Commenting Anonymously

Sean Cummins wrote a pretty serious piece regarding anonymous comments on the internet.

Here at Pigs Don’t Fly I’m a fan of the anonymous commenter. I mean, I’ve received everything from abuse to death threats, and just last week in a very witty comment I was called a “homo”. Yet I still allow anonymous commenting.

I do it because complete anonymity is a rare thing and it’s one of the interesting unique features of the interwebs. Of course this has it’s problems, but let’s not forget the anonymous produce some of the most creative stuff on the internet (and not to mention LOLcats). They also do some pretty impressive stuff offline.

Sure, some anonymous comments are shit. But you have to take them for what they are. By allowing people to comment anonymously, they’re more likely to do so and more likely to express an honest point of view. Sometimes this comes at the cost of your ego or confidence, but they’re certainly not going anywhere.

(In before anyone, yes I’m expecting a lot of “homo” comments on this post.)

4 Comments
  • Craig Cee
    Posted at June 5, 2011 9:23pm, 05 June Reply

    Im about to open a new website and after many yrs of owning and running sites, I have seen every possible amount of abuse that is known to mankind, if people wish to say the things they do, at least have the balls to attach a name to the abuse, I never allowed it in previous sites and will not allow it in the new one, they may join under assumed identities, but I always know who they are. 😉

  • Anonymous
    Posted at June 6, 2011 12:10pm, 06 June Reply

    homo

  • Anonymous
    Posted at June 14, 2011 11:09pm, 14 June Reply

    Just an interesting fact.

    In Brand Management we were 'heavily encouraged' to use the discussion site for the subject, and week after week we would be asked why nobody is posting anything there.

    I suggested they allow for people to post anonymously, all of a sudden the forum was used by many students.

    Some people might be afraid to put their name to something due to embarrassment, or many other reasons.

    Definitely agree with you here Zac!

  • Michael Bian
    Posted at October 17, 2013 6:58pm, 17 October Reply

    Interesting insights.

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