Anonymity in Internet

by Paulo Coelho on February 23, 2009

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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{ 255 comments… read them below or add one }

Jackie noriega July 27, 2011 at 11:03 pm

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House of Maktub May 16, 2011 at 3:59 pm

There are pros and cons to not being anonymous on the internet.

I agree that if you have an opinion, even one which might not be politically correct you should be brave enough to stand behind it, on the other side, at times when you do others will make your life hell if they do not agree with you.

As an example why being anon is at times good, last year I stopped answering questions on Y! Answers because 1 person did not agree with my answer to a question they posed and used the fact I wasn’t anon to then send me abusive and vulgar emails, which got worse and worse because I ignored them, and ended up being so awful it was quite scary. I am glad I can hide behind a nickname and don’t have to worry this person might try and find out where I live and send this typeof filth to my home address.

On the other side, I wished I did not have to hide behind an alter ego (this name I use to write on forums) to feel safe on the net, but I also do not go on the internet to insult people.

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Dave C May 9, 2011 at 8:51 pm

Anonymity anywhere can do a lot of things. Good and bad. One question may be why do we (society) create environments of right or wrong, or appropriate or not, for controlled discussions? why is an opinion or observation either wrong or right? Why is there so much pressure to make sure that the ‘sides’ we choose to represent are the ones in most favour? There are many conversations, situations, discussions, organisations, governments, that would benefit from dialogue that is all inclusive, without personalisation or stigmatic pre-analysis. Fear of change, of risk, of moving outside the zones we recognise as comfort prevent us from allowing points of view to be aired that would result in contributing to a broader debate, and likely a more comprehensive resultant action. Human nature, evolution (of society), conformity left overs from the dark ages of rampant control fear. I see more and more from this site and others, from writers and from readers participating in dialogue, from myself, a willingness to let down barriers of self conciousness, and move towards acceptance and full conciousness. Dialogue with no judgement and accesibility to all ideas, in fact seeking contributors with view points that span the spectrum, making consensus rare; that will get ideas flowing and create the most beneficial outcome for as many as possible. Never perfect for everyone, but as good as can be for most. And then anonymity will be more meaningless, free expresion will be encouraged, and collective strength and group well being will result.

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Ishak Andi Kunna April 14, 2011 at 4:30 am

Pendapat saya, anonimitas adalah eksitensi identitas. Hanya saja identitas itu menjadi rumit tatkala privasi kita menjadi bebas nilai. Dan, kita belum siap menerimanya. Anonimitas di Internet bukanlah kemustahilan dan sebagian dari kita tetap mengunci ruang privasi itu.

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fernanda March 31, 2011 at 4:21 pm

Tiene usted razón, creo que es el lado oscuro que tenemos cada ser humano en este planeta, habilitado para sacar absolutamente todo lo que realmente siente, piensa y es, me imagino que para unos será más fácil que para otros desahogar a través de estos medios todo el potencial bueno o malo según como cada quien lo vaya desarrollando en su interior. Personalmente siento que cada persona incluyendome porsupuesto, tiene un otro que jamás saldrá a la luz sino cuando está solo! ……… absolutamente lejos de toda crítica, reproche, miedo, angustia, límites, prohibiciones y normas morales impuestas. No comparto el hecho de escudarse tras una pantalla para insultar o causar daño o dolor creo que eso solo es de cobardes, quizás son las personas más inseguras y temerosas, me imagino que sólo así encontrarán un poco de alivio a sus frustraciones. Además me pregunto, siempre lo hice: porqué es tan difícil ser franco, hablar con las palabras que son, con las que uno siente, con la verdad (absoluta o relativa) pero con nuestra verdad esto porsupesto no implica herir sino simplemente desnudar el alma para tratar de encontrarnos y vivir una vida mejor.
Nada ni nadie puede obligarnos a pensar o sentir igual que otra persona o grupo porque todos somos seres indivuduales y desarrollamos de acuerdo a cómo vamos trabajando en nuestro interior y personas como usted nos ayudan muchísimo, ahora estoy empeñada en leer todas sus obras porque en cada una de ellas me encuentro y me aprendo a conocer un poco más y eso va trayendo alivio a mis inquietudes, talvéz algún día pueda decir al fin se quien soy y para que existo. Necesito encontrarme para poder enteder y ayudar a los que me rodean y piden que alguien los escuche. Sabe? para mi es muy fácil hablar y expresarme pero me he dado cuenta que tengo que aprender a escuchar…. y en eso voy trabajando.

Gracias por compartir sus experiencias y su sabiduría interior.

Bendiciones.

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Princess March 31, 2011 at 1:34 pm

This is a good point.

I think some people use anonymity because they also don’t want to be found on the internet by any of their co-workers etc., not just because they don’t want the one they’re insulting to find them.

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Asmita March 23, 2011 at 4:15 pm

It is important to not disclose your real identity in certain sites. You can never trust some stuff in the net. But, I always use my real name or at least a part of it when I’m commenting on serious topics and giving my opinions. If you want your voice to be heard, have the guts to be liable for what you say.
What amazes me is the innumerable hateful and abusive comments that are floating all over the place. People use internet as a medium to get rid of their frustrations in life…saying and doing things that they would never dare to in real life. Earlier it used to be in the form of graffiti, writing abusive words on the walls and remaining anonymous. Now it’s the internet.

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Amogh March 20, 2011 at 9:01 pm

Very true sir,if we have an opinion we shouldn’t hesitate to post it with our true identity

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Lintang March 4, 2011 at 4:02 pm

I always use my real name on everything. Even in internet. I don’t left comments with my full name here because I thought my indonesian name would be too weird to pronounced in foreign accent. The other reason was that it seems waay well-mannered than the ones with no prints of their own signature.
The thing with this signature we have on every act and thoughts we show up on people, is to show our responsibility. We have to take every consequences there is for what actions we do in life. And so as our opinions. People who do not sign something when they say unappropriate words have very huge lack of manner and responsibility. They’re too scared to show themselves up in public with their opinions on it. People, we live in this life, and we have to be responsible on everything. Just grow up! Internet won’t always be there to cover you up, speak up your thoughts!
And well, if you’re reading this, finding this is the fact and you’re 20ish, you had been taught by a 15ish girl :)

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Mag February 23, 2011 at 12:24 pm

Sometimes anonimity is the best kind of protection for men holding ideas too revolutionary for their time.

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valmir dimas garcia February 21, 2011 at 1:24 pm

that is it Paulo, Jesus showed his face and was not afraid. we have to show our face He is the one to helpe us.

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Theresa February 1, 2011 at 5:50 pm

i’ve posted anonymously before on discussion boards and it’s i have found it interesting that my debaters presume i’m male. the anonymity revealed the sexist presumptions of others.

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Hypnotherapy January 27, 2011 at 7:06 pm

Anonymity on the net is a real nuisance. As I run my own blog I am swamped by ridiculous, fatuous comments from people hiding behind their anon ID.

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Sanjay G January 16, 2011 at 12:22 pm

People who are anonymous are cowards !

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Phillip May 6, 2011 at 2:33 pm

I couldn’t agree more!

jonathan January 11, 2011 at 5:20 am

I think being anonimous is very important when there so much data stealing going on the internet – look at facebook! I am amazed that people even use their real names.

The other problem is that there seems to now be an attack on freedom of speech – look at wikileaks and how those surrounding the organisation have to keep as much as possible secret because they are constantly under attack. The same has just happened in Tunisia.

Being anonimous is not good if you just want to smear someone, but possibly a vital tool in the digital age, which has given us so many opportunities for more freedom whilst at the same time providing those that want to restrict it, great ways of persecuting and restricting free speech and human rights.

If you are a famous author then maybe its different because you automatically have protection as well as countless supporters and your real name can add weight to your argument and point of view. Not everyone has that advantage nor that kind of protection.

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cheryl field January 2, 2011 at 9:46 am

To not own your opinion is the act of a coward. Who probably does not even believe his/her own opinion but wants to be heard or to try to bring others down. They need love as we all do but my guess is that they do not know how to give or recieve it. I have met these people along my path. I bless them and move on ♥

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mica January 12, 2011 at 2:16 am

beautiful..couldn’t been said any better.

Sasa Milosevic May 6, 2011 at 6:01 pm

Well said. Excellent!

arvind December 31, 2010 at 4:39 am

i find internet is a good way to express your thoughts and feelings. its a kind of showcase that shows all you carry in your heads and hearts.its very good way to reflect your self.

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arvind December 31, 2010 at 4:35 am

internet is a good medium to interact many people at the same time.many people make it use as a medium of fun.some satisfy their quest for knowledge.some work to make a good networking of friends.i find it very democratizing force if more and more people interact through it . since i have been using it i got to see many things which was beyond my reach. its a kind of freedom where you can have your opinion and statement.

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Per Inge Oestmoen December 29, 2010 at 8:17 pm

About anonymity on the net: In my opinion, government surveillance and subsequent encroachments on individual’s lives is a very real danger in our time. It must be emphasized that the government does not have to be a dictatorship for this to be true. There is nothing as dangerous as when the state extends its powers too much and on too many areas. Unfortunately, many people are gullible and cannot bring themselves to understand that too much power corrupts whenever the balance between the government and the people is disturbed. This is the case in the EU Data Retention Directive which legally mandates that every citizen’s electronic communications and movements on the net be recorded so that the goverment can later find out about you. This is a gross intrusion in people’s lives and runs counter to all principles of democracy. It is first when one is under legal investigation that such registering and storing of one’s communications and movements is acceptable. Such a practice makes anonymity a necessity in many cases.

On the other hand, when one speaks about important matters it is a fact of life that a person who stands out with his or her name in public normally carries a greater immediate authority than an anonymous person. In order to get support, friends and allies, it is generally best to be open and tell others who you are. In short, I believe that he who has many friends will be safer and will be listened to. Therefore I prefer to state my opinions under my full name.

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Shah Fahad Husami December 19, 2010 at 4:31 am

Hini have read all comments but still I feel people want live in fictious life we r here just for goody goody..but we have face the challenge too,don’t hide ur identity show the world what can you do what s opinion for subject…..

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kelz November 20, 2010 at 2:45 pm

How Anonymity Boosts Self-Confidence
Technology is continuously broadening its horizon and at the moment it has already boomed to a point where people can no longer survive without having technology at hand. It makes life easier, more efficient and as some would say more luxurious. Technology has been integrated deep into our lifestyles that it would be quite impossible to pull ourselves back. The internet is one among the many technologies introduced to us. It’s a portal that connects people from different parts of the world. It brings us to places we’ve never been without having to leave the comforts of our home.

Now, human as we are, we crave for socialization. We long for someone who could relate with what we go through in life or simply sympathize with us. We need some solace especially in the darkest moments of our lives, a shoulder to lean on, and a helping hand. We feel as though we’d crumble if we accepted the fact that we are truly alone in this complicated and incomprehensible old world. The internet somehow addresses this emotional and psychological trouble we often find ourselves in. This is why social networking sites are rampant nowadays. These sites bring together people of the same interests, perspectives, preferences and even problems. Usually we find ourselves confiding in strangers just to satisfy the “human longing” that we have for someone or anyone to see things through our eyes.

However, because most of the overwhelming problems we go through are undeniably difficult to understand, we tend to have mixed emotions on what we truly want to do. On one hand, we badly want to share our troubles with people who’d give us the time to do so. On the other hand, we feel hesitant knowing that we might only end up being judged or condemned by others. In times of difficulties most of us find our self-esteem to be rapidly declining. We tend to doubt what we are capable of and pull ourselves down. This is where anonymity comes in, through internet profiles, blogs and even chats.

So as not to put off people from getting to know us or our problems, we find it easier to gain their sympathy or trust by putting up Pseudonyms that would best describe how we feel, who or what we’re looking for or even what we’re going through. A sense of security through anonymity gives us the courage to lay out all our thoughts, fantasies, dreams, ambitions, opinions in the great complex world of cyberspace. A courage that we can’t seem to get a hold of in real life, when face to face with those we wish to impart it with. However, this undiscovered courage, this self-confidence that slumbers within us may and probably will be awaken once we see, through the help of technology, that there are so many out there that are going through the same scenarios as we are, who are facing the same heartaches and even paralyzed by the same fear. Hundreds and Thousands of faceless people who supports us, the same way we support them

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kelz November 20, 2010 at 2:44 pm

How Anonymity Boosts Self-Confidence

Technology is continuously broadening its horizon and at the moment it has already boomed to a point where people can no longer survive without having technology at hand. It makes life easier, more efficient and as some would say more luxurious. Technology has been integrated deep into our lifestyles that it would be quite impossible to pull ourselves back. The internet is one among the many technologies introduced to us. It’s a portal that connects people from different parts of the world. It brings us to places we’ve never been without having to leave the comforts of our home.

Now, human as we are, we crave for socialization. We long for someone who could relate with what we go through in life or simply sympathize with us. We need some solace especially in the darkest moments of our lives, a shoulder to lean on, and a helping hand. We feel as though we’d crumble if we accepted the fact that we are truly alone in this complicated and incomprehensible old world. The internet somehow addresses this emotional and psychological trouble we often find ourselves in. This is why social networking sites are rampant nowadays. These sites bring together people of the same interests, perspectives, preferences and even problems. Usually we find ourselves confiding in strangers just to satisfy the “human longing” that we have for someone or anyone to see things through our eyes.

However, because most of the overwhelming problems we go through are undeniably difficult to understand, we tend to have mixed emotions on what we truly want to do. On one hand, we badly want to share our troubles with people who’d give us the time to do so. On the other hand, we feel hesitant knowing that we might only end up being judged or condemned by others. In times of difficulties most of us find our self-esteem to be rapidly declining. We tend to doubt what we are capable of and pull ourselves down. This is where anonymity comes in, through internet profiles, blogs and even chats.

So as not to put off people from getting to know us or our problems, we find it easier to gain their sympathy or trust by putting up Pseudonyms that would best describe how we feel, who or what we’re looking for or even what we’re going through. A sense of security through anonymity gives us the courage to lay out all our thoughts, fantasies, dreams, ambitions, opinions in the great complex world of cyberspace. A courage that we can’t seem to get a hold of in real life, when face to face with those we wish to impart it with. However, this undiscovered courage, this self-confidence that slumbers within us may and probably will be awaken once we see, through the help of technology, that there are so many out there that are going through the same scenarios as we are, who are facing the same heartaches and even paralyzed by the same fear. Hundreds and Thousands of faceless people who supports us, the same way we support the

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Nikhil November 7, 2010 at 6:25 pm

Social Networking Sites gives us the rare pleasure of not being yourself and also being what you always wanted to be.
On having a name that is not yours minimizes the chances of loss, and that in turn makes us very brave. We take risks without considering cause we are actually not what we really are. But as this habit grows, we are addicted. And at some point we simply don’t understand which one is our reality.

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Tareq November 25, 2010 at 6:25 pm

Very good comment! I agree.

Anji October 29, 2010 at 9:06 am

Anonymity in this case is a tool. It is what it is used for that makes the difference.

I’m one such person who does not give my real name often. People wiser than me advise that I should not even share a shred of who I am or what I do on the internet. Someone could profile and physically hurt the rest of us.

Just that. Once I become more famous (haha!) I don’t think it will matter.

In the case of Mr. Jarvis and Mr. Arrington, people hide behind anonymity to be rude to them. Those are not opinions, but insults. There is no excuse for such cowardly acts.

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Rosetta Savelli September 2, 2010 at 11:51 pm

Ciao Paulo, chi non ha il coraggio di esporre il proprio nome accanto al proprio pensiero é un codardo, un mentitore ed un igrato. Ciò che dichiara perde ogni valore perchè non può avere valore il pensiero di una persona che si vergogna o non ha il coraggio di mettere il proprio nome accanto al proprio pensiero!O si tace o si parla con chiarezza ed onestà ! Ciao Rosetta

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Lidia Rodriguez September 2, 2010 at 9:15 am

Ciertamente kien escribe un anónimo, no esta en condiciones de mostrarse ante el mundo con sinceridad…particularmente, pienso k escribir un anonimato se basa en diferentes factores, miedo, inseguridad,repreciòn,impotencia ò siplemente alquien k busca intrigar…El anonimato facilita a k el ser humano se exprese “ABIERTAMENTE” sin ninguna identidad, por las razones k dije anteriormente. Adoro escribir cosas y poner mi firma, le dà ese toque magico, UNICO, el cual me caracteriza como authentica y 100% responsabe y conciente de lo k digo! blessings…Love U ♥

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Jack September 2, 2010 at 1:20 am

Generally I agree that transparency is best and a person should be prepared to stand behind what they say openly.

However, we live in a world where we are ofter punished for being honest and certain topics are very emotionally charged and a person can be attacked for even raising a question about them.

I personally was forced to resign from a closed internet group because I got into a discussion about one of those topics and because I was a bit careless in how I phrased my question about one of these hot topics (I’m even being cautious now to NOT identify it), my question was immediately interpreted as my being a practitioner of a socially forbidden activity, I was labeled as such, and everyone started attacking me! I had no choice but to resign.

I felt like the accused in one of the famous heresy trials which we’ve heard about … the fact that I was accused meant that I had already been judged as guilty and sentenced to exile (or worse).

We don’t discover truth by being prohibited to talk about it.

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GB_Cobber August 25, 2010 at 9:12 am

Freedom of choice facilitates creativity, as Yes trumps No.
Offense given must also be taken. Absolute integrity is absolutely impervious. Likewise mental/emotional integrity.
Reaction, direct opposition, is a choice. A choice of limited possibilities and limited two dimensional thinking.
Adversity teaches us to choose more wisely. Motivates us to become more integral. Challenges us to detach from subjectivity, to become more objective, to find a new and better way, a way to rise above.
From infinite loop to infinite spiral.

My life, my reasons, my choice, as allowed.
Cobber

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marie-christine August 6, 2010 at 12:06 pm

I don’t agree with anonymity being an act of cowardice all the time.
From my experience, you can write anonymously just to have some fun and you want to create a personage out of what you are writing- I believe this is positive -
There can be all sort of valid reasons.
It could also be that you don’t want to see your name in print all the time as well.
Sometimes people write anonymously because of fear and a lack of self-confidence. -It’s a big world out here.-
In the end, let’s not kid ourselves,I believe the Internet is such a powerful tool, that the person who is receiving the e-mail can find out anyhow who has been writing it if they really want to.
M. Schmidt, the CEO of Google has said on the 4th of August at the Techonomy’s conference that anonymity on the Internet would vanish and be replaced by total transparency.
That remains to be seen (total transparency )

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danelle August 6, 2010 at 9:00 am

those who are fond of insulting others without their names written is just a proof of their cowardliness..

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Christopher John Sylvestro August 6, 2010 at 8:33 am

“Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.”- Oscar Wilde
As for cowardice, well, anonymity allows one to hide from that too…

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Euglena April 7, 2011 at 1:50 pm

That is a great quote in respect to why I choose to be anonymous on the internet.

whistlingwhippet June 26, 2010 at 1:39 pm

I was debating this very subject with myself last evening.
Today, whilst randomly surfing the net, i stumbled accross this article.
Maybe the universe just gave me a little push in this direction so it would be rude not to leave a comment.

On the subject of anonimity:

I am employed as a Mental Health professional and as such am subject to policies, guides and rules pertaining to the release of personal information and values.

There is also the potential that any public expression of my values and belief systems has the potential to disrupt, in a variety of ways, the delicately balanced relationships i have with my clients.

Those are my rationales firmly nailed to the mast.

But on a much deeper, personal level, i feel anonimity
for me, is a personal choice.
I have no desire to become a leader or a Guru, nor an agitator or a teacher. I have nothing to sell so i feel i do not need to display any personal branding.

Any thoughts, views or opinions i choose to share i do so to contribute to genuine open minded “debate”.

In short, anonimity allows me to bypass the requirements of EGO and enter into debates with the simple agenda of expression of my own ideas and seek opportunities to explore the ideas of others.

Of course anonimity can also be abused in many obvious ways.

In the end it boils down to your own personal code of conduct as to how you use your anonimity and for what purpose.
A choice.

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Berewinkel, Lars June 19, 2010 at 8:15 pm

Ok. I got off the track. My opinion is, you should have an opinion to something that interests you and you should say your opinion, when you have an opinion and use your name in the internet, not your nickname. You can use your nickname, when you want to be a synonym of your personalty, but not when you want to use your personalty.

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Berewinkel, Lars June 19, 2010 at 8:13 pm

Ok. I got off the track. My opinion is, you should have an opionion to something that interests you and you should say your opinion, when you have an opinion and use your name in the internet, not your nickname. You can use your nickname, when you want to be a synonym of your personalty, but not when you want to use your personalty.

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THELMA June 19, 2010 at 3:33 pm

Anonymity in Internet and in general are topics that have many aspects. From what I have read from the posts here, it seems that people need to speak their ‘truths’ with freedom and without … prejudice! Sometimes people want to appear as other personalities than they really are to see the reaction and true feelings of other people. Even Buddha had disguised himself in order to ‘see’ real life.. But we cannot rely that we are ‘faced’ honestly, when we have our PERSONA, mask, on. The choice is ours..

I try to adjust my words/ logos, with my thoughts/ mind; to be true to myself, but to others too. I do not want any more, to play a ‘role’.. Sometimes, I can read other people’s thoughts. This makes them TRANSPARENT and I just feel love and sometimes ..sad. But this is how facts are. We cannot make others think or feel the way we want. Understanding is the only way. Even when I am hurt, I know that this is .. life: a big school, in order to learn our lesson. The unconditional love.
Happy are those who are LOVED as they really ARE. PURE LIGHT.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx

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humor funny June 19, 2010 at 2:28 pm

Fantastic post! Are there any predictions that you might be able to voice in order to justify your last part a small amount more? peace

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Sana June 6, 2010 at 7:49 pm

dear mr. coelho,

i feel anonymity is allright. even if you do give a name or an identity…its more or less obscure. people are not going to be held accountable any which way. and pet names or multiple user names act like an alter ego. internet is a ‘virtual’ place and it will always remain a shade lighter than reality.

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Andreia May 30, 2010 at 7:35 pm

Eu não tenho nem vontade de ler um artigo quando não há autoria explícita, à menos que seja algo que faz referência à autoria de terceiros com as respectivas referências. Não gosto de ter a sensação de que eu esteja “dando meu aval” à covardia.

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Susan Johnson May 28, 2010 at 6:52 am

Paul,

I wrote this on my Facebook page. This women said, “I’d like to be more mysterious.I said, real mystery is not contrived or invented. ” This just looks like hiding – what’s so mysterious about that? It has the effect of reaching out and twisting the knife in someones heart and then ducking behind a computer screen.

Anonymity feels like cowardice. People of this day and age may not see it as cowardly. I love your books.

Sincerely Susan Johnson

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A name is power so not evan a false one May 14, 2010 at 4:58 am

Well I guess you all can tell where I stand !
I often belive if pople saw me that would react differntly then if they don’t.
When I set up my blog I will be incognito and they will get bits of my sould that if they had my picture and real name and where I was from I would never reveal and so also when I respond I am glad only God sees me as it where.
God understands all anyway and rest of you can see the wrods before me.
When people spite in your ace and leave bad words to hurt you they are children in need of a leasson and not a computure but the no name thing protects us all .
Wow I AM glad no one can see me disagreeing with Mr.Coelho !

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Jomeilyn Fogata May 12, 2010 at 6:29 am

when I started blogging, I have placed my blog on incognito… only a few people knew and this “few people” are the one who knows me to the core. but over time, I started to feel comfortable adding pictures of myself and others that I wanted to post in my blog and even dignified to put in my name from time to time (depends on the topic i am writing).

my point is… as “human” as we are, we have been inhibited to express our own feelings and thoughts… and it all started when all of us first felt “shame”. but as you grew older,,, you start defining who you are, you start embracing what you want and you start working on what you need.

Though some take advantage of this anonymity, it is because they have been built within that shame to work themselves out in that shame. Too bad that they don’t realize the power of destruction that they bring to others which is much more hurtful because they hide in a character more worst than their own.

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Cindy Swain March 27, 2010 at 12:04 pm

Anonymity in writing is important. It’s like be a narrator of a story. You become a hidden person watching and reporting the actions of others without them knowing. If they knew they were being watched they would alter their behavior, where as if you be come this anonymous narrator you can report the truth–the good and the bad.

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Elena March 14, 2010 at 6:59 pm

Sometimes the anonymity of people can describe their artistic personality.
I am anonymously, but only because in some cases, this anonymity is not with my real me, but relevant to me. And when you want to lay out some ideas, in the hope that someone will read the thread and understand them. Here is my name and my address.
Here you have created a topic can answer the question: “Are you here write or add a topic, comment for you?” I apologize for this question.

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Nat March 11, 2010 at 5:31 pm

I am sure that being anonimous you can tell really what you think without being afraid of judgement, of making mistake, of hurting other people’s feelings…
As soon as you put your name, you put yourself in the social cage, limits, you behave like you are expected to behave, you cannot tell anything extraordinary, unnormal, unappropriate…
In internet it is better to keep yourself incognito…you are more sincere and open.
But it has a weak point, people can insult the others because they know they will escape any punishment…well, this is not good, but if insulting in virtual world makes them feel better, then they should better keep their anger in internet and go out in the real world relieved of what was bothering them…
So, being anonimous is not so bad…It’s a chance to be free…

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Day February 9, 2010 at 4:14 pm

in my case, i had stalkers, yes, plural – two of them, from internet. They went outside places i said i would go (they stalked me from a website about concerts and who would join and such) and followed me home.

The pros of people having anonymity is that you can hear ‘real’ opinions as well. For example, no one would tell you if your work is bad face to face.

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Marco Bastos February 7, 2010 at 1:56 am

Creio que o anonimato na Internet pode ser comparado a uma covardia, a pessoa está se escondendo do mundo, ou de sí própria pois ela nem se aguenta. Quem está tranquilo e forte, tem o controle de sua mente e caminha alto em sua espiritualidade, poderá também colocar a sua face a tapas como Cristo colocou. Já fui anonimo na Internet e um dia eu acabei com um anonimato, pois eu tinha umas mensagens que metia o pau no governo pesadamente, falava contra o sistema pesadamente, eu as apaguei, depois de muito tempo elas reapareceram do nada no Google Readers, e sabe que eu gostei e vi que o que eu falava ali naquele momento muitas coisas estavam corretíssimas, só eram pensamentos de justiça e de ajuda para a humanidade, só eram coisas que poderiam ser úteis as pessoas se ocoreesem no mundo, e desde ai eu resolvi colocar a minha cara na Internet, o meu nome real, o meu e-mail e pronto estou para o combate, e sem desgaste, me preparo muito bem mental e fisicamente, e mente zen.

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Gerardo O. January 14, 2010 at 8:37 am

Pues son dos cosas distintas. El anonímato es una cosa, los insultos otra. El anonimato se mal usa para insultar. Y el hecho de que la gente insulte en internet en la seccion de comentarios de periodicos quedan de más. Como alguien dijo una vez: Los insultos son como regalos, si los aceptas son tuyos.

O no?

Saludos..

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