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Yeah, and especially "don't ever, ever put your real name, phone number, or location into ANY online system". It was the way to preserve the benefits of anonym

by ashark 10y ago

Yeah, and especially "don't ever, ever put your real name, phone number, or location into ANY online system". It was the way to preserve the benefits of anonymity and free speech without opening the door to (much) serious abuse. Then people realized they could make money promoting their "personal brand" online, and companies realized they could get people to tell them everything about themselves and sell that data, so common-sense behavior that permitted a very free environment to thrive with few negative externalities was destroyed by the profit motive and... here we are.

M_Grey 10y ago
Some of us still hold to those basic protective measures. I see it as the difference between using ATM's, and walking all the way home while flashing your cash at everyone who walks by.
- Nadya 10y ago
  I practice psuedonomity instead of anonymity. "Nadya Nayme" is just a play on "Not a name". It allows me to have an identity while speaking my mind and hiding my real self from the general population. I don't think anonymity against a state power is realistic, so I don't consider it a part of my threat model. Twitter users organizing to harass my employer into firing me is much higher on my list of concerns. Especially because I've had people threaten "they would if they could." Some people still value privacy. But most only value privacy when it is convenient - and are willing to throw it away for more convenience.
  - M_Grey 10y ago
    I'm exactly the same way, and as you say, I don't expect that my antics would give a state actor even a momentary pause. I'm more concerned about doxxing, or other low-level junk than jackboots kicking down my door. It is a little inconvenient, but it's worth it.
  - AndyNemmity 10y ago
    I do the same thing. No one ever seems to pick up the play, so in a way I've developed a second full name that works reasonable well.
anigbrowl 10y ago
A profit motive is a pretty basic part of human nature and my memory of the 1990s was that a lot of people were demanding a reliable way to shop online without all the tedious business of printing out order forms on paper or trudging to the nearest store. Lest you think I'm making excuses, I've never run any kind of online business unless you count occasionally profitable eBay transactions in a niche used-goods market.

by ashark 10y ago

M_Grey 10y ago

Some of us still hold to those basic protective measures. I see it as the difference between using ATM's, and walking all the way home while flashing your cash at everyone who walks by.

Nadya 10y ago
I practice psuedonomity instead of anonymity. "Nadya Nayme" is just a play on "Not a name". It allows me to have an identity while speaking my mind and hiding my real self from the general population. I don't think anonymity against a state power is realistic, so I don't consider it a part of my threat model. Twitter users organizing to harass my employer into firing me is much higher on my list of concerns. Especially because I've had people threaten "they would if they could." Some people still value privacy. But most only value privacy when it is convenient - and are willing to throw it away for more convenience.
- M_Grey 10y ago
  I'm exactly the same way, and as you say, I don't expect that my antics would give a state actor even a momentary pause. I'm more concerned about doxxing, or other low-level junk than jackboots kicking down my door. It is a little inconvenient, but it's worth it.
- AndyNemmity 10y ago
  I do the same thing. No one ever seems to pick up the play, so in a way I've developed a second full name that works reasonable well.

anigbrowl 10y ago

A profit motive is a pretty basic part of human nature and my memory of the 1990s was that a lot of people were demanding a reliable way to shop online without all the tedious business of printing out order forms on paper or trudging to the nearest store. Lest you think I'm making excuses, I've never run any kind of online business unless you count occasionally profitable eBay transactions in a niche used-goods market.