the person's name.

But the really great things said and done in history? Said and done by people who stuck to their guns.

Not to mention that if Martin Luther can risk the ire of the Catholic Church, which basically controlled the governments of Europe at that time, then you can risk a few nasty words to sign your name to a drive by comment, yanno?

I don't get what people are afraid of. Besides being outed as idiots, that is.