SHE SAID: Internet Anonymity - In Defense of Internet Anonymity
By Allyson Kenning
The day after the Rekindle the Spirit of Christmas event on Dec. 4, a person calling him/herself Dirty Hippo posted a long, strongly-worded message on Bhubble criticizing the Charlie Brownness of the Christmas tree in the town square. I wouldn’t refer to it as a tirade, just a firmly-stated, humourously-toned, panning of the organizers’ choice of tree. My sense upon reading this that Dirty Hippo was not intending to start a debate, but merely needed a public forum in which to give his opinion about something he felt strongly about. The thread has since been taken down, I’ve noticed, which is disappointing because it was quite a good read. There were quite a few people who took issue with this person who dared to insult the poor tree, and there were some who agreed that the tree was not up to snuff. But what was quite fascinating about this thread was how the discussion quickly turned in an unexpected but, unfortunately, not unusual for the internet, denouncement of Dirty Hippo for not using his/her real name. Since the thread is gone, I can’t quote any specifics about what was said, but it was implied that leaving such a negative comment about the tree under a nickname was cowardly and uncool. One person even said nicknames on Bhubble should not be allowed. This pseudonym debate was picked up in other arenas apart from Bhubble, and I thought it was necessary to weigh in since I am a huge fan of using a pseudonym on line. Also, the issue was making me angry, and writing a column like this is very cathartic. I think the lambasting of Dirty Hippo for not posting under his/her real name was ridiculous. Let me preface what I’m about to say with this: the Rossland Telegraph is the only place online, other than Facebook, where I use my real name. When I started as a columnist here in February, I was reluctant to have something published under my real name, however it was explained to me that that was Telegraph policy, so I had to go with it. But I was a bit uncomfortable with it, not because I don’t stand behind my work but because I worried about how some things I wrote would be interpreted. It’s actually made me edit myself more than I would have otherwise, and that makes me very uncomfortable at times, too. So there is point number one for me: lack of anonymity can mean self-censure, something that doesn’t sit well with me. Another reason I support pseudonyms is privacy. I have many online nicknames; I participate on several fora, I have four blogs, I have numerous accounts on various social networking sites – and all of this is done under a pseudonym. Why? Because I don’t need every Tom, Dick, and Harry I know knowing my entire online life, that’s why. In a big city like Ottawa, where I used to live, it wasn’t as big a deal, but when I moved somewhere smaller, it became important. I believe that if you live in a town of 3400 like we do, if you want to use a nickname on a public forum, you shouldn’t be judged for doing that. Let’s say Dirty Hippo did use his/her real name. What might have been the consequences? People could Google the name, find out occupation, address, phone number, and all kinds of other personal information. If people got really ticked with Hippo’s comments, they could theoretically hassle him. I’m not suggesting anyone would, let me be clear, but I’m saying that attaching your real name to a controversial comment – even on such a trivial topic as a Christmas tree – could have consequences. A name is like a key in this day and age: a key to a whole pile of information and a key to a potentially large can of worms. Besides, this is a small town – people gossip. Better to be gossipped about under a false name than a real one, in my opinon. Another point about privacy is this: You know that saying “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas?” I think the same thing is true of the internet. I may have an opinion, and I may want to have an outlet in which to state it somewhere, but I don’t necessarily want to be walking down the street or in Clansey’s justifying it, explaining it, or even talking about it. I put it on the internet, I’ll respond to it there if I feel like it, and that’s as far as I’m willing to go with it. An opinion is just that – an opinion. It’s not always an invitation to debate, and it’s not always something that requires justification. It is what it is–a statement; why can’t we just accept that? There is an element of comfort and safety in using a nickname, too. I think a lot of people wouldn’t comment anywhere if they had to do it under a real name, and I don’t blame them. Why is the name so important? As I said on Dirty Hippo’s thread, it doesn’t matter if Superman or Santa Claus made that comment, it’s the comment itself that’s important, not the commenter. And in the case of that thread and its fallout, my opinion is that the people who voiced anger about Dirty Hippo’s nickname were trying to deflect from the topic at hand–the Christmas tree–and create a separate, less relevant argument in order to attempt to invalidate Dirty Hippo’s opinion. That’s a shame. We’re all entitled to our opinions, and if we want to take the time and effort to sign up on a board to talk about them, then that’s great. That should be encouraged; it should not be discouraged by focusing on the name under which people post. I don’t believe it’s cowardly to opine online under a pseudonym; I think it makes sense in this information age. As long as the comment is clean, articulate, not racial or insulting to minorities, religions, etc., I don’t see the problem – or the point in getting upset about it. Adrian will argue that hiding behind the veil of anonymity on the internet can give people license to act inappropriately. I agree with this, and I’ve seen so many examples of it myself in my online travels. There was on forum I used to participate in that had such bad behaviour on it I wound up quitting because it was so out of control. But that’s what a moderator is for (and in my case, the moderation was non-existent). I certainly don’t condone bad behaviour hidden by a nickname whatsoever, but I have found that people who act like jerks on fora and message boards usually only wind up revealing themselves as idiots rather than making anyone else look bad. In the end, I’m glad Dirty Hippo made the comment he/she did. There were, if I recall correctly, two people who agreed with his assessment of the tree, and some ideas for future trees were even tossed around, like having school kids make decorations. That was constructive. But we’re human; we don’t have to agree with everything all the time, and as neighbours in a small community, we have to accept that the guy down the street might have a vastly different opinion than ours. All opinions are valid, not just the majority’s. And in the end, I don’t think it makes one iota of difference if your neighbour calls himself Dirty Hippo or Joe Smith; it’s what he has to say and it’s the fact that he stood up and said it that’s important. Incidentally, I recently had a column called “Scrooge You” published here, and there was some very negative feedback – proving to me that it doesn’t matter at all if you use your real name or not; you’ll ruffle feathers either way, further demonstrating that name really makes no difference Read Adrian’s “He Said” argument against internet anonymity here
