Author: Pete R.
Date: 09:09:10 06/30/00
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On June 29, 2000 at 23:13:52, Robert Hyatt wrote: >Sorry, but it is a _good_ policy. Anonymous posters can get away with saying >anything they want with no fear of reprisal of any kind. What about those of >use that use our _real_ name? Do we have to put up with nonsense with no way >to stop it? > >In another 5 years there won't be any 'anonymous internet users'. The public >simply won't stand for it much longer. Actually I believe the reverse is true. With a rising flood of easy crimes like identity theft people will become more reluctant to give out any personal info online. IMO people who are cavalier about giving real info are either a) the same type who don't lock their cars or houses, or b) simply have yet to be victimized such that they realize (a) is not a good idea. You are simply taking risks without much compensation. I already know your name and where you work. I can pay $35 online to get your SSN, and presto! you will spend the next ten years trying to prove to creditors that someone posing as you bought $40,000 worth of merchandise. Etc. It just happened to my girlfriend, and it is a bigger nightmare than you can imagine until you have to deal with it, and this is just one example. Just for yucks I can flood your mail with magazine subscriptions, enter changes of address for you, and if you really piss me off in some argument I can pay you an anonymous visit in person. You are simply depending on the notion that I, and everyone else online that sees you post, is not of a mind to do any of these things. In return for all this risk you get the satisfaction of signing your real name, whatever that might be worth. IMO a very poor trade, but it's a personal choice.
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