Banning Anonymity On Internet Forums

[jdinasia]

You don't have that now ... and again .. using a yahoo account etc to log in hurts you in what way?

What I have got I will surely lose eventually. But still, whatever security we do have for our private info, should be protected.

For the rest of it, I know nothing of signing in with Yahoo or other, it seems to be a dumb idea.

again, you don't have it now. So it can't be lost. Signing in from an already verified email address gives nothing away that you don't volunteer. What you put out in the world (cyber or not) you do voluntarily.

(much of this is in reference to manarak's post)

Everything is trackable. Some things are harder to track than other things. Not everything requires warrants etc .. and some governments/agencies etc are not bound by the rules that others use ....

Freedom of speech? Did you really use that lame duck excuse? That freedom is not universal and does not cover everything you say or do. Since your anonymity is not assured relying on a legal concept that isn't universal is kind of silly, don't you think?

Being responsible for your actions and words IS being free and being an adult. A local business man lost my business because of his postings on TVF ... so what? He probably gained business from those that are pro-red! I don't agree with his views and certainly won't support his business but I actually do respect him for having the guts to say what he thinks.

The argument of go to Iran...... is just silly imho, but if I did and voiced an opinion that was illegal etc I would take the consequences. If you hide behind anonymity then you are the ultimate puppet in that you let fear control you. Anyone can claim anything on the internet (and can often be proven to be liars.) A man stands up for his beliefs and is counted. There are people out there that I think are idiots but they step up and stand behind what they believe and I respect them for their actions.

I put what information I want there to be about me out there on the net. I take personal responsibility for what I do should it fall into a realm that attracts official attention on the negative side of things. There is information I choose NOT to put on some sites. I read privacy policies (something most people don't do)

[manarak]

Freedom of speech? Did you really use that lame duck excuse?

It is not an excuse, it is a goal and a fundamental right that I claim.

But I cannot exercise it if I must fear reprisals from others.

There are countries where by law it is illegal to talk about some things. Fair enough.

BUT: there are many western countries where "freedom of speech" is a fundamental human right, but it is impossible to exercise it without reprisals.

As long as there will be prejudiced idiots on the planet, there will be a need for secrecy.

Example: you are a young politician running for MP. When you buy your bread, you meet a nice woman and get her phone number and save it on your android phone, which syncs with your google account (does anyone here really believe that google account data is not routinely accessed by the 3 letter agencies??).

What you didn't know is that the nice woman is double timing as a call girl, and mysteriously your google address book is leaked to a newspaper...

END OF CAREER

or... you are a republican MP and post on Thai Visa "I like ladyboys and regularly travel to Thailand".

As far as I am concerned, sexual preferences and traveling to Thailand doesn't make the man a worse MP.

But there are plenty of idiots around the world who will think otherwise.

That's what anonymity is for: protecting your identity from the idiots' prying eyes and from people who want to take advantage of the idiots by using your private data against you.

[jdinasia]

LOL

1) Your examples --- assuming you mean the USA. They don't have MP's. (If you are a Republican senator or member of the House of Representatives playing with ladyboys or even prostitutes, I hope someone gets your pic here in Thailand and sends it to The Enquirer -- just for being a hypocrite. Public officials lead public lives.

2) I assume that anything I do with electronics can (not is-- can) be intercepted by anyone --- I am not so nervous that I don't use WIFI etc. The only thing that I insist on a wired connection for is online cc purchases (and frankly that precaution is probably senseless in Thailand! It is just a habit I got into years ago.)

3) If you have freedom of speech --- then you aren't free if you have to hide to say it. That is a basic contradiction that you just can't make an end run around. If you are so fearful that what you say might be repeated then you aren't free at all! Freedom means standing up and not hiding Fear and freedom just don't go hand in hand.

[manarak]

If you are so fearful that what you say might be repeated then you aren't free at all! Freedom means standing up and not hiding Fear and freedom just don't go hand in hand.

I concur with your view that I am not free.

I might be legally free, but the idiots enforce their own set of rules.

I can only choose between 3:

1- Post what is on my mind and sign with my name, running the risk of damaging my image in some circles

2- Not post anything that could damage my image

3- Post my ideas anonymously

[canuckamuck]

I put what information I want there to be about me out there on the net. I take personal responsibility for what I do should it fall into a realm that attracts official attention on the negative side of things. There is information I choose NOT to put on some sites. I read privacy policies (something most people don't do)

Well you can't have both sides of the argument. If you are withholding parts of your info for personal security reasons, then you have the same opinion as me. You are afraid what some people might do with it.

As far as taking responsibility for your actions and words; on a forum you enter into debates, and even if you are polite and say only the truth, some people hate to lose an argument or hate your opinion. You can't control who it is you talk to. Therefore it is best if they don't know how to find you. This is common sense.

[SomTumTiger]

I agree.

I never say anything here I wouldn't say in person, to someone's face, if given the chance.

[Crushdepth]

Why we need to get rid of anonymous comments.

By Farhad Manjoo

I'm going to start stalking him.

[Crushdepth]

Why we need to get rid of anonymous comments.

By Farhad Manjoo

I'm going to start stalking him.

(That was a joke by the way, but you get the point I hope).

[jdinasia]

I put what information I want there to be about me out there on the net. I take personal responsibility for what I do should it fall into a realm that attracts official attention on the negative side of things. There is information I choose NOT to put on some sites. I read privacy policies (something most people don't do)

Well you can't have both sides of the argument. If you are withholding parts of your info for personal security reasons, then you have the same opinion as me. You are afraid what some people might do with it.

As far as taking responsibility for your actions and words; on a forum you enter into debates, and even if you are polite and say only the truth, some people hate to lose an argument or hate your opinion. You can't control who it is you talk to. Therefore it is best if they don't know how to find you. This is common sense.

hmmmm you seem to have cut out the vast majority of my post.

Common sense suggests that adults take responsibility for their words and actions. I don't care if someone hates my POV/opinion. Choosing not to divulge irrelevant information is not the same, Like I said in that small portion of my longer post you quoted. I take responsibility for what I post.

I see that inmysights has been online, perhaps she will respond to the questions I asked on the first page of this thread.