Comments for Anonymous Comments - Good or Bad?

Comment from Kate Murray on 2008-05-27

2008-05-27T19:35:22Z

Sometimes anonymity is valuable. It allows a comment to be considered on its merits, rather than evoking responses ad hominem from people who would recognize and automatically support or condemn the commenter; I've seen this on my hometown's newspaper website.

As long as people can write on bathroom walls or send unsigned letters, there will be anonymous slurs about one person or another. I have certainly known people who abused the power to make anonymous posts to the point that an old-fashioned spanking was probably the most appropriate response, but unless an anonymous communication involves a clear violation of law (threats, for example), I reckon legal entanglementis a recipe for waste of effort.

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Comment from Ken B on 2008-03-12

2008-03-12T14:13:24Z

And don't forget to carry your ID card at all times, and be ready to present it to any police officer at any time for any reason.

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Comment from Greg Bulmash on 2008-03-11

2008-03-11T21:10:43Z

Well, if we ever institute national IDs with biometrics, then you can just sell a $50 biometric identifier that people can plug into their PC via USB port (or OEMs can build in) and develop an API so web site owners can verify identity via that.

But until that's possible, verifying user identities is a pipe dream. And even once that happens it will still be hacked and gamed at every opportunity. But we'll *feel* better.

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Comment from Ken B on 2008-03-10

2008-03-10T20:25:36Z

Oh, and the article to which you link says that not only do you need to "register" your full name and e-mail address, but also your _physical_ address. And just how is one to verify this? Send a letter to every person who wants to post? (And at whose expense?) And even then, how do you verify the person's name? (I guess registered mail, with restricted delivery?)

Not to mention verifying this for every post, to make sure that you don't post using someone else's identity.

"Please allow 3-4 weeks to verify your identity before your post appears."

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Comment from Ken B on 2008-03-10

2008-03-10T20:20:43Z

Posting anonymously would be made illegal, and it would be the website owner who gets fined?

I think a big "WTF" is deserved here.

(Well, I guess Mr. Couch realized that they couldn't go after the one actually posting anonymously, and "someone" has to be held "responsible".)

Up next: unsigned letters to the editor to be made illegal, with the newspaper being fined for printing them?

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