Digital Father Podcast

Anonymity in The Blogosphere

Disclaimer- I write 4 blogs, so if you want to know me better, you can read the others at Bernies World, Podcast for Educators, and 3 Bits of BS. It seems wrong to take issue with anonymity without first disclaiming my affiliations.

This is a follow up to my Sad Day post.

I don’t fall on either side of anonymity in the blogosphere. I think it’s because there is no black and white answer on the issue. Put simply, your anonymity should stop at the tip of my nose.

There are some solid reasons for anonymity. When you are writing about the organization you work for, and anonymity is the only way in which you can honestly bring to light what needs to be seen. When you are writing about your relationship, and you don’t wish for your partner to read what you write to process, anonymity is key. When you are writing about your children, and you need to protect them in a world where sleazeballs use the internet to hunt children, it’s expected.

When anonymity is a place for dirtbags to hide so they can demean, deride, bully, and threaten those who have a differing opinion, it is disgusting. When a woman has to read foul and hateful comments intimating her death and dismemberment anonymity is criminal.

I began blogging anonymously. I was looking for a job, griping about the one I had, and processing how I was going to deal with my family and the strife losing a job had caused. After doing it for a while, I decided I had little to hide. I have not published the names of my family, because they don’t deserve to be put in the limelight by my foibles. Other than that, I’m out there. I keep the name Bernie because it’s my nickname, and it is the title of the podcast and blog. Otherwise, I’m Vinny.

You know what? Generally, I don’t give a hoot if you choose to blog anonymously. Comment anonymously, lurk, whatever you want. BUT if you are going to cross the line between enthusiastic discourse and vile disrespect, I object.

Unfortunately, there is no Internet Police Force to challenge these schmucks. We have to police ourselves. We need to hold them accountable by calling them what they are, making sure that others know what they are, and by NOT driving traffic to their sites.

A lot of folks are speaking on this topic:
Groby Unplugged
Seth Godin
Incentive Intelligence
The Agitator
Fiat Lux
O’Reilly Radar
DIONEA
Climb To The Stars
The View From My Feet
… and many, many more. You’ll have no problem finding supporters. Unfortunately, just like a quarterback reading blitz, the cowardly anonymous commenters run for the sidelines.

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