What’s in a name ?
July 24th, 2006I had originally posted this text as a comment to Lorelle’s post ‘the debate against anonymous bloggers’, but now that I have a functional blogging platform, it can fit nicely in here too (albeit with much less traffic). Lorelle underlines that readers need to know somehow who is behind the keyboard when they read something.
Whether or not you blog anonymously is up to you, as is the amount of information you provide on your blog and About Page. You are in charge of what you share publicly. Just understand that your audience may need some form of information in order to make a connection with you.
As I am blogging anonymously, I have given it quite a thought. Here is my definition of anonymity: you may not leave your real name and still that would not be anonymity. Anonymity is when you leave no handles for others to recognize you or get back to you.
When someone knocks at my door without a name tag on his Tshirt or without telling a name, that’s not anonymity. Next time, I will know that someone from his face. But if he is wearing a mask, that’s anonymity, and that’s evil.
When you call people up on the phone without telling your name, that’s not anonymity. Your phone number shows on their LCD display, and they can call you back, filter your calls, or setup a special ring tone next time you call. But if you hide your number, that’s anonymity, and that’s evil.
When I leave a comment on Lorelle’s blog with a pseudonym in the ‘name’ field, that’s not anonymity. Lorelle knows it’s ‘yet another (pointless) comment from mandarine’. But if I change my pseudonym each time I comment, of if I do not leave a valid email address, that’s anonymity, and that’s evil.
My point is: you need not (should not, must not) tell too much about you. In each context, you need to offer people a token that defines your identity in that context. It can be a face (on the streets), a name tag (at work), a pseudonym (for political blogging), a license plate (for the highway police), a social security number (for the hospitals), a phone number (for AT&T), a wisp of perfume (for secret lovers), a passport number (for customs), an eye scan (for defense contractors), you-name-it. If you give none or fake any, that anonymity, and that’s evil.
Well said, mandarine (or whoever you are
). You are very right. The key phrase, though, is “tell too much”. You should never tell “too much” to reveal yourself in a public forum. However, you should say something, and that “something” is up to you. If you blog about issues from a professional perspective, we should know that you come from a professional opinion and expertise. We don’t have to know your social security number, just a little bit of vague resume. At the very least, create a body of consistent work that helps us to understand you know whereof you speak.
As for those who seek anonymity under the guise of nice when it is really evil, I’m totally and completely with you. Evil is as evil does.
What’s in a name ?
Some excellent thoughts on anonymity (everywhere, but particularly in the blogosphere).
Here is my definition of anonymity: you may not leave your real name and still that would not be anonymity. Anonymity is when you leave no handles for others to rec…
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