A few years back, Amazon discovered that authors and friends of authors (all anonymous) were giving a 5-star ratings to their own books! Who would have thought? Why would they do that? The shock of it all!
The technology permits anonymous and spontaneous publication of people's comments and we expect the majority of those comments will be honest, civil, and legal. Yet the online environment is infested with libelous demagogues. We must no longer allow the online media to be used for anonymous sniping and personal attacks. There's too many opportunists out there looking for mischief and mayhem.
In our town the anonymity was taken to an art form: anonymous comments on anonymous blogs! Before the 2007 Election, an anonymous blog aimed “to exist throughout the 2007 election season for people in our town to express themselves anonymously. No names - Everyone will remain anonymous.”
Everyone remained anonymous for about 48 seconds. It took me that long to identify Kathy Kuthy as the author of the “non-partisan” blog. Zali Win – the Town of Rochester Democratic Committee Chairman – sent this e-mail to everybody and his brother announcing the birth of his brainchild:
New Blog Established for Town of Rochester Community
We don’t know who established it, but its an interesting way to express your ideas. http://tor2007.blogspot.com
He forgot to add “0 pounds, 0 ounces, 0 inches.”
On May 12, 2008 another anonymous blog popped up, kind of DOA. Zali Win welcomed it too. Of course he did. Under the cover of anonymity, people’s ability to discuss their differences in a rational and civil fashion begins to erode, and they become much more easily manipulated.
Anonymity doesn't build community, it harms it.
