From: Brian Atkins (brian@posthuman.com)
Date: Sun Feb 06 2000 - 18:45:56 MST
Doug Jones wrote:
>
> Brian Atkins wrote:
> >
> > Doug Jones wrote:
> > >
> > > I try to make my online persona polite, rational, and intelligent, with
> > > only the occasional indulgence in silliness... pretty much as I am in real
> > > life.
> > >
> > > This really seems to be trending toward Brin's transparent society, where
> > > the anonymity of 20th century city life is fading away.
> >
> > Why not post pseudonymously using a product like they offer at
> > www.freedom.net ?
>
> But then I would sacrifice the credibility I've built up over the years. I
> know that new, pseudonymous posters on technical newsgroups often:
>
> 1) are engaging in hatchet jobs (I was targeted by one of these a few
> months ago, but my reputation carried the day)
>
> 2) have no history, by definition- and face the problem of the classic "man
> in the chair" ads in Aviation Week ("I don't know you, I don't know your
> company, I don't know your product, I don't know your customers- now
> what did you want to sell me?")
>
> My reputation is valuable to me, but in order to build up a reputation, I
> have to be (surprise surprise) reputable. Anonymous posters must fight an
> uphill battle for this.
>
Sure sure, no question. But with the Freedom software for instance
you can switch between your "identities" in an exceedingly easy
manner. So when you want to flame someone, switch to your other
nym and flame away without hurting the rep of your main nym. You
can have your cake and eat it too.
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