CodingExperiments.Com - Latest Comments in Why Being Anonymous Isn’t a Bad Thing

Re: Why Being Anonymous Isn’t a Bad Thing

chiya — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 23:35:01 -0000

Hi, nice to meet another anonymous person.

I've created a character sort of, with a different colour hair and who looks different than me, but is basically just a very honest version of myself. Except for my name, and any other names I use in it. lol

Re: Why Being Anonymous Isn’t a Bad Thing

fyc — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:06:26 -0000

Haha. *tips hat*

Re: Why Being Anonymous Isn’t a Bad Thing

Voyagerfan5761 — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 07:58:29 -0000

DMed you on Twitter about it. :-) Thanks, BTW.

Re: Why Being Anonymous Isn’t a Bad Thing

fyc — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 06:34:05 -0000

Thanks. I upmodded yours because it possessed a better quality - being interesting. :D

Well, I just can't stop trying to figure out what your name is. Could it be Scott? Could it be James? Could it be Vincent Franklin?

Re: Why Being Anonymous Isn’t a Bad Thing

Voyagerfan5761 — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:36:00 -0000

I just had to upmod your comment because it was so awesomely written. :D Especially the part about The Mysterious Shroud Of Mysteriously Shrouded Mystery. ;-)

Re: Why Being Anonymous Isn’t a Bad Thing

fyc — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 07:10:37 -0000

I know what you mean in regards to building up an online 'alter ego' (to use possibly the worst phrase imaginable for this context). I've attempted to completely shift between accounts a couple of times before and I was only successful once (more recent attempts have left me with the problem of being known by three usernames).

Personally, I doubt I'll drop my anonymity (which is really one-sided since everyone I know knows exactly whom to blame when that idiot Cyvros or auldor or fyc does something generally idiotic). Of course, if I become a well-known webcomic artist (ha!) or a well-known blogger (*spit-take*), then I'll reconsider my decision. I just don't see much of a reason for lowering The Mysterious Shroud Of Mysteriously Shrouded Mystery of my identity.

Re: Why Being Anonymous Isn’t a Bad Thing

Voyagerfan5761 — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:49:14 -0000

I'm guessing this post came up because of that lengthy discussion in my FriendFeed (which has 1670 comments and 2954 Likes at the moment -- ha! :P ) about me not using my real name. People made cases for both sides of the issue, and I'm no closer to deciding when I should come clean. Perhaps remaining anonymous would be the easiest choice for now, considering the sheer number of accounts I've built up using -- and the huge amount of data associated with -- this name.

I think that, when I reveal my true name (which will happen, I'm sure of it), I'll just put notes on my blog, Wikipedia user page, etc. but keep this nick.

Re: Why Being Anonymous Isn’t a Bad Thing

ryansv — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 23:05:52 -0000

I don't automatically judge someone just because they choose to be anonymous, in fact I just found your blog very recently, so the only credibility I can give you is based on what I've read here. I'm not wary of new users, in fact I welcome them openly, but I will immediately judge them based on what they say.

I use anonymity in two main cases. Either I don't want something written by me to be easily traced back to me, or I'm saying something trivial and it's easier to remain anonymous.

I too started writing in my blog anonymously, but quickly decided that it didn't provide me any benefits, since anything I write there is not trivial (IMHO) and is something I wouldn't mind being in search results for my name.

When someone reveals their identity online the associated content is usually higher quality, because you can much easier be held responsible for what you say. So, being anonymous isn't a bad thing, but I don't see what benefit it provides if you are producing well written and thoughtful content. And so far, from what I've read, you're doing a good job at it.