Post in Anonymity, Accountability and Identity

2007 Jun 18 19:43 UTC

Well said Ella.  Rudeness does deter people from taking part and it is quite
understandable - most offputting..  I see no particular issues with women
and the internet - why should there be?  We are all citizens in active life,
why be afraid, and what of?  The greatest incentive to courteous debate is
for people to partidipate in their own names.  We feel that if they are not
happy with that, there are anonymous forums.  We take a great many risks at
www.oncom.org.uk and believe that people should stand up to be counted in a
democracy.  You know the old saying about justice being seen to be done.  It
is the only way to have civilized, influential, intelligent debate, of that
I am convinced - from experience and observation.  Unattributed, anything
can be discounted, and it is. Officers rarely take part anyway.  Junior
officers are forbidden and senior officers unwilling, only very occasionally
writing some informative and then of course they use their own names.
Whistleblowing is another thing altogether to reams of anonymous postings,
and that deserves special consideration.