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by benjamincburns 3225 days ago
I don't disagree that anonymity offers protection against situations like this, but bear in mind that anonymity is very much a factor in the lack of civil discourse online. I'm not suggesting for a second that stripping anonymity is a solution to any of these problems, but personally I feel like I'm less likely to engage in the sort of behavior which might invite an angry mob while posting under my real name.
2 comments
hueving 3225 days ago
> but personally I feel like I'm less likely to engage in the sort of behavior which might invite an angry mob while posting under my real name.

The problem with this is the 'sort of behavior' you are referring to is posting any statements that disagree with the worldview of the majority of the people in your circles.

Without anonymity you will also lack civil discourse when all of the sane people on the minority side know not to speak up because they fear retribution.

Anyone who publicly considered voting for Trump was accused of being a sexist, racist, xenophobic, Islamophobe. So instead of any sane discourse, there was just a surprise upset when Trump won because everyone was convinced the strategy of accusing all Trump supporters of 'isms' until they shut up was working.

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benjamincburns 3225 days ago
FWIW, most of what you're saying here is my rationale for the first half of the sentence you quoted. Specifically, there are times when it makes sense to speak up, and being able to do so anonymously definitely quashes fear-driven self censorship.

While generally I'd agree that self censorship is a bad thing, I'd also agree that an ability to control one's impulsiveness is just the opposite. Impulse control is what I was referring to above as my general reasoning for why I default to using my real identity online, not self censorship.

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flukus 3225 days ago
> I don't disagree that anonymity offers protection against situations like this, but bear in mind that anonymity is very much a factor in the lack of civil discourse online.

We might lose some civility but we also gain a lot of honesty which is absent everywhere else now due to PC culture. So the question is whether we prefer sometimes uncivilized but honest discussion or a civil veneer of what people really think.

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benjamincburns 3225 days ago
To be clear I was speaking in terms of likelihood, not extremes. I personally feel I derive a benefit from identifying myself online, but YMMV.

Also I really hope I didn't give the idea that I think all discourse must be kept PC, or even civil. That'd be a rather sad world to live in.

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