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The choice of being publicly known carries consequences. Simple automated scraping opens you up to spam, adds another data point to your marketing profile, and
by robbedpeter 5y ago
The choice of being publicly known carries consequences. Simple automated scraping opens you up to spam, adds another data point to your marketing profile, and so on. If you convey a strong opinion, you run the risk of attracting an outrage mob, or a swatting, or harassment by bored trolls.
As virtuous as being unmasked might seem, the risk/reward is skewed exponentially toward the negative. I think the stigma of anonymity is a fallacious aspersion, and that much of the communication we engage in suffers from prejudices rooted in reputation and pigeonholed identity. Let ideas stand alone, free of the baggage of misplaced suspicion and uncharitable bias.
Until or unless the asymmetric consequences are brought to parity, we're human... let that be enough.
- fauigerzigerk 5y agoI agree completely, and I'm not using my real name on here or in any public forum. But I suspect you may have responded to the wrong comment.
- robbedpeter 5y agoThe app I use is quirky - you're right, I intended to reply to the same content you did. 100% agree with you!
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- runawaybottle 5y agoThose who are public also suffer for not concealing their identity. I’ve heard a number of times from celebrity interviews that people on the internet are cowards and ‘would never have the courage to say what they said in public’ - as if that’s irrational. We know the cost of honesty and opinions in our society. Our civilization works because we all work hard to preserve the peace via politeness. However, important topics need to be discussed in a serious way. How do we do it without disturbing the peace? Anonymity is what works. Lastly, it’s been a proven method of therapy. Confessional, things like support groups (AA), stuff like this is only possible because we honor this principle of concealment. Blind app is literally a support group at the moment. Everyone there seems to be suffering from work stress. Compare each Blind post to the LinkedIn counter part, how can they be so different? The truth isn’t lining up, but I’m glad we get to see just how different the discourse becomes when your real life reputation is not constantly under threat. Give people a chance to talk without having to look over their backs constantly.