I read a New York Times article called "News Sites Rethink Anonymous Online Comments" which talks about how news websites, such as Washington Post, will implement a real-name-only policy for comment-posting. Online anonymity has always been an inherent aspect of the Internet. It is utilized responsibly by some, but has caused real-life consequences for many others. Stories about the effects of online-bullying spilling over into real life are common.
Arianna Huffington said, “Anonymity is just the way things are done. It’s an accepted part of the Internet, but there’s no question that people hide behind anonymity to make vile or controversial comments."
I find the evolution of the Internet and its norms to be very interesting. Whereas in the past, provocative or ill-intentioned comments were so common and expected that no one felt the need to intervene, now various sites feel the obligation to ensure the appropriateness of their content, even if it's contributed by others.
However, I'm wary of how successful these sites will be in enforcing this policy. People could still use fake names and still make inappropriate comments. Even if a real name is attached to a comment, chances are users will still feel empowered by the inherent anonymity of the Internet, that no one can identify their faces.
(posted by Vicky Chung)
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Hm, there are some places where anonymity would be useful; for example, places like WoW, where knowing someone's real identity isn't really pertinent, versus newspaper comments, where being anonymous isn't really valuable.
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