26 ms·

It doesn't inspire confidence that they don't reveal who they are - neither their About Us page nor their Contact Us has any relevant information. In a democrac

It doesn't inspire confidence that they don't reveal who they are - neither their About Us page nor their Contact Us has any relevant information. In a democracy, there is no reason to hide behind anonymity while fighting for a just cause. As Gandhi taught us, democracy survives only on trust and not fear and violence. If one fears the misuse of power by the government through the judiciary, then needs to rally the politicians and political party to their cause too, and work from within the system.

throwaway_egbs 5y ago
The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled repeatedly that anonymity is protected by the First Amendment, specifically because anonymity enables free speech. A person who does not speak because they've been cowed into silence is deprived of their rights. "Anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority. … It thus exemplifies the purpose behind the Bill of Rights and of the First Amendment in particular: to protect unpopular individuals from retaliation … at the hand of an intolerant society." (McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission.)
- webmobdev 5y ago
  Thanks for pointing out an interesting aspect of US constitution. It however doesn't change what I said. When fighting political causes, anonymity doesn't help - Gandhi or Rosa Park or Martin Luther King continue to inspire us today because they faced injustice and tyranny head on. They have provided us with an effective template to fight against injustice and assert our rights. Fear is often the reason behind anonymity, and that doesn't bode well for any political cause. Even Gandhi, who inspired non-violent politics said that he would prefer if people chose violent politics than giving in to fear or cowardice ( https://www.mkgandhi.org/nonviolence/phil8.htm https://www.mkgandhi.org/nonviolence/phil8.htm ). Moreover, politics on internet is even more fraught as even foreign powers can hide behind anonymity to interfere in the politics of other nations.
  - throwaway_egbs 5y ago
    The claim I was responding to is, "In a democracy, there is no reason to hide behind anonymity while fighting for a just cause." What I'm saying is that there absolutely are reasons. This is also not a binary proposition. In a group of activists you can have some people working anonymously and some people working out in the open.

throwaway_egbs 5y ago

The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled repeatedly that anonymity is protected by the First Amendment, specifically because anonymity enables free speech. A person who does not speak because they've been cowed into silence is deprived of their rights. "Anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority. … It thus exemplifies the purpose behind the Bill of Rights and of the First Amendment in particular: to protect unpopular individuals from retaliation … at the hand of an intolerant society." (McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission.)

webmobdev 5y ago
Thanks for pointing out an interesting aspect of US constitution. It however doesn't change what I said. When fighting political causes, anonymity doesn't help - Gandhi or Rosa Park or Martin Luther King continue to inspire us today because they faced injustice and tyranny head on. They have provided us with an effective template to fight against injustice and assert our rights. Fear is often the reason behind anonymity, and that doesn't bode well for any political cause. Even Gandhi, who inspired non-violent politics said that he would prefer if people chose violent politics than giving in to fear or cowardice ( https://www.mkgandhi.org/nonviolence/phil8.htm https://www.mkgandhi.org/nonviolence/phil8.htm ). Moreover, politics on internet is even more fraught as even foreign powers can hide behind anonymity to interfere in the politics of other nations.
- throwaway_egbs 5y ago
  The claim I was responding to is, "In a democracy, there is no reason to hide behind anonymity while fighting for a just cause." What I'm saying is that there absolutely are reasons. This is also not a binary proposition. In a group of activists you can have some people working anonymously and some people working out in the open.