What about people who hide behind anonymity when they write comments in the internet?
In my opinion this is the dark side when you are empowered by the fact that you don’t have to be liable for your opinions.
I’m saying this because I met Jeff Jarvis from buzzmachine.com and Michael Arrington from TechCrunch.com and they told me that they are insulted every single day – and in the case of Arrington someone even spat on his face.
If we stood by our opinions, I think we should put our name next to it. However, if you go to any newspaper site and click on comments, you see that most people use nicknames in order to insult what people do.
So, I would like to hear your opinion on anonymity in the internet.
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Hola Mari Raphael no sabía nada de ti y me alegro de verte por aquí.
Estoy deseando conocer a Thelma y Paul de Austria que me encantan sus opiniones.
Hay una cosa sobre esto sin entrar en ser anónimo o no. Tu puedes rechazar desde tu blog los comentarios que no te gusten, eres libre de admitir a los amigos y elegir perfiles que te gusten y sean afines contigo. Aun así hay personas que se toman demasiadas libertades entonces creo que te están demostrando que no son tus amigos. NO TENEMOS PORQUE ACEPTAR TODO. NOSOTROS ELEGIMOS. Y SI QUIERES ENCONTRAR AMIGOS SERÁ IMPORTANTE QUE VAYAS CONOCIENDO Y DÁNDOTE A CONOCER Y EN ALGÚN MOMENTO TENDRÁS QUE CONOCERLOS FÍSICAMENTE PORQUE ESA ES UNA NECESIDAD QUE SE MANIFIESTA EN LAS RELACIONES HUMANAS.
RESPETEMOS LA LIBERTAD, Y LA LIBERTAD ACABA DONDE EMPIEZA LA DEL OTRO.
Un beso para todos. Desde aquí le quiero dar las gracias a Paulo Coelho que nos permite conocernos en su fiesta y hacer un encuentro físico.
Sometime it is necessary for self protection to hide your identity. The problem is to choose:
When to hide
and
When not.
All depend on WHAT do you want to comunicate. If the information delivered by you may cause you problems, then you hide. If no harm, then no reason for hidding.
Some people are public persons and have businesses that have no connection with esoteric or spiritual issues, so that when a client or competition does a search on Google after your name, they will find out that, while you try selling to them for instance some councelling services (for ex. psychotherapy, or medical, or financial, or whatecer that need fool trust in your brain activity… :)), they just find out that you enjoy Tantra Yoga,talk with angels, feel unsecure about your inner feelings and you are not too sure about your reactions under stressfull situation of a negociation process, then you know what will happen: social death.
Also let’s not speak about mass-media also…Enemies…God knows who else…
On the other hand, to hide just because you like to insult people’s oppinions or for revenge, depends on your “basic home education”.
How sweet Paul, thank you!
My Gratitude to all who have inspired me, “you know who you are”
Carol
Anonimity and the use of nicknames I find a beautiful thing. Nicknames often make me laugh as they are a creative invention of how you wish to represent yourself.
There are many twisted and wicked people on this globe who could potentially do a lot of damage even with little information they may have of you.
The possibility of staying anonymous (or as I prefer to pronounce it;
“A-non-e-mouse”) is great.
Some people hide behind their nickname – as certain writers hide behind pseudo’s.
For me, staying anonymous means I am not found by the people that I don’t want to be found by – (once bitten, twice shy…) thus I can choose to only give my details to the people I feel I can trust and.. what’s in a name!?
Eu acho que cada um tem o direito da expressão. Isso descarta “agressões gratuitas”, porque cada um é cada um.
Não vejo porque as pessoas precisam esconder-se com outros
nomes, porque não irão mudar seu jeito de ser na vida diária
com seus próximos.
beijos,
Mari Raphael.
Hello everyone! I just wanted to share what happened to me to make me never use my real name or the same nickname for every website or instant messenger I use. I used to stick to only one pseudonym, but once this man started sending me rather profane messages on myspace. I did not reply and I, of course blocked him. Unfortunately because I was using the same nickname on skype and yahoo messenger he found me and started literally harassing me. I did block him out of these as well, but still to this day it scares me that a person I do not know was so determined to try to get ahold of me. Bottom line is, yes, I know some people use anonymity as a means of hiding behind a mask and not taking responsibility, but for some of us, it is just a way to stay away from stalkers. As much I would like to put myself out there, I refuse to end up as a victim of someone’s uncontrolled fascination…
Yo estoy en total desacuerdo con este tipo de comportamiento, estas personas le prestan mucho más atención a lo que les dice el demonio, y obran según sus instrucciones. Esto lo aprendí del Sr. Paulo Coelho cuando explica que, en el ser humano existe el ángel y el demonio, y las personas que escuchan al demonio, tienen como finalidad alterar la paz interior de la persona a la cual le desean hacer daño.
Pero no hay que darle fuerza a estas situaciones lo mejor es seguir
Saludos Cordiales
My name is Alexandra,as here.Sometimes,when I feel that I have opened my heart too much,I just hope that nobody that knows me will read it.I never insult ,maybe,if someone insults me I will reply,in same way.I know is not good,but I cant stay stiff,even if I would like to controll my anger better.Hardly I use bad words,still,might happen,and Than I am not proud of myself.I think hiding under nicknames does not mean one do that to insult,but who is doing like that,is a coward indeed.Lets talk in an educated way,is better.
how many interesting opinions!
I agree with Paul; I’m in his same professional position, that’s why I try not to say too much of me in this blog.
Anyway I thougt the problem of privacy and of “stolen personal data” in internet was only in Italy…
and I see it’s not!
We say ” All the world is a village”, to mean that virtues and vices of man an woman are the same all over the world.
Have a nice day.
I totally agree with Luce (hi dear Luce!!!) that people will only use pseudonims out of fear.
Only the people that say things on the internet that they would not say in real life, because it might damage themselve, use fake names and identities. Just don’t put anything on the internet if you don’t mean it, or might regret it later.
Marielle is my real name, if you click it you get to my page and I use my real name on there as well. I do not see any reason other than bad ones for not using your own name. I am just being very careful with what i put on the internet for reasons I named above, and I think everybody should.
Reinette: I do not understand what you are refering too?
Love Marielle
thanks for your post Savita Vega!
I can also add that I have collegues and friends on FB who don’t dare to add any “strangers” to their friends-list because they use their real names.
This is so counterproductive as FB and Twitter and other social media are used to make new connections, but these people will – because they use their real ID on internet and fear to add “strangers” – never dare to get to know new interesting persons out in the world.
I think there can be even more effective tools developped to track down anonymous persons who make threats and other illegal actions.
hello
how much of an individual is any less anonymous in person? how much do people really say that they truly feel and mean, beyond reaction? you spoke of being responsible for words, did you by that mean defense of self? if i choose to speak and share of myself because I lack a self and simply want someone to argue me out of me, perhaps i ought not speak at all. People all over all of the time walk around with a game face on, seems to be taught that a person is somehow lacking should they not adopt a game face.
and i love your writing, beyond coming alongside of it, the words remind my spirit and teach me again and again. sometimes i’m taught what is true and most correct for me and/or for society, other times i’m shown where i am on that spiral again. i appreciate you.
Arlene, Reinette, Irina and everyone else here writing only your first name.
Tell honestly in your blog-posts too
why you do not write out your whole real name including
your last name too!?
I do not believe you are cowards.
I simply think you are wise and carefull.
If this was a safe and wonderfull world to live in, where someone angry at you and spitting in your face would be the worse to fear, I and you would not mind to put our full names in a blog read by 230 000 people every month.
Unfortunately the world is not safe.
You never give out your full name, your phone number or your exact adress to the public eye on internet.
There are worse things happening than being spit in the face.
And moreover – usual women seldom get the protection they should get when stalked or harassed by men, ex-boyfriends, ex-husbands etc
The people I really trust will also get to know my real name. And I think it is My own perfect right to decide that -
without being called a coward.
Thankyou.
Dear all,
After doing my own self marketing for the book, I am back to give my insights on this issue.
Good question especially for Researchers on the field of the Internet. (They are still working on this issue…, Sorry for the delay and Please Wait…)
Being Anonymous has many setbacks together with upbrining your either brightside or darkside or whatever you may want to call it…
Every individual is unique. See for example the faces, character and behaviors. We are different in religion, caste, creed and these attributes but we should not forget we are branches of the same common tree called, “Human beings”.
Naming is done for identifiation either you like it or not. Liking is based on personal experience and attributes of the person.
When some of us might disagree that, We are having darker side of our own self, some might see the darker side as bright side too.
As God is unknown so is “somebody” who resides in all of us.
It is true that one should stand up and show their true identity and must hold accountable of their deeds, it is also true that some people do not want such identity to come out.
Can we answer where is God? Or, Who is God and what was his name? We can say for example Jesus is Our only God or Allah is Only our God or … but why don’t God himself has a real name?
God is God and Humans are Humans, He is inside all of us and we are inside him too.
In general, we need to identify people because that identifation will give values to his ideas, insights, critics and he/she is accontable for their deeds. (They must be accontable)
Fear is one issue but this is not the real issue.
Let me give one scenarios,
There are three people let us suppose: A, B and C
They all committed a sin such as killing Mr. P.
How do you identify who is the culprit? Should we say, All of the three were culprits or criminals when they all do not speak the TRUTH.
Therefore, Those who dare to speak the truth always should accept the truth. Those who do not dare to speak the TRUTH are scared to accept it.
Being Anonymous also is based on Experiences that we encounter in our lives. (While I was reading Paulo Coelho Blog Readers or Comments above) Some of us has said,
-I am business personel
-I hate to disclose my true identity simply because I might be contacted or communicated and so on…
Therefore, those who do not want to disclose their true identiy, it is OK but for those who do wrongdoings hiding behind the walls they are not doing good.
-You are first not being true to yourself
-You do not want to accept what others has to say
-You value your own judgement and do not care
-You had very bad experience
And So on…
A single human life is worth living with true identity attached to it.
Remember, The concept of dualism always resides in all of us. We feel sometime good and the very next time we might feel bad. We are just humans nothing else. We do our work, we enjoy what we do and sometimes we hate what we do not like to share, care, show or fear.
Techonlogically speaking,
There is one drawback in User Registration which we use in the Internet. The main drawback is we have got loads of updates in Operating System but where are the updates in User Registration System. We are using the same traditional system of Registration.
Username: …….
Passoword: …….
With this System, We cannot identify who the person really is and what are his motives or opinion. Here is one million dollar idea-
-Develop such a system where User will not be aware of his/own registration.
-You can track the identity of the User but User is unaware of his/her entrance on any Content Management Systems.
But Wait a Minute, (Well, I see some of you are looking me with strange eyes)
-There is some privacy issues here we need to deal with.
-When we talk about the personal privacy this new system might not work then.
We have in us two sides. Let us say for now,
-Bright side (Good side, God side, Hero side, ..)
-Dark side (Bad side, Devil side, Villian side, Pirate side,…)
To raise either of these sides are our own duty. We may raise our brigt side being truthful, accountable and transparent. Or, We may raise our dark side being untruthful, irresponsible, and non-transparent.
Did you realize one open question in the above paragraph?
-What is our duty?
I am human, I want to raise either my bright side or dark side. This is my responsibility nobody’s else.
When you will raise you bright side, you will end up being brighter but when you will raise your dark side, you might end up being less at shight.
Therefore, My dear humans Please try to understand the words of wisedom.
We always hate when our father, fore-father and gradfather tell us to do this, or that simply because we think they do not think what we are currently thinking. But that is not the truth, the truth is they have passed their entire lives being what we are at this current time.
You can always disagree with me, I accept. I will kneel down and bow my head and will say you sorry if I did something wrong. Because, deeper inside me, I see the power of “Truth”.
There should be “Freedom of Speech and Expression” given to all of us because that is our birthrights. Still in some countries it is not visible.
Technologically, there are some programs which could be used to track the user’s identity.
Here are few links to it-
http://www.cloakfish.com/
There are some services, which can also be used for anonymizing services such as I2P or Tor for tweaking the IP address of the User but it can also be found out easily.
Remember, you cannot get away by doing the wrongdoings.
There is also a good side to it,
For example when Scientist review the research paper they send the for peer review where the author of paper is not disclosed. Those peer reviewers are also not disclosed.
Sometimes being identified could result into death and sometimes being identified could result into fate.
It always depend on the way we think.
There were plenty of ideas still in my head and I must stop it writing here for free… (Just Kidding)
Now, I think I should do more research on this issue and once I finalize and come to the conclusion of how we can reduce Anonymity I will get back to you.
You can agree or disagree it does not make any difference to what I think simply because, I accept whatever comes in my life. (Good or Bad)
Remember,
“By 20, you should be smart; by 30, you should be strong; by 40 you should be rich and by 50, you will become wise.”
Good day !
God bless you all ! :)
people basically should have the courage to express their names when they are bold enough to express their views over a certain problem.so my opinion is there is no use in posting a comment in a particular site without specifying the name.according to me such people are not supposed to use the internet.
I’m not sure anybody is really anonymous on the internet. You can trace down anybody if you really need to.
If you want to post anywhere the first thing you asked to create is a username and password. And it’s rare you ever get to use your own name. It’s a technological limitation. So having a username which doesn’t identify you on the screen doesn’t mean you’re anonymous. It means technology is limited.
There are also mechanisms in place that can moderate posts so anonymous wouldn’t mean anything anyway. If a post is deemed inappropriate then it is moderated. And if it just doesn’t agree with other people well people have different opinions. Get over it.
However anonymity is okay by me. Ever notice that voting in a democracy is made anonymously; so people can’t judge others by their political opinion or even made examples of when you go against the flock? Because power goes to some peoples’ heads. By the way I vote for the Greens party.
Yay Marielle, I think Paulo should shed some light on this discussion.
Marie-Christine, I prefer the term “goddess”, but your “royal highess” also works for me :) If it was meant as an insult, touchè
What cause anonimity?
Someone that is in a difficult situation. They cannot voice their concern out in the open cause their life maybe jeopardized (witness protection? Victims?). I think this is acceptable since they did not do it to insult or discredit people. Comments should be constructive and not destructive.
Or
Someone that is totally irresponsible of what they say. They just want to hurt people either for the fun of it, they want revenge, or they did it for the benefit of themselves or their organization. Irresponsible and yes, cowards!
I personally believe that if you do not have the guts to be open about your identity then don’t say anything. I think that comments that are anonymous should be not be taken into consideration and serious at all.
Carolena, Momo it is not question of journalists or actors, so many writers were using pseudonims too, but speaking about internet as DO said it can be scary to know how transparent and wide all that is.
If only content and words were important and not names as Catherine said, then why use pseudonim ?
I think because of fear !
Luce
Dear Paulo,
I think you give the answer yourself.
Lots of people don’t put their full name on the internet because they don’t want to be insulted and spat at for their opinion.
And for living alone woman the safety aspect is also important. Stalkers, mad ex boyfriends etc.
Than in real life you don’t tell everything to everybody. My future boss or some angry ex-boyfriend does not need to know if I just had my heart broken, or had a fight with somebody or…well something like that, so I would not put that in a blog.
My personal believe is that we should never put on the internet what we would not say in real life.
Love Marielle
Reinette, you are a real queen.
Carolina, Carla, you are stronger by the day.
John Swinton, I love you. That was a “fair and balanced view” in my opinion.
There are some very interesting opinion flying around, and I think all of us are a little bit inclined towards favoritism.
When I was born, my mother gave me a different name when I was delivered to her. But my biological father (who will henceforth be known as the anonymous test tube) registered me with the name I go by today. What then, is in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet?
I also refer to Paulo’s book,(AMAZING!) The Witch of Portobello, where the heroine changed her name from Shirene to Athena, and thus became the embodiment of the character. A name carries immense energy with it. If I was given a name I did not choose by a person who has no meaning to me, should I then not be allowed to change it, even in cyberspace?
Every thing I write under a pseudonym is just another aspect of my inner self. A personality I choose to embody at the time. It does not mean that I refuse to take responsibility for any of my actions. If an anonymous person then offends you, and runs off for fear of being reprimanded, (the true sign of a coward) we should not waste our time giving it a single thought
Blessings
xx
Dear Paulo,
I think there are two sides to it. In some cases anonimity on the Internet gives people the impression that all boundries are lifted that the pattern of norms and values do not apply anymore and they can hide and say whathever they want without being held accountable for this. This side is very undesirable and a cowardly approach. On the other hand leaving you identity open on the Internet is also scary.I do do not have a blog, am not connected to linked-in or hives, but this did not prevent that an applicant (of all people) who I had an interview with a few months ago surprised me by walking strait to me and introducing herself and continued to congratulate me with my wedding and complimenting me on my wedding dress. The first moments I was flabbergasted; how did she know this. The answer was that she found weddingpictures on one of my friend’s webpage which also had my name. My colleague had to laugh about it but I felt as if I was naked. Since that incident whenever we have an interview with applicants my colleague looks on the Internet to find out about them. It is amazing some people litteraly put everything on the Internet and to be honest sometimes it does not help with building an image/opinion of somebody.
So to be honest I am ambigious on using your true identity on the Internet, anonimity should not be misused but people should also be carefull on what circulates on the Internet about them.
kind regards, Do (which is my real name :-))
hi all, i think it is some times easier to really reveal what you feel under a nickname,i mean u can express what u really think without embarassment or stigma. if you were to reveal exactly whom you were it may have awful implications ie hurt a partner .it is all about intention.expression with anonymity can be very freeing and very informative,i do not think it is cowardice.actors take on fake names for varying reasons even writers do the same .to intention with the sole aim of decievement is flat out wrong .this is a plague of our new technogly as you yourself said the world maybe shrinking as a result of instant communication .everything has consequences bad ones if the intention bad the consequence will no doubt be so to,some have little conscience though but the universe reflects what we put so so be warned ,x peace
after living with five people recently who all were working on issues of youth – i’d like to write some comments relative to their experiences: that is the experiences of youth.
Youth create new spaces and new identities in order to express themselves, to feel freedom once more after spending the past years under intense socialisation and moulding.
Sometimes, in order to express an opinion, or concept, or ethic et al, an identity is taken up to encompass that message in a simple phrase – like a band’s name. Sometimes, as I commented already, the message – not the owner or writer of that message – is what needs to be conveyed most of all. Anonymity is not necessarily cowardess.what does it matter if my name is catherine, beatrice or isabella… is it not what one writes that the reader has come to listen to and read?
And another reason – sometimes people just haven’t got a clue as to how to use technology and put their own name up on the wall… it can be as easy as that…
Let’s think outside the box…
anonymity can exist in the face of identity!
check this out:
John Swinton, former Chief of Staff of The New York Times, asked to toast to ‘free press’ during a New York Press Association meeting/party, here’s what he had to say:
“There is no such thing, at this date of the world’s history, in America, as an independent press. You know it and I know it. There is not one of you who dares to write your honest opinions, and if you did, you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid weekly for keeping my honest opinion out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar salaries for similar things, and any of you who would be so foolish as to write honest opinions would be out on the streets looking for another job. If I allowed my honest opinion to appear in one issue of my paper, before twenty-four hours my occupation would be gone. The business of the journalists is to destroy the truth; to lie outright; to pervert; to vilify; to fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread. You know it and I know it and what folly is this toasting an independent press? We are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are the jumping jacks, they pull the strings and we dance. Our talents, our possibilities and our lives are all the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes.”
Paulo, eu ja participei de um forum com dois nomes, sim eu me arrependi depois.Foi mais por farra, com os dois nomes eu usava e abusava de duas extremidades a boa e a má. Para ser sincera eu gostei de ser má afinal quem vai me punir por isso? Se hoje eu faria isso nao, para mim ficou claro de que estar anonimo ser anonimo significa ter poder e o poder em muitos casos corrompe.O poder que a Internet nos da é imenso eu ja deixei me corromper por esse poder, voce nao tem que dar a cara para a suas opinioes, pode deixar o lado negro da sua alma e seu veneno correr solto, me diverti e me assustei ao mesmo tempo, conheco os meus limites e parei, nao quis deixer a maldade expandir-se no meu ser nao quero destruir mundos nem que seja somente com palavras, assim que hoje uso meu nome. Mais como nao vivo na Disneylandia sei que existem pessoas no mundo que usam e abusam da Internet para jogarem seus venenos e se possivel “destruir mundos” beijos Andrea
Yo,personalmente no suelo utilizar mi verdadero nombre para escribir comentarios en los foros de la red,si lo utilizo,como ahora,cuando son blogs de gente que me merecen confianza.Pero cuando no entro con mi verdadero nombre y no dejo mi direccion,no es para poder insultar o hablar libremente,eso lo hago siempre que quiero…y puedo,lo hago para protegerme porque desconfio de la chusma que anda suelta por este mundo.
D.Paulo…ansiosa de que llegue “El vencedor esta solo” a España!!!!
Un saludo para todos.
Anonymity is cowardice and opportunism, dear Swiss, my oppinion of course.
It does not protect anybody, everything can be traced to the source.
I read in last 40 years so many SF books that todays reality have surpassed ( cloning, market of organs…..chipping new bornchildren like cats and dogs, mobile phone tracers…)so anonymity just give false security and impression of freedom.
Of course everyone is free to decide how to present oneself but real problem is that there are so many people who think they need pseudonim to hide behind it as this society is unsecure, manipulated and unreliable.
I choose not to hide, first because I think it is useless, and second because I take responsability for what I am and for what I think, and third because I am free and intend to be free to express myself without mask of pseudonim.
This way I have to accept consequences of course and face sometimes undesirable situations.
Love
Luce
I was in the middle of researching the idea of outsiders and identity in general on social media for something I’m writing, when I came across your video about online anonymity.
It is a very interesting subject all in all. On the one hand social media can be used to bring people together, but on the other it encourages bad behaviour. What of conflict on social networks? What even of email being used to inflict harm on people that you would not dream of inflicting if you were face to face with them?
I do think that what goes around comes around (to use a rather hackneyed expression!). Online communities tend to quickly ostracize those who are overly aggressive in their online contributions.
I am more worried about the effect of our always online lifestyles on people’s health. We are, in some senses, living in captivity…
We attack what we fear, we also run from it until we learn to hold a space for ourselves in which we can stand forward clearly with courage. It seems to me that those who choose to remain annonymous on the internet are both attacking and running.
But perhaps they also reflect to us our own shadow selves, those parts of ourselves that we all prefer not to see and which leap out of the shade and sabotage us when we least want it. On this basis they remind us all that whatever we have hidden and are not owning can end up feeling like that annonymous and often destructive voice. Each of us has the power to change this. Maybe then we won’t need the Universe to keep reflecting it back to us.
Love and blessings
Rebecca
Dear Paulo,
People who write anonymously are afraid, very afraid. The fear the reaction of others but most of all, they are afraid of themselves.
All the best,
Lex
Dear Thelma,
More I read from you more I like it ¨!
Another very important point taken ! In internet there is no real hiding as all can be traced.
Irina Black,
It is exactly how I feel too ! Responsible for my actions and words not forgetting that my opinion might not be common or condivided.
Dear friends,
You who might write offending and nasty comments, you make me laugh more than any comedy or horror film can.
Some years ago a man (if he can be called man) kept phoning (home and work) and telling very unplesant and “terrifying” things to me. When I got fed up I told him that I am sorry that he is cripled (I did not know if it was true) but as he does not know a bit about me and my powers that from that moment on he should beware in traffic and in every moment of his life, and instead of bothering me he should take very good care of himself from then on.
Guess what ?
He never again phoned ! Pathetic !
Love
Luce
Thank you for an interesting topic.
I wish to use my aristname because it tells more whom I am, that my full name. I think that my words are more important than my name. I wish not to be famous, because I want to have a private life to preserve my children. I just want peace on earth. I wish to talk to people to learn what their life experience is. They are able to tell the true story, without thinking that this man is a known name. John Lennon and Martin Luther King was killed just because that they was famous. Obama was in his young age trying to talk to everybody on the street that was in an discussion. Great learning process.
My real first name is Are, in Greak mythology the was a war warrior called Ares. In norse mythology my name is wise or eagle. All these names fits my personality, which told in the astrology. My second name, Nakrem, is told of the pleace my family if from, this farm doesent exist anymore. My writing thoughts are not relevant to this place. i live on the mother earth together with all humans. In Norway we are able to change our names, with a simple form, and I have often thought about changing my secound name to a more ligical name, like son of Stone, my fathers firstname. I wish to use a branding name. So I think justthoughts is telling more about what standings I have, you all are the boss of your life, so you deside what to beleive. We are all different induviduals, and together we are great humans thats tries to take care of this earth so that our children is able to live a happy life.
I am writing in the local newspaper somethimes, then I have to use my real name, because of the rules. If someone is to contact me of my words, they will get the mail adress from the news paper.
If a tell people Mahatma – everybody knows who, if I tell Gandi, they ask what Gandhi.
The real king is king of his acts and thoughts, not the power and title he got, from a small group of people. The warrior of the light is great and true.
They tell soldiers in the firing squad that some guns have blanks, and some have real bullets. That way no one knows who really killed, but they all still shoot. It is a form of anonymity that is supposed to ease their mind, but I’m wondering how can a person really trick its own mind to convince itself that even though they pulled the trigger, they weren’t the one to kill?
Same applies for anonymity, just because there is no evidence it was you, does it make you less responsible for what was said/published? I particularly dislike the bandwagon commentators, that jump on a topic of hate and keep on adding, thinking that it’s a ‘mass opinion.
There is a erronated mentality that an anonymous post is harmless. People can choose what to believe and what to read. And yet we forget how important context, innocence and frame of mind are. Children reading hate become desensitized, adults reading and writing hate will soon recognize hate sooner than any act of love. it can also be used cruelly… a few months ago was the case of the girl who killed herself over mean undercover play by someone bullying her.
We get out of showers to read messages of happy coincidences, but what if someone else in the world has a miserable coincidence with a hate message we anonymously posted last week? If it’s happy, it’s divine, so we will let it infuse the mind and the heart, but if it’s negative, well, we should have known better?
The more I live, the more I read, I realize just how responsible we are of every action that we do. just how easy it is to tear down and how much effort goes into cultivating good. It’s in our responsibility to use our anonymity wisely, and our responsibility once again not to react when others do not.
And spread good, love and hope every chance we get.
blessings,
Anlao
PS: in my business, sometimes I search people and I know I am searched. Security for me is important, that is one reason why I use anlao as pseudonym. This blog is openly search able, by the way. The other reason is that it means “a name like any other”, portraying exactly how I feel.
My name is Anca S. I am from Romania, currently living in Canada.
On facebook Paulo, I signed myself with both identities, so there is no hiding. And since you reminded me of meanings of name, dearest Thelma, I could only find two roots for mine. Ank in Greek means warrior, and in Egyptian means life. what are the odds of that? :)
I dont see the problem. Personally, I consider names to be a form of mass-psychosis anyway. I dont like typing the name I was given by my parents. Why? Because I consider it to be a mark of the Beast. The beast being the global mass-psychosis-hypnosis-schizophrenia-whatever most people seem to be buying into. That they need to work, need to do this and that, not because they really want to, but because their society expect them to, everyone putting heavy responsibilities on everyones shoulder. Ah fuck it. Right and wrong. Wrong and right. Whatever. Death is yet another habit. Why dont people rejuvenate themselves, why do they work themselves to death? Wtf is this shit? Why did you even write this post? Were you insulted by someone and want revenge?
Here’s the other side…there’s a commercial now running for Verizon or something where you see this kid blithely walking down the street eating an icecream cone. It cuts back and forth between the kid and an “authority figure” on the walkie-talkie/phone, speaking in terse militaristic tones, first calling his mom asking where the kid is. Mom says “put him on the school bus.” Authority fig connects with bus driver who barks “got off the bus” back to the authority fig connecting to a militaristic guidance counselor, who tersely announces “not here sir” – as she opens and slams a row of students’ lockers (releasing a pale wretch who’s apparently been shoved inside, squeaking “thank you” to this authority figure – and then to some guy in a panel truck who spots the kid, saying “We got him!” and they rush in to nab the kid, authority figure announcing “Detention!!”
This is supposed to be a good thing? Stripping people of their autonomy? equating “transparency” with not having personal privacy or the choice to be anonymous?
I’m not on a soapbox (yet) about this, because it’s more visceral at his point than something I’ve given a great deal of thought to how to articulate and parse out the various wrinkles and issues and subissues. But I’m leaning toward something like this: in a world where lack of anonymity would only equate with transparency that leads to accountability maybe it would be important to do away with anonymity. But we live in a world where a lack of anonymity is clearly (among the above) a mechanism to strip people of their autonomy, to monitor them, control them. AND — to convey that monitoring and controlling is GOOD for them, in their best interest — that frightens me.
And to the degree that banishing anonymity also does away with people’s ability to choose — to choose to act well or choose to act poorly or to act at all — to make people think less, be less autonomous, to make individual ethical and moral decisions based on the fact that they’re being watched, rather than through their own critical thinking and moral reasoning, then I think we have to put up with anonymity. The good with the bad.
And if the central dilemma is the sense that people are being cowardly with their opinions by cloaking themselves in anonymity…maybe we need to look more closely at what precisely is feeding what we interpret as their “cowardice.” I believe we would find *lots* of reasons why people “hide” behind Anon. And not all of them shameful or despicable or even “hiding.”
Stupid example, but say my names id Thurston Howell IV, and I adore extreme hardcore punk, am a fanatic about the music and the culture and politics on my off-hours — and I also work at a conservative bank because I enjoy that work and the money. It may not be in my interest professionally to publish comments on punk rock blogs under my name.
And for me, as Swiss. This is a street name I’ve used in political organizing and street medicking that in some ways may be linked with civil disobedience. At this point in time, anyone who’d spotted me in meetings or on the streets who thoguht it was their business to know my given name, knows it by now. But for a while it was in my best interest to be anonymous.
My approach to anonymity — off the cuff — is to make sure that we’re authentically creating spaces where full ranges of opinions are safe to express. Because another part of the equation—which I’m sure you’re aware of, Paul—is that social and group dynamics that play out on the web are (not only due to anonymity) far more brutish, nasty, and short than in real time. And groups convening via blogs, twitter, etc are far more primitive, slavishly conforming, and reinforcing a very traditional follower/leader paradigm, that borders at times on fascistic. Not at all democratic, but so sociocratic that it is nigh on impossible to express opinions that do not accord with the group or its “leader.”
Who wouldn’t want to be Anonymous when the slings and arrows of an angry conformist mob come pelting them?
This is a social comunity.The first thing you do wen you meet somebody unknown,is to recomand yourself and vice-versa!
You have so much right, dear Thelma!Every letter and every sound our names is the complete and unic identification of ourself.It is our powerfulst Mantra that we became from God!!!It needs just a very good portion of Trust!
That`s why I never thought to put myself a nic name in this blog or somewhere else!
I will put allthough my foto too,with the help our lovely Paul from Austria and if I will buy a camera I will try it too ,to share this art of tehnic!!!Sorry I don`t have so much talent with that ,but I`ll do my best!
I am both:a private and a public person ,and nothing will stopp me to change my opinion about to be open and transparent to this comunity!
The strongest reason to act like that is the Belive and Trust in this Blog and specially In You Paulo!And I know That Angels are careing of us all!After all…
We have all one Target!THE LIGHT
Besides, I will never allow to put any fotos from my children in internet!Some of you have right to say that the platform internet is too vaste.
I know it is ambivalent what I am saying but trust should not be compared with naivity!
Love of you all,
Mirela(the woman in elevator)
I was thinking about what Thelma said about turning in the street at the calling of our name. I thought about how many of us have the same name, “Mom” or “Mama” and how I know that I would be one of many who would turn around at the same time in the street to the sound of someone calling “Mama”, even though I knew my daughters were in a different town. LOL
I do think that there are certain times when a sense of anonymity is fine, but only when asked for…such as in being asked to fill out a survey and being reassured that you have anonymity in order to feel free to tell what you really think.
Other than surveys…I believe that if you have an opinion and you are not going to keep it to yourself, that your wish is to share it with others, then yes, you must be willing to stand up for what you say, give your name. To hide and float in the darkness of cyberspace in a sea of anonymity and hurl hateful, harmful or damaging words into another’s space is unacceptable. Bullying is bullying, no matter what form it takes, even in cyberspace. Just my opinion, for what it’s worth…
Nanci
Hello Paulo and Friends!
I think we all know why people are rude or critical and choose to be anonymous and yes it has the scent of an embark to the dark side.
Lets hope we find our selfs, not our ego, our true self.
Where we are at peace with ourself’s and our energy is focussed on correcting our own misjudgment.
Deeper understanding of oneself is key to a brighter future.
Carol
Btw. I love how this topic has opened people’s minds up. Everyone is “coming out of the closed” a bit. Joyful, honest and open-hearts. What else can I need from tonight?
The log’s in the fireplace are burning tonight – what a lovely sight.
Love from Estonia,
Liina L.
Is not right! To hide in anonimity to insult somebody’s public work or persona. Although really is not right to insult anybody period!
I can understand security and safety concerns, but there is no reason you can’t use a first name or a middle name or something that is yours. I think it is important to be authentic and have courage to speak our minds without fear, otherwise we are always hiding behind something. And I think it is interesting with this ever expanding need to connect via the internet, (especially with younger people) if it would be so ever-expanding if we had to stick our real names behind our comments! BTW, my name is Sherry!
EvolutionInConsciousness.blogspot.com
Kasia May! You did it! And surprised me in the end aswell. That was so sweet of You.
But I thought it was great – the fact of doing something You didn’t dare before, getting over those fears and later finding it was not that bad at all. :) I am glad You saw it that way! Congratulations!
Paul from Austria: Dearest Paul, we all know You are not a vicious person and this is not the reason You are “hiding”. I think people won’t judge You for that. Rather there is the moral issue, when people do unjustice to others – and You don’t fall into this category. But in a way I am glad it made You a bit ‘touchy’ – made You think over the topic. :) But don’t worry, You’re fine! :D
Love,
Liina L.
I started out on the web using an alias because I was fearful of being stalked, but I’m a writer and I have opinions, so that didn’t last long. I refuse to be censored or to be consistently P.C. in a world that needs straight talk not double-talk.
That said, I keep the terrible image Margaret Atwood cemented in my brain in her “Handmaid’s Tale,” of formerly big-mouthed feminists losing custody of their daughters and then sequestered in remote regions and assigned the task of breaking rocks.
I’m a fantasist, but I know what stone feels like.
Yes my dearest Paul …., sometimes we call our children and loved ones tender names…. like …’cloud dwellers’!!
LOVE,
Thelma
p.s. I cannot sleep, because of the cold .. My daughter in England traced me in the Windows-live and was wondering why I am still awake, Privacy … zero, with Internet. ;] T.
I think that people hide for a few reasons, fear, shame or protection.
Fear because they are hiding something or have an agenda, shame because they feel ashamed of how they feel (someone sometime must have made them feel this way) and protection because well, it’s necessary sometimes because of the world we live in today where trust has diminished a lot.
Computers, I used to be very concerned on not putting my info online, because people use and misuse information… But I’m not scared anymore. Internet in the middle east for example is very controlled, the population can use the internet, but a lot of sites and information people don’t have access to. In the US there are a lot fraud happening through computers, and spams and such, I think it is less in Europe.
Then there is the reason for actors, they want to have a more attracting name.
Myself for example. Carolena is the name my mother named me, but my father wrote Carla on my birth certificate. People who know me say that I am a very strong person, and my name also (Carla) means Strong, whereas Carolena means little women. I was tired of being strong, and wanted a more melodic and lighter name, though I did not delve too far off, my mother wanted to name me that. Sabah is my middle name. My birth certificate reads, Carla Sabah Golian.
Anonymity is a face of the shadow here in cyberspace, there is no doubt about it. But, shadow isn’t always equated with evil as anyone who has studied a bit of Jungian psychology would attest. In one way, that anonymity is empowering for those who would remain silent given normal communication channels in the face-to-face world. Fear is the operative word here. Above, there are comments about big brother watching, perhaps even a spouse or a co-worker or a boss – people whom one often fears disclosing their opinions and thoughts.
Yet, that same empowering anonymity allows one to act out as though cloaked in invisibility – beyond the strictures of public morality and acceptable behaviours.
Personally, I don’t care much for receiving anonymous comments on my own blog site. Since words need to be placed in the context of the speaker, words often become just noise when their author is anonymous. As you will see from my name, both my real name and my nom-de-plume is cited.
I found very interesting that people maintain Anonymity when they want insult or attack with bad words and bad behaviour. I can count when the fingers of my hands people that prefer anomymity when they are sure that their opinions could be valuable for others. So, anonymity is a safe place to no commitment state (added by Mobile using Mippin)
You’re right, I’ve noticed this on my own blog. Although I seldom get “flamers,” when I do, they’re often anonymous – whereas people who leave comments on my blog generally use their names or leave their URLs.
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