The following is a cross-post of mine from another forum. I thought it apropos, as TB2K spinoff uncensored has an unusual number of anonymous posters these days:

I act in cyberspace as I do IRL, for the most part. I find it is important to respect others, to try to connect as best I can with those who strike my heart as decent people. I give those who berate and scream plenty of rope with which to hang themselves (more so online than IRL), at which point I use discrimination to eliminate bad seeds from my cyber-life by no longer reading their posts.

By and large, what each of us offers are opinions, not facts. I try to stay away from absolute statements.

I use both my real first name and also some variant of the handle Bingo...Bingo being my oldest and best loved dog.

I offer a real, honest-to-goodness email address, as I believe there are personal comments one might wish to make, questions one might wish to ask which are not suitable for public broadcast. In some forum situations I am hard on people who actively participate yet do not provide proper email addresses. I do know of instances where identities and stalking incidents have occurred, so this is not a hard and fast rule. There's a little compassion in me yet. :)

Posters who are quick to judge others, name call, switch handles, steal handles and shout about their superiority are often times the ones who remain anonymous, in my experience. These are cowardly individuals, of which I've witnessed hundreds over just the past few years of forum participation.

Excellent topic, RC. May I borrow the idea to use on another forum? That is, once the political hubbub dies down. Right now many are still foaming and frothing, seething and slaking their thirsts with the cyber-blood of the other party's vociferous supporters. Quite distasteful for this old peacemaker.

(Obviously, I decided not to wait on the election to be resolved. I felt it might be to the benefit of a few posters - and consequently the forum in general - to have a mirror placed up to their faces now as opposed to later.)

Rich

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), November 15, 2000

Answers

Didn't we do this once before on TB2000? I seem to remember responding last year that because I used my real name and E-mail address [not to mention that I was a consultant at the time] that I felt it important not to say anything on a fora that I wouldn't say in real life, and be willing to suffer the consequences of my words.

I'm a lowly student now, but I still feel that my words are reflective of my real life reputation, so should be chosen wisely.

-- Anita (Anita_S3@hotmail.com), November 15, 2000.

Good topic, Rich. I'll give it a shot.

I am exactly the same person IRL as I am online (maybe a bit funnier IRL -- yeah, well, I'd have to be, right?), as those who have met me can attest.

Since I began posting/emailing a few years ago, it never occurred to me that the Internet was anonymous. As far as I was (and am) concerned, it's ME posting/emailing. Some tiny little part of the back of mind always felt that the other participants could "see me" (don't worry, I'm over it now) and would thus "know" if I made up a personality. In fact, in over four years of posting/emailing, I have used an anonymous handle two or three times, and each time was on a "funny thread" wherein the handle was part of "the joke".

One statement you made (and I know it was a generalization) is not quite 100% true:

"Posters who are quick to judge others, name call, switch handles, steal handles and shout about their superiority are often times the ones who remain anonymous, in my experience."

In my experience on this and other boards, there are posters "who are quick to judge others, name call ... and shout about their superiority", but retain one single handle (or are so transparent that they might as well have). And sometimes it isn't anonymous.

I have always offered a real email address in the hopes that some would, in fact, contact me offline. I have become friends with a number of people who I otherwise might never have known.

Good topic (if for no other reason than that it ISN'T about "politics" [g]). Thanks, Rich.

-- Patricia (PatriciaS@lasvegas.com), November 15, 2000.

We did, Anita. Recycling is a sign of the times.

There should have been an or in that statement, Patricia. Maybe an and/or, even.

And yes, you are incredibly funny in real life. Or is it your real life is incredibly funny? ;)

Rich

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), November 15, 2000.

I forgot to mention, I am an oaf.

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), November 15, 2000.

Somebody is getting a spanking for that remark. Fortunately for them, I won't be in their vicinity later this month. You WILL get yours - someday soon. That's a promise. :)

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), November 15, 2000.

Gee thats funny. I thought you were much less friendly in person. Oh wait...nevermind.

-- cin (cin@cin.cin), November 15, 2000.

LOL

And did I mention ptttttphth?

-- Besides, some people like spankings.. (so@there.!!!), November 15, 2000.

I find it interesting that so many anonymous handles have been popping up on the political discussion threads. What's up with that? If they feel strongly enough to voice an opinion, why then are they so afraid to stand behind their convictions by using their "real" handle? Seems awfully cowardly to me.

-- CD (costavike@hotmail.com), November 15, 2000.

(OT): How important is your nickname/handle and your online reputation? What is with the (OT)? Been reading too much Ezboard? Everything here is off topic. At least, that is my experience.

I am home with whatever version of the flu is going around. I can look out of the window. The house is directly surrounded by clusters of chestnut trees. Further out, we have oak, hickory and walnut. I can see about 15 or 20 pines in the front field. The mast is heavy this year. We have a snow storm moving in. The animals know. I just counted 14 squirrels in the front yard and about 40 wild turkeys in the back. They are chowing down. Just watched a big Tom peck the hell out of a small fox and chase it into the woods. As I type this in front of the window, quail just came to the feed box. We plant plots of sunflower and milo for the birds. They are now full of migrating grackles. We have wood ducks and mallards in the pond. These are animals trying to survive. Whatever scenario we create for ourselves, we are no different. These things are important.

Now about names. What is in a name [apologies to whomever William plagiarized]? Not much. It can be a reflection of the person we think we are at the moment. Historically, it links us to our ancestors. Not much more. It is very important, if our glory rests with our ancestors.

Here, I just try to be consistent. Z1X4Y7 was the name given to me by AOL. I assume it was approved by God; if he/she could get an appointment with Case. I consider that unlikely. Bill Gates maybe, but not God. The Email address was real and over the years on this and the previous sites, I had Email discussions with participants. I dropped the Email address because of the amount of spam that I was getting. DonBt think it was from here. I do post to a lot of photography sites. The porn-meisters seem to feel that people discussing Deardorfs and Hasselblads are also interested in porn. Selective blocking didnBt work, so I just turned-off the address.

Here, I am consistent; I am just Z1X4Y7 and Cin [I love to argue with myself :^) ].

Best wishes,,,,

Z

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), November 15, 2000.

Folks,

< begin English lesson>

There's a difference between "anonymous" and "pseudonymous".

Handles are pseudonymous, not anonymous.

< end English lesson >

My pseudonym originated as a longer version that was a pun on the title of a dinner-theater farce. Then I used this shortened form as a personal spam-preventive measure -- it seems to have worked well in that regard. Now I stick with it for the sake of continuity and recognition.

I've posted my real name and location several times on this and other fora where I use my nym. Anyone who has a sincere need to know them can find them, or ask. E-mail sent to the e-address I list below will reach me, though not necessarily the same or next day.

-- No Spam Please (nos_pam_please@hotmail.com), November 15, 2000.

Trust me, you cannot trust people who will not use their real name.

-- (nemesis@awol.com), November 15, 2000.

I'm just moi ; )

Having fun and bein' myself,what others do is out of my control.

-- capnfun (capnfun1@excite.com), November 15, 2000.

"Trust me, you cannot trust people who will not use their real name."

Who says you can trust people who DO use their real name?!

:-)

-- Patricia (PatriciaS@lasvegas.com), November 15, 2000.

Good point, No Spam.

Webster's Definition of pseudonymous:

: bearing or using a fictitious name

Webster's Definitions of anonymus:

1 : not named or identified 2 : of unknown authorship or origin 3 : lacking individuality, distinction, or recognizability

Use of a pseudonym combined with a phony email address = anonymous poster, as far as I see it.

Rich

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), November 15, 2000.

Z: Beautiful writing. Can I move in with you? Sounds like a beautiful place and all the free Turkey's you want.?

I've used my handle since the old tb days. I posted my email addy here even after i got spammed. (courageous one that I am.)

I do agree with the poster re: the election, why so many annonymous?

We are who we are and Pat is right, who said you can trust because the name is real?

I mean, look at Bingo. :-0

PS, my name is.....carrie. the above email is the LAST time I shall give it out.

PSS, it fits me to a tee!!!!

-- Carrie/Sumer/Consumer? (sezme38@aol.com), November 15, 2000.

I don't read EZBoard, Z.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, sumer. "Don't pile on da wabbit..." :)

The question was meant to be introspective. Do we value our online reputations? Something to chew on. Much needed, IMO, after more than a week of intense mostly anonymous baiting and backbiting.

Rich

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), November 15, 2000.

Rich, my friend, as to the phrase, "Don't pile on da wabbit...", the actual phrase is (god help me that I know this and that I'm REVEALING that I know this.....), "Dog pile on da wabbit.....dog pile on da wabbit..." and the cartoon from whence it hails is entitled, "A Hare Grows In Manhattan".

Cartoon connoisseur over here.

-- Patricia (PatriciaS@lasvegas.com), November 15, 2000.

I've found out that Netscape 6.0 is a crummy browser. I'd like to change my name so does that make me mean and evil? :-P

No Spam, I've been enjoying your posts about the electoral college and I remember your posts about acid reflux. You are obviously a very bright person who has gained a lot of respect with your postings...I'm wondering why you don't just come out and tell us who you are?

>Do we value our online reputations?

Some people do and some people don't. I suppose anyone that uses a real name for their handle should. I think if someone posts with their real first name and their true last name it might be wise not to act crazy online. Of course, we'll never know what they really think about a lot of issues then, will we?

-- (Netsc@pe 6.0), November 15, 2000.

You mean I have a reputation? To uphold?

(capnfun swings in on rope with scabbord in hand,grabs the fair maiden(s) thus rescuing them from the treacherous grasp of the villans,then shares ice cold beers and herbal attitude adjusters to calm the poor damzels nerves)

Oh! That reputation? ; )

-- capnfun (capnfun1@excite.com), November 15, 2000.

Reminds me of the song "Just a swangin" um, with the Cap on da rope.

Hee hee, hemp rope, no? :-0

-- (shh@aol.com), November 15, 2000.

(Netsc@pe 6.0),

Flattery will get you somewhere. :)

I'm Richard Woods, age 51, living in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin (just outside Milwaukee).

-- No Spam Please (nos_pam_please@hotmail.com), November 15, 2000.

I agree that No Spam makes valuable contributions, and resorts to childish name calling much less frequently than the anonymous types usually do. Good day, Mr Woods. A pleasure to meet you.

I've never posted under any other name than my own, and my email address has always been real. I just don't respect hit-and-run posters. I'm willing to hit for sure, but I'm always here to be hit back. I'll even say ouch if you get in a good one.

I'm 53, a firmware engineer in Huntsville, Alabama.

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), November 15, 2000.

Oh no! I didn't mean for you to post personal information! I thought maybe you would post your other alias's because I've been thinking maybe you are Tarzan.

As long as I'm here, I'm wondering if you've worked in politics or have a degree in poly sci? You don't have to answer that if you don't want to...I'll try to e-mail you tomorrow.

-- (Netsc@pe 6.0), November 15, 2000.

Oh no! I didn't mean for you to post personal information! I thought maybe you would post your other alias's because I've been thinking maybe you are Tarzan.

^^^^ Translation : I am NOT looking for an internet hook-up so leave personal out of it. *eh, inserted own translation* hee hee

-- (shh@aol.com), November 15, 2000.

(Netsc@pe 6.0),

>I didn't mean for you to post personal information!

As I said, I've already posted this info before.

>I thought maybe you would post your other alias's

My ... other? ... aliases? What other aliases?

Okay, I'll admit it. There was a period when I occasionally posted trivial stuff (like supplying a missing hot link) over a different alias -- usually just some punctuation marks, like "-(-@-)", that others had used many times, also. But I haven't done that for months.

>because I've been thinking maybe you are Tarzan.

Oh, no, no, no, no. Robert "Tarzan" Tarjan was another math major in the same student house at college, a year ahead of me. He's won a prestigeous international math award -- look him up; do a net search on "Tarjan".

Oh -- you didn't mean him ...

>As long as I'm here, I'm wondering if you've worked in politics or have a degree in poly sci?

Me? No.

Well, I once edited telephone call lists for a candidate back in the 1970s, for a few hours.

>You don't have to answer that if you don't want to.

I'd rather not say which candidate. :-)

-- No Spam Please (nos_pam_please@hotmail.com), November 15, 2000.

Guilty as charged...ready for my punishment.

But just let me add, I've never been nasty about it. It's not in my nature. I might have posted a few pics here and there...and added a comment or two...but I've never attacked anyone.

I used to use my real e-mail but I stopped because some people click that notify me button when they post a thread and I started getting returned mail notifications. Plus it's a long one to type.

See...

-- Peg (pegmcleod@mediaone.net), November 15, 2000.

Carrie:

I call myself Flint, but I am really Lady Logic. Why do you think providing "real" information makes someone more honest. See, above. Only ideas and facts count.

Best wishes,,,,

Z

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), November 15, 2000.

Flint,

Well, thank you!

I've admired your analyses here for a long time. I'm glad you didn't quit for good a while back.

Good day.

-- No Spam Please (nos_pam_please@hotmail.com), November 15, 2000.

By-the-by Carrie:

I was just pointing out how easy it is to fake these things. Of course, Flint isn't Lady Logic. Now, the Email that I got suggesting that Hawk was the masculine side of Anita; well I don't know; I will have to think about that one.

Best wishes,,,,

Z

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), November 15, 2000.

Dogpile! My fav search site.

I've learned something here today - Patricia knows Bugs. How could I have spent three decades in utter ignorance? This is a debt which I may never be able to adequately repay. IF we ever get to McSorley's Ms. Patricia, you will keep your money in your pocket. OK, you can spring for the plate of cheese, crackers and onions. I get to spread the mustard (you had to be there).

Only ideas and facts count

When they are floating in yer head, I agree. When they are put out for perusal on a public board they should be accounted for, IMO.

R-E-S-P-O-N-S-I-B-I-L-I-T-Y

For better or worse internet fora are communities. Mashers, bashers and bums hide behind pseudonyms (see, I learned two things TODAY) and anonymity, generally speaking.

Rich

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), November 15, 2000.

No_Spam is a MAN? My prediction abilities just took a dive.

-- Anita (Anita_S3@hotmail.com), November 15, 2000.

It all depends on what the meaning of real is.

-- Flintindrag (Ladylogic45@aol.com), November 15, 2000.

Rich:

You need to look-up facts. The word includes the concept; verifiable.

Best wishes,,,,

Z

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), November 15, 2000.

Z:

Facts are rare as moon rocks in this place. I bypassed this word and reacted to the ideas portion of the statement. Good parse.

Rich

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), November 15, 2000.