Real Simple magazine is calling this week Be Nice On The Internet.
Do you think if people were required to use their real names to post online that it would improve the level of discourse that we see? Do you use your real name online - why or why not?
Take our poll and add your thoughts in the comments.
On the other hand, using your real name places constraints on free speech. More than once, I have wanted to contribute to the dialog on a local topic but I have not. Why? Some of the people I might want to criticize have the ability to 'punish' me. While I believe that posting your real name is a practice embracing the highest degree of responsibility and integrity, pen names came into practice for a good reason. Perhaps the best practice - and one the Patch employs - is to warn and then ban posters who engage in abusive, ignorant, or obnoxious speech in this forum.
I always say that "We can disagree without being disagreeable." The best posts are from some of the people that I disagree with but they manage to state their opinion in a polite way.
Tracy Jo Klatke Anctil: "I always do and I'm guessing I always will." Alec Peterson: "I did on The Day until I was personally threatened by other (anonymous) posters."
http://newlondon.patch.com/blog_posts/commenting-on-commentary There is a lot of issues and debate on both sides of this issue. Who are we? Does it matter what our name represents?
You are 100 % correct on all accounts. Bravo on getting "sticky wicket" into play ! I had forgotten that phrase. Works perfectly.
As for personal security being an issue, I just don't see how commenting on an article with your real name would allow someone to show up at your front door. My name is attached to this post but certainly not my address. Most services you sign up for want your name, zip code, DOB, etc. Those are the things I'd be more worried about; why I need to give someone my DOB when all I want to do is read a news article.
You make my point for me, while simultaneously accusing me of being a hypocrite. My "honest" life experience is that liberals go ballistic when I simply disagree with them (as seen here also). As much as I would like to speak my mind, it is just not safe to do so. Therefore I like the ability to be free to speak my mind on patch, rather than sitting by "forced" to keep my mouth shut because liberals cannot be civil, they have no logic, they are just bullies.
Of course, in today's society, everyone wants to blame someone else for their shortcomings. They don't want to be responsible for their own actions. That seems to be the new America way. For examples of this, one only has to look at all the lawsuits by criminals and inmates against "the system".
I run a few websites and web applications of my own so I understand the importance of demographics of users. From the user standpoint, though, I've completed sign-up forms where I have given almost an uncomfortable amount of information. I don't see a person's name as some top secret, classified info when our name is all over the place, internet & "real life". There's even iPhone apps which will scan the photo of someone's face and point you to their facebook profile.. now THAT is creepy.
People using their real names have posted some truly venemous and threatening comments directed at others here in southeastern CT. One person who uses a real name appeared to have been banned from a comment board, but is now back on it. The comments are not quite as nasty as before and include fewer personal attacks, but they are still totally lacking in civility. Some CT residents just don't understand that there are two sides to every issue. How dare anyone disagree with them! When I joined the Comment Board at The Day, I used my real name at first. I felt that in an election year, I would lose my credibility if I expressed my opinions anonymously. Now, I agree with my husband. It's a matter of personal safety and privacy. You never know who is reading your posts and may be angered by them. NO, you should definitely not require people to use their real names online.