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The Internet is a place where you can find information and opinions regarding any and every topic you can think of. It is also a place where you can find scams and erroneous information. The following will discuss whether or not anonymity on the Internet is positive, negative or both.
The positive elements of anonymity include honesty. If you can be assured of remaining anonymous, you would feel free to be completely honest with your thoughts and feelings. People would probably feel more comfortable posting anonymously much like an anonymous tip to catch a criminal. No fear of repercussion. With anonymity there is the ability to maintain some privacy. No matter what is said, no one would know who the writer was. This also brings up safety issues. Predators wouldn't be able to use personal information to harm you or your family.
The negative aspects of anonymity would be dishonesty for one. If you don't have to be responsible for what you say, you could say whatever you wanted to. This opens the door to become whoever you want to be on-line. This could provide a forum to say hurtful and untrue things about others. I think posts would be far respectful if you knew who the writer was. I realize there are people who wouldn't care either way. Prospective employers can use what you have written to determine whether to hire you or not. Obviously this can be positive or negative depending upon what you write.
I can actually agree with some aspects of both sides. I appreciate the personal responsibility and supposed respectfulness that should occur if the writer is known. However, I can also appreciate the increased safety that is afforded if the writer is anonymous. If I had to choose, I would be anti-anonymity. I think the important thing would be to maintain the attitude of always being respectful in your opinions both on the Internet and elsewhere and be cautious regarding what personal information you reveal.
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The assignment was to post a comment on 3 of my classmates blogs. I was able to post on two others. However, since I may not be able to post on another before the deadline tonight, I am posting a comment on my own blog. I think I did a good job, especially keeping the post reasonably short.
ReplyDeleteI agree with many of the points you made, many of them were actually similar to mine! For example, how more people maybe honest if they don't have to give their name out. I think you did a really good job and I agree with your own personal opinion.
ReplyDeleteI liked the way you defined the subject matter in your first paragraph, it was short and to the point. While not overly elaborating any of your points, many of them raise questions worthy of longer discussion.
ReplyDeleteThe first question and one I had not necessarily thought of in depth is how are we defining anonymity in this discussion? When you say anonymity can protect users from predators for instance, (while also protecting the predator I would add) you are talking about public anonymity, not say a governing verification process that is publicy anonymous but can still be accessed by some.Kind of like how our medical records are protected from being accessed by the public, but are not protected institutionaly speaking. Doctors who need them, or even the courts can access them. I think this is an important difference in the discussion, what kind do you favor? Perhaps like our medical records, eventually we will all be in a system, but yet remain publicly anonymous.
I also like the fact that you bring attention to the need of each of us to use the internet in a respectful and honest way. Not slandering or causing harm to others. Something perhaps because of being able to remain anonymous, many people might be encouraged to do. Either way, I like that some responsibility needs to be put back in the hands of the user, regardless of the anonymity issue.... Good Job
Nicely done! I thought you had some good points! Your post was straight forward and easy to understand and read! I agree with a lot of the points you have said in your post.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree with much of what you said I still think that in many blogs it is the anonymity that allows us to be open and honest.
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