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There are benefits to reducing anonymity: accountability, trust, relationships, etc. It's why humans evolved to recognize faces so well. We decide who to trust

There are benefits to reducing anonymity: accountability, trust, relationships, etc. It's why humans evolved to recognize faces so well. We decide who to trust based on experience. It doesn't matter who controls the identification process, so long as its done fairly. And if corporations or government misuse identification for self-serving purposes, we should certainly push back.

data_maan 4y ago
There are also downsides to reducing anonymity - many more than benefits.
- swexbe 4y ago
  Like what?
  - pavel_lishin 4y ago
    Two off the top of my head: - Chilling effect on political discussions. Good luck campaigning to overturn these laws if you can't do so without fear of reprisal from government officials or your local community. - Limiting the ability for marginalized groups to seek support; LGBTQ youth, ex-mormons, etc., would be directly harmed by this.
    - lucaspfeifer 4y ago
      Political discussions should be open and transparent. If there is reprisal for well-intentioned statements, proportional action should be taken to stop the reprisal. Though it is nice to allow various beliefs, it is more important to have a cohesive community, even if it means sacrificing some personal beliefs. Personal values should line up with community values. If they are in contradiction, an open discussion should be had to realign them.
    - vxNsr 4y ago
      Why would your local community attack you for campaigning for anonymity?
      - pavel_lishin 4y ago
        It doesn't necessarily have to be these laws, it could be anything, but to answer your question - they might paint me as somehow being "against the children", having bought in to the angle that these laws make children safer.
        vxNsr 4y ago
        Just curious is the any different from what happens right now, when someone campaigns against something you disagree with? If someone online, pseudo-anonymously posts something that is perceived to be against trans rights or pro-life, there is already a mob of people working to de-anonymize and punish them for their wrong-think. How is it any different or better to have the current system?
        pavel_lishin 4y ago
        > Just curious is the any different from what happens right now Because right now you can be anonymous/pseudonymous? Of course people will try to unmask you, but I'm contrasting it in a world where you can't even attempt it.
        vxNsr 4y ago
        But what’s the benefit if any time you actually espouse an unpopular opinion you will be unmasked.
        pavel_lishin 4y ago
        There's a difference between _guaranteed_ unmasking, and not. Thank you for your time.
pavel_lishin 4y ago
> And if corporations or government misuse identification for self-serving purposes, we should certainly push back. The time to push back is now, before we give them this power.

data_maan 4y ago

There are also downsides to reducing anonymity - many more than benefits.

swexbe 4y ago
Like what?
- pavel_lishin 4y ago
  Two off the top of my head: - Chilling effect on political discussions. Good luck campaigning to overturn these laws if you can't do so without fear of reprisal from government officials or your local community. - Limiting the ability for marginalized groups to seek support; LGBTQ youth, ex-mormons, etc., would be directly harmed by this.
  - lucaspfeifer 4y ago
    Political discussions should be open and transparent. If there is reprisal for well-intentioned statements, proportional action should be taken to stop the reprisal. Though it is nice to allow various beliefs, it is more important to have a cohesive community, even if it means sacrificing some personal beliefs. Personal values should line up with community values. If they are in contradiction, an open discussion should be had to realign them.
  - vxNsr 4y ago
    Why would your local community attack you for campaigning for anonymity?
    - pavel_lishin 4y ago
      It doesn't necessarily have to be these laws, it could be anything, but to answer your question - they might paint me as somehow being "against the children", having bought in to the angle that these laws make children safer.
      - vxNsr 4y ago
        Just curious is the any different from what happens right now, when someone campaigns against something you disagree with? If someone online, pseudo-anonymously posts something that is perceived to be against trans rights or pro-life, there is already a mob of people working to de-anonymize and punish them for their wrong-think. How is it any different or better to have the current system?
        pavel_lishin 4y ago
        > Just curious is the any different from what happens right now Because right now you can be anonymous/pseudonymous? Of course people will try to unmask you, but I'm contrasting it in a world where you can't even attempt it.
        vxNsr 4y ago
        But what’s the benefit if any time you actually espouse an unpopular opinion you will be unmasked.
        pavel_lishin 4y ago
        There's a difference between _guaranteed_ unmasking, and not. Thank you for your time.

pavel_lishin 4y ago

> And if corporations or government misuse identification for self-serving purposes, we should certainly push back. The time to push back is now, before we give them this power.