Are you ready to stop hiding?
Published Wednesday, September 24, 2008
It has often been said that anonymity is the shield of cowards. And I believe that is true.
While I value the platform online comments gives in terms of offering the community a voice, it is always concerning when someone can say things without putting their name to it. Well, we have found a way to bridge the gap there a bit.
Most users who post comments have now seen the display of (anonymous) next to their screen names. We want users to fully register their real names, and allow us to verify those, so these would then be displayed next to the user name. I will post a comment below as an example.
The value of this is that it gives those users who decide to do this more credibility because they are willing to stand by what they say and put their names to it. It isn't required but I hope all users will begin to use this as a way of strengthening the quality of what is posted and also to create a more credible, civil discussion about our communities.
The process is simple. At the top of the screen, on the home page click "Your Account." Then click "Edit your anonymity setting." Then just follow the instructions.
Comments
Mike, I occasionally post from work. Management doesn't hassle us on this as long as we get our work done and are low key about it. Neo has threatened to inform my work about me posting to the Trib while I'm at work. Having the public make complaints would no longer be considered low key. The only reason he hasn't is because he doesn't know who I am. He just knows where I work at. So unfortunately, I'm going to have to decline.
Mike, Not hiding behind anything! To many psycho's out there, and they would probably find me or anyone else who they have a "beef" with. You should know more than anyone this could be a major problem and cut down on your blogs. I would love to be known because I stand firm and proud. I have tried to keep it civil and bring in a whole new perspective. There are only a few that are ruthless and say stupid stuff. Nothing wrong with humor, or trying to lighten up the mood.
Bottom line for me, some bloggers have already wanted to contact me for one reason or another, and I am hesitant about putting my name, plus there are people in this very small community who share the same name. What's your solution there? I've already been confused with the other person almost everywhere I go because of our same name.
I would hate to walk out my door and someone hurt me or threaten me in anyway. People are not like they used to be. Maybe you should consider this after the "heated" election. People are just too emotional over this one!
Let me know what you think. Thanks!
Noesis and Slick,
You both make valid points.
These are factors that each person will have to weigh individually. I have considered the safety factor greatly. I can take care of myself but don't want my wife and daughter to face harassment. Unfortunately, it happens from time to time.
As I said, this will not be mandatory, but I would like to see users take advantage of it
As far as the same name goes, I would suggest using an initial as well or adding something like John Doe of Coal Grove.
Thanks for the feedback
Mike, what has happened to your family is unacceptable. People should not bother your wife and child, that's just classless.
And that's one of the reasons I can't put my name out there. Trust me, I'd love to throw my name on every single post, but I fear retribution. People are crazy and I don't need people coming to my home and threatening me and my family over a post on the Ironton Tribune site.
You ask us to 'stop hiding', yet you turn the comments off on this story about the candidates meeting.
http://www.irontontribune.com/news/2008/...
Not to start a ruckus or anything, but I think that story is one that should have comments turned on.
This is a bad move for the Tribune IMO.
Vil, I agree with you that this is exactly the kind of story that should be commented on.
However, a handful of posters who refuse to follow the rules ruined it for everyone. I tried just pulling the comments that violated the terms and explaining why they were pulled, but that didn't stop several from continuing to violate the terms of use. I couldn't keep up with the way the discussion had deteriorated to name calling and rumor spreading so I pulled the plug on it. Next step is to start banning users.
This is the exact type of thing that registering your real name would eliminate. I guarantee those same people wouldn't post the type of comments they did if they had their real name next to their user name.
Hope this helps explain my position.
I was afraid that was the reason the comments were turned off. Can't fault you for your actions one bit.
Just curious, were the trouble makers regular users or people who just signed up to rattle the sabers? If you don't want to mention it publicly you know how to get a hold of me.
Thanks Mike Caldwell for pulling the comments. A few people like to spread rumors about people that are not true and they don't even know these people they spread rumors about. What you did needed to be done. If these few people had to post their real names I guarantee the comments wouldn't be made. People need to be accountable for what they say. Like my grandfather always said some people have nothing good to say about themselves so they spread lies about other people and he was right. My grandfather was a good man. Thanks Mr. Caldwell.
I'm all for freedom of speech and voicing opinions. That's one thing that is so great about our country. In my opinion name calling and insults are gross abuse of those freedoms. You can express a different opinion, and you can try to convert them to your way of thinking. You can correct someone if they have mistakenly given the wrong information. ALL of this can be done with RESPECT. There's no need to do all this character assassination, no need to treat people as though they are less than you, because they aren't. Its a shame that an adult forum has to come to this.
CommonSense I agree with you. My kids act better than a lot of these adults. If you say something critical about someone then you ought to be accountable and stop hiding.
I have no problem with people knowing who I am or what I believe but like others I am more concerned for my family.
There are crazies out there and this is such a small town it wouldnt take much for anyone find whomever they were upset with.
There should be a way to handle it otherwise. Maybe an email to verify the post so that you would know that we posted and you could put something to the effect that the post had been verified.
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Mike:
May I remind you that during the Revolutionary Period of American History, many of the founders of the Nation used anonymity to write letters to the editor, in order to bring about independence from Great Britain.
We are not in a Revolutionary Period. Now days people hide behind their anonymity so that they don't have to be held accountable for their words and actions. But I do understand why most upstanding folks would rather remain anonymous when you have nuts that have nothing better to do than threaten people for having a different point of view.
But again ... there is something to remember and I want those nuts to read this really clearly and understand it ...
Nothing .... absolutely NOTHING you do on the Internet is anonymous.
Who have I threatened? Who has anyone threatened? I've been involved on this blog since its inception, and I don't recall any threats being made against anyone. I really believe some people on here are paranoid.
Many people who actually live in Lawrence County know who I am already.
osu .... I never accused you of threatening anyone ...
however there are those that have made threats .... and there are those that have made personal attacks and you know who they are ... of course all in the name of a little "legal" fun (sarcasm)
... this has nothing to do with paranoia ... but has everything to do with protecting their families and livelihoods ...
The only thing I remember about an "attack" was when one of the conservatives said they would come to sugarbear's house and visit his wife. THAT was and is unacceptable.
osu .....
it is called selective memory ... a common ailment of liberals ....
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Neo is not banned. Neo didn't attack anyone. Neo did not try to have people fired.
But of the Bush people did say they would go visit sugarbear's wife.
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Mike referencing Vil September 26, 2008 at 8:45 p.m. Mike Caldwell / mcaldwell September 26, 2008 at 9:16 p.m..
I never thought I would hear you advocate regulating free speech and or the free exchange of ideas. Your comments acknowledge the existence of social restrictions all ready imposing on a legally protected God given human right to free expression. I find your comments also inferred exposing participants to real and anonymous illegal physical and discriminatory violent relations for lawfully protected expression is necessary to further restrict one of our precious few protected God given human rights. You know better than most there is no such thing as regulated or restricted free speech. If you require contributors to reveal their Identity you may as well include their addresses, phone #'s, places of employment, religion, sexual orientation, health records, and etcetera. You all ready generously provide a place for people willing to flaunt their identity to express their views and share their opinions. Internet anonymity offers people the purest form of true freedom of speech and expression available in all of history. Your site offers your customer’s, members and registered account owners, a grand sociopolitical soap box. Your site encourages people to boldly speak their mind and it promotes the free exchange of ideas within the limits of restrictions imposed by the platform provider and prevailing laws. You have established a compliance policy sufficient to protect your self and the public. Your policy should also include unmistakable language guaranteeing you absolute indisputable authority and the right to initiate or participate with request for prosecution of local state and national laws. Your compliance policy hopefully would include and explain your enforcement options and include fair warning and general grounds for limited or permanent expulsion related to consistent, deliberate, or savvier, policy violation. I feel your existing policy expresses a reasonable expectation of fair treatment. I just want to say thanks for encouraging the free exchange of information and ideas. You know I am pulling for you so keep up the good work.
Thanks
Sincerely
writon
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I just feel that hiding is cowardly. I see it from the point of view that ppl can say negative things about your family that are totally false and you can not face them or let them know that they have been told lies. point in fact: Mulkey's son does not receive two paychecks from Coal Grove, he holds two job positions, one which is athletic director and is a supplemental contract (every school district has one by the way) His wife has not taught at Coal Grove for over 5 years so she does not get a paycheck and Sadie Mulkey's granddaughter is still in college and works fulltime for another educational agency unaffliated with Coal Grove. These people need to get their facts straight before they blog about nice people. lies are lies. Get the facts straight if you want to be anonymous. Check these facts out. They are true.
Why is knowing who a person is, more important than what they have to say?
Knowing a person’s identity does not assure they are telling the truth. We have had more than one President openly lie. There was one Governor openly advocate segregation and countless other public office holders openly lie about ethical, moral, or legal transgressions.
Sometimes it is necessary to remain anonymous in order to avoid retaliation for expressing an unpopular opinion, even if it is valid.
Sometimes telling the truth in itself (fact, not opinion or rumor) can bring retaliation.
Voice of Reason.....I agree with you on "TRUTH." Retaliation is common place in Ironton. I think we all are a witness to that fact. I do not see how some of these authority figures lay down and sleep at night.
Freedom of speech without persecution. Anonymous sounds reasonable to me. But then again, all that has to be done is to look up one's IP address !!
So really there is no "anonymous"!
I might not have made my point in my original comment.
I believe Mr. Caldwell does a great disservice to his readers by labeling those that would post anonymously as “cowards” and attempting to marginalize what they say.
He indicates in his comment of September 26, 2008 at 9:16 p.m. that he believes people wouldn't resort to name calling and rumor spreading if their real name was known. One only needs to look at any presidential campaign to know that having one’s name on a statement does not guarantee the truthfulness of that statement.
I believe his proposed solution mentioned in the same comment to “start banning users” for violating the terms of use would be the best one. One must be very careful though in removing comments or banning users. One must ask himself/herself if the comment is being removed, or the user banned because the comment contains rumors or name calling, or because he/she disagrees with what is being said.
I could make a factual statement about the WWII Nazi SS that some people would label rumors or name calling. If I made that statement under my own name in Nazi Germany at that time, I would certainly be inviting retaliation. Would I be inviting retaliation if I made a factual statement about the Neo-Nazis of today under my own name?
Again I ask “Why is knowing who a person is, more important than what they have to say?”
Often the real truth can only be told by "unnamed sources" such as in the Watergate case. Where would Woodward and Burns have gotten the inside scoop without Deepthroat? The truth hurts sometimes but it still needs to be told.
I will just keep hiding. Much more fun that way.
Mike are you calling me a coward?
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