Re:Why I don't use my real photo when messaging with custome...
by jsjohnst on Saturday February 17, 2018 @04:01AM
(#16399808)
Please reread what I posted. I didn't mention/propose/condone "real name" policies. Folks using "handles" are perfectly fine, but I am tired of seeing more and more brand new users with the name "throwaway####" making comments with little to no value.
It's a tradeoff. There are both good and bad things with anonymity and real name policies:
1. Anonymity: people can express themselves without anxiety, but that gives space to assholes to be assholes (barring other control mechanisms).
2. Real names: lots of people will hold back due to anxiety that what they say may come back to haunt them years later [1]. The more timid assholes will inhibit themselves as well, but not all assholes are timid. The main people who will participate (asshole and non-asshole) will have the personality types that DGAF.
In short: anonymity is somewhat more favorable to assholes, but also more favorable to good discussion. I also prefer it, because I'm the kind of person who will just shut up in a deanonymized space.
[1] In ways they may have never even imagined at the time.