[Samuel_Michon]

“people still cannot be freely outspoken under their real identities”

Sure they can, and millions of us are. If people couldn’t be, Facebook wouldn’t exist.

”When people on the Internet cross the line”

That’s not a given. I never hide my identity and it has only worked out positive for me. There are assholes online and offline, I sure as hell won’t let any of them limit what I say or do.

[return0]

People on facebook barely ever have interesting conversation, exactly because of "what are your friends gonna think?".

Part of the reason HN is successful is pseudonymity.

[randallsquared]

Many of the most interesting HNers have accounts strongly tied to real world identities.

[kaybe]

But isn't it great that we can choose?

[return0]

Depends on one's definition of interesting. This very article is about a pseudonymous user. And you and I are too.

[eunikins]

People on facebook aren't necessarily outspoken, as they have private profiles limited to only who they decide to add as friends. And usually, people remain "friends" with those who share similar opinions (aka circle jerk) because those who disagree probably have defriended them or have had a flame war over comments which doesn't lead to anything.. Because the "hater's" identity in this situation is not anonymous either.

For most people, posting under their real identity doesn't really get them in trouble. I'm talking about posters who discuss controversial topics publicly- not only is it so easy for someone to send in anonymous hate emails, but now they can anonymously harass the poster in real life by calling up their boss or family members, after a few clicks of research on the Internet.

It makes me wonder in what form this kind of "hateful" harassment (say, one step below actual hate crimes) existed in the days without Internet.

[Samuel_Michon]

“People on facebook aren't necessarily outspoken, as they have private profiles”

I don’t hide any Facebook content from visitors who aren’t friends, because I don’t trust Facebook to keep my information private anyways. I’m sure I'm not the only one.

“I'm talking about posters who discuss controversial topics publicly”

No, you were generalizing, making it seem that everyone has to hide their real name online.

“makes me wonder in what form this kind of "hateful" harassment [...] existed in the days without Internet”

All the examples you already mentioned (snail mail, phone calls), it’s nothing new. If someone wants to make your life unpleasant, there have always been ways to do so.

[jabbernotty]

> I don’t hide any Facebook content from visitors who aren’t friends, because I don’t trust Facebook to keep my information private anyways. I’m sure I'm not the only one.

You don't trust Facebook to keep your information private, and your response is to share the content you add with the world?

That confuses me.

[Samuel_Michon]

I’ll explain: by posting it for everyone to see, I won’t be tempted to share content that I would mind being leaked. It also keeps me from gossipping and speaking ill of others, and it trains me not to do so AFK either.

[cgag]

Sounds like you're not being outspoken to me if you're censoring yourself because you know it'll be public.

[Samuel_Michon]

On forums as well as on Facebook, I discuss technology preferences, religion, cultural differences, politics, sports, gender roles, dating, and more. I’m plenty outspoken, Posting in public just makes me try a bit harder not to be a dick.