From: Michael M. Butler (butler@comp-lib.org)
Date: Mon Feb 07 2000 - 00:06:03 MST
Most of what you say is true-ish, but pseudonymity is distinct from
anonymity. It's a common tendency to conflate the two. Mike
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.
>
> --
> Doug Jones
> Rocket Plumber, XCOR Aerospace
> http://www.xcor-aerospace.com
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