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Randi Zuckerberg Runs in the Wrong Direction on Pseudonymity Online

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Re: Randi Zuckerberg Runs in the Wrong Direction on Pseudonymity Online

#5

Post by bdhe »

In these sort of arguments I don't really understand why civility in and of itself is valued. It only makes sense in a social situation that affords civility. For that you can make "giving up anonymity" opt-in, rather than opt-out (which is mostly what is being done a lot, from forums that force you to use FB accounts to tor users in various countries who have no easy way to opt-out of foregoing anonymity).

It is rather silly to quote civility when the alternative, the lack of anonymity, has terrible "real-world" consequences, as mentioned in the article.

the argument willfully ignores the many voices that are silenced in the name of shutting up trolls: activists living under authoritarian regimes, whistleblowers, victims of violence, abuse, and harassment, and anyone with an unpopular or dissenting point of view that can legitimately expect to be imprisoned, beat-up, or harassed for speaking out.

Can someone explain the rationale of placing civility ahead of the above consequences?

Re: Randi Zuckerberg Runs in the Wrong Direction on Pseudonymity Online

#7

Post by reso »

bdhe wrote: post #5

In these sort of arguments I don't really understand why civility in and of itself is valued. It only makes sense in a social situation that affords civility. For that you can make "giving up anonymity" opt-in , rather than opt-out (which is mostly what is being done a lot, from forums that force you to use FB accounts to tor users in various countries who have no easy way to opt-out of foregoing anonymity). It is ra…

The argument is that online anonymity itself also creates real-world consequences, such as character assassinations, harassment, and downright internet crime.

If "Civility" means "being nice to each other", why shouldn't we value it, in and of itself?

Re: Randi Zuckerberg Runs in the Wrong Direction on Pseudonymity Online

#8

Post by zenica »

I wonder how this relates to exponential growth in "Persona Management Software". I heard for some companies having thousands of Facebook accounts under control. And apparently they are "real" and non-anonymous as it gets.

My question is: how are they going to distinguish puppets from real people?

Re: Randi Zuckerberg Runs in the Wrong Direction on Pseudonymity Online

#9

Post by pilgrim689 »

kefs wrote: post #3

Relevant TED Talk: Christopher "moot" Poole: The case for anonymity online http://www.ted.com/talks/christopher_m00t_poole_the_case_for...

I enjoyed that. To be honest though, he does not make a very strong case for anonymity. That is not to say that there is not a strong case for anonymity, but anecdotes like "they saved a cat" and "they protested scientology" are not it. I think people have organized protests on Facebook before.
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