The crutch of anonymity on this forum

[djdister]

Perhaps it's just me, but it seems that 95% of the time, the most rude and antagonistic posters are also anonymous - i.e. they are registered users, but their profile does not reveal their name (and usually, nothing at all about them). Does the fact that registered users are allowed to be completely anonymous embolden some percentage of them to routinely be argumentative, antagonistic and just plain obnoxious?

I think it does.

On the flip side, 95% of the posters who routinely post helpful, insightful, and thoughtful responses identify themselves by name in their profile.

The Moderators identify themselves by their real names - why shouldn't everyone else?

[Gem Singer]

It especially annoys me when people post a WTB or FS ad. Then, when answering their, request I discover that they

are located in a country where it is difficult, or impossible, to ship items.

I wish they would state their location, as well as their name.

[Tin Can]

Real names with at least a country would be ideal.

[Preston]

Real names with at least a country would be ideal.

I agree, Randy.

--P

[vinny]

I think I'm in the rude, unhelpful 5%.

[Ari]

I think I'm in the rude, unhelpful 5%.

I don't know, but I'm sure that this comment was helpful in some way.

[Alan Gales]

Kirkwood Athletic Association (baseball and fastpitch softball here in St. Louis) has a forum and everyone was allowed to use fake names. Since my daughter was a pitcher I would try to help other parents of daughters starting out. For some reason some people thought that the style of pitching that their daughter was taught was the only style to learn. They obviously had never seen college ball and would claim certain top pitchers pitched the style that they liked. When I proved them wrong they would just come back on the forum with a different name. The trolls were so bad that KAA eventually made everyone use their real names. There were a lot less posts but at least they were meaningful.

Fortunately, it's nothing like that on here but I think it is easier to be rude when you don't use your real name.

Alan Gales (my real name)

[Heroique]

Real names + anonymous names are both okay in my book, but I think I like symbols even better!

I've been pondering changing my user name to this one: ♣

But I also really like this one: ☺

Either way, in the spirit of Prince, I will proudly be "the LFer previously known as Heroique."

[Tin Can]

Be the first to claim either 'Real Name' or 'Fake Name'.

Go!

[mdarnton]

It was said once before, but I think per-day posting limits would cause people to focus their comments better. However, I'm making liberal, focused use of my ignore list these days, selectively turning off the folks who consistently don't add value. Makes me feel good, and no one else knows. :-)