Anonymity on the Message Board

[ARzach]

Zach, I'm into turtle porn and you're into having sex with men, we are just all different.

And I had thought you had forgotten our night of fantasy...

[Fish]

I haven't taken time to read this entire thread. No doubt full of the usual thoughtful posts that this message board is famous for... .... ......

And if web-wimps want to hide behind handles and 12-point font, I've got no problem with that. I support the right of lilly-livered wussies to hurl their hypocritical insults and whatnot here while cowering behind a wall of anonymity. While the real men and women make it known who they are in the real world. It's clearly a waste of the ACC Board's time and beverages to try to require those types of virtual weenies to identify themselves. I'm sure the Board has much better things to do, even though I can't really think of what those things might be... The Board can no doubt see that passing message board rules that any 5 - 35 year old will look on as archaic, unnecessary, and downright laughable is a waste of time that could be better spent drinking and telling lies about that last big paddling trip.

That's what I think, and I always identify my posts as being made by

- Fish

[NoQuarter]

To imperfectly quote my best friend, Nietzsche, "a thing is the sum of its effects." What exactly is the sum of the effects of anonymity on this board? In the short time I've been here, it is immediately recognizable that there is a small community of like-minded water freaks who are out for their own (shared) interests. The few trolls that have come along have been summarily executed by public opinion.

It's not like we're creating world peace here and there are terrorists in our midst. Unless you count me trying to influence folks to shuttle us down some long dirt road (cue fiddle music). Show us an instance where a complicated process of identification would benefit these discussions.

What exactly is the negative effect of having handles instead of "real" names? And, I would love to know (since I trade in identities in my day job), what exactly is the process for validation of the real you?

How invasive do we become to protect what assets we imagine we possess?

The real currency here, the currency I have tried to obtain since joining is TRUST. And I know that the folks on these boards value that and they are very careful about exchanging that currency for anything of lesser value.

And, to the point, this is the concern that apparently keeps the ACC off other social media sites, sites that would intertwine it with loads of potential members... We should spread the love freely, folks!

I don't understand why there is a fear of idiotic comments and slander. The most likely response to these behaviors is to ignore them.

Unless your real name is STANLEY FISH. Or... just..

Fish.