3 ms·

unless I want what I do to be associated with my real name, I just probably shouldn't do it This sounds an awful lot like "if you aren't doing anything wrong t

unless I want what I do to be associated with my real name, I just probably shouldn't do it This sounds an awful lot like "if you aren't doing anything wrong then you don't have anything to hide" to me.

artursapek 15y ago
"Wrong" is too black and white to go by, the way I put it is more like saying that you sculpt your identity based on the choices you make.
bmelton 15y ago
I interpret it more like "If you wouldn't want your mother to see you do it, then you probably shouldn't." For what it's worth, while I absolutely love my civil liberties and freedoms, I do believe in accountability for one's actions. If I say something indefensible against a minority group, I believe that I should be ready to bear the consequences of my racism. I can either defend my actions with an intelligent argument or I can't. I shouldn't be able to just say "Oh. That was somebody else." On the flip side, if I'm arguing for a controversial idea, then I will expect people to take the argument as insincere if I'm not willing to attach my name to it. Anybody can say something anonymously, in the same way that anybody can pirate music. The people who are purposefully exercising civil disobedience are the ones I respect, whether or not I agree with their cause. That said, very few people actually practice civil disobedience. They download music and say 'Damn the man' wherever they can, but what actual GOOD does that do? And just before anybody attacks me for trying to take away their right to privacy, I fully understand and support that it is our right, generally, and would never knowingly support/elect/fund or petition anyone trying to take that right away. But for me, personally, I think the bigger statement is always going to come from someone who is willing to risk their reputation to make a statement that's unpopular.
- walropodes 15y ago
  > I interpret it more like "If you wouldn't want your mother to see you do it, then you probably shouldn't." That pretty much means the same thing
  - bmelton 15y ago
    I very strongly disagree. They mean completely different things.
  - artursapek 15y ago
    No, I've openly done things that I knew my mom wouldn't be immediately cool with, and would probably find out about. It's just about taking calculated risks.

artursapek 15y ago

"Wrong" is too black and white to go by, the way I put it is more like saying that you sculpt your identity based on the choices you make.

bmelton 15y ago

I interpret it more like "If you wouldn't want your mother to see you do it, then you probably shouldn't." For what it's worth, while I absolutely love my civil liberties and freedoms, I do believe in accountability for one's actions. If I say something indefensible against a minority group, I believe that I should be ready to bear the consequences of my racism. I can either defend my actions with an intelligent argument or I can't. I shouldn't be able to just say "Oh. That was somebody else." On the flip side, if I'm arguing for a controversial idea, then I will expect people to take the argument as insincere if I'm not willing to attach my name to it. Anybody can say something anonymously, in the same way that anybody can pirate music. The people who are purposefully exercising civil disobedience are the ones I respect, whether or not I agree with their cause. That said, very few people actually practice civil disobedience. They download music and say 'Damn the man' wherever they can, but what actual GOOD does that do? And just before anybody attacks me for trying to take away their right to privacy, I fully understand and support that it is our right, generally, and would never knowingly support/elect/fund or petition anyone trying to take that right away. But for me, personally, I think the bigger statement is always going to come from someone who is willing to risk their reputation to make a statement that's unpopular.

walropodes 15y ago
> I interpret it more like "If you wouldn't want your mother to see you do it, then you probably shouldn't." That pretty much means the same thing
- bmelton 15y ago
  I very strongly disagree. They mean completely different things.
- artursapek 15y ago
  No, I've openly done things that I knew my mom wouldn't be immediately cool with, and would probably find out about. It's just about taking calculated risks.