The anonymous function

[Freida]

Maybe the jaded memories of being a former state employee where I was stringently taught to never put anything in writing in any way, shape, or form that I wasn't fully prepared and ready to defend in a court of law lingers in the back of my mind in my online interactions.

Yes!!! so many likes to this!!

 

[Deleted member 541]

@Tornadic Thoughts I agree that the anonymous function allows for a more snippy response. That’s one of the reasons I don’t really like the function. I don’t want to hide behind something, to say what I truly feel, because then it isn’t the authentic “me” talking. And we all know, that I say what’s on my mind. It’s that no filter thing going on.

Everything we say online stays forever. That’s something we can’t hide from. It’s there for anyone to see. My moniker or screen name or whatever you want to call it, is a nickname my grandfather gave me as a young child, so my family (abusers) would only need to do a search for She Cat and they could find this site and everything I’ve written. Oh well, shit happens!!!!

 

[lostforgottensoul]

There are so many reason's a person may want to use this function and I don't think anyone on the forum should object or question the use of it.

I don't think anyone is but rather they are trying to understand why some use it. Not objecting or questioning but just trying to understand.

I know that googling can bring up stuff from this site. The internet never forgets and yes people and sites are hacked everyday.

But your IP stays the same regardless and if your username on here (which can be changed, yearly I believe) is different then any place else, what's the issue? That is what I don't understand. If the device/PC or site is hacked then you can still be found by your IP unless you use a VPN and that can use used without anon feature.

It is also good to remember the privacy conditions on this site. If you haven't read them. Have a good look. If push came to shove...the site might need to hand over info., (I am talking legal proceedings here)

And again, username not hidden by the admin and founder and if no one knows your username here, which can be changed? I just don't get the difference here. That's just me though.

It also bugs me when I occasionally see some pretty snippy responses and feel attitudes coming through towards others in the anonymous threads that I don't typically see/feel in the other threads, so I tend to steer clear of that space more often than not.

Yes, yes, yes!

 

[Deleted member 541]

@lostforgottensoul is correct, I’m not judging why or objecting to anyone using the function. I personally don’t like it, but wanted to know why others do use it and for what reasons. That’s all....

 

[lostforgottensoul]

It also makes it so we can't thread ban the person as I don't believe we can thread ban an anon profile. I maybe wrong about that but even if I am, that means no one under anon can post and that is the same for ignoing. Ignore the anon profile and I am ignoring anyone that uses it. It makes it so we don't know who it is and cannot take proper "protection" steps and that's not fair. So please, those that use the anon feature, see it from our prespective as well.

 

[Deleted member 37474]

It also makes it so we can't thread ban the person as I don't believe we can thread ban an an...

Wondering if when you create your thread you can thread ban anonymous from the start? Then you won’t have to worry about it after the thread gets going? This is in no way to be mean to anonymous posters, just a boundary to put in place if that is a thread creator’s concern?

 

[Friday]

If you’re the OP, and are having problems with @anonymous, open a help ticket.

 

[Muttly]

I think there's a bit of black/white thinking for some people talking about being anonymous online. I'm realistic. I know nothing online is truly secure. I know there could be a breach and my personal info found out. I'm not thrilled with that, but it's the world we live in. I don't worry about it though, just like I don't much worry about being struck by lightening (random example).

I do not really want people in my real life finding me. I would not like coworkers, neighbors, friends, etc, finding my posts here. Is it possible, sure? Is it likely? Probably not, because I am very, very careful. I don't completely hide where I live but never narrow it down to an area that covers several states. I talk about my job(s) in a general way because many, many people have the types of jobs I do. Except for my last job and that's very unique and I avoid any and all details that could point me towards that job. I don't use my pet names and do all sorts of other things to obscure my identity. Here's where I think some posters view this issue a bit black/white. Is my identity completely protected? Of course not. Could a hacker find it? Sure. I doubt my friends, neighbors, coworkers are going to be going to that level of hacking to find out about me. If they are, I have larger issues.

I really, really don't want my family or origin to find me online. They have twice in the past. So, I know it can be done. I was younger and less careful. Both times they found me online, it was used as a way to attack me. Again, they aren't hackers. And even if a hacker broke into this site, then what? There not contacting my family as nothing much online links me to them. Maybe they just post a list of information online that includes my details other members here. That's a lot of data to go out, and the chance that my family would find me in it is pretty slim. If a breach happened and my info was posted, could they connect me to it. Maybe. But the chances of all the right cards falling into place are slim. Life is full of risk and I will have to live with that level of risk

I could see myself using the anonymous function if I felt I was getting close to revealing things that could match the cyber me that exists here to the me that lives in the flesh.

 

[Lionheart]

Over the past 8+ years, I have used the anonymous function a coupla times; when I was fearful of an angry reaction from others, when I felt self-doubt about my response, or was feeling uneasy about the topic of conversation. Generally I steer clear of using it as I usually speak my honest opinion, from my experience, or from my heart.

I suppose it has it's uses, but I don't think it is a good idea to "hide" behind it all the time...I would rather know the screen name of the person I am speaking with. That way I believe I can be more helpful and feel less inhibited about the persons identity.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I do not like the way a person can hide behind the anonymous function to dump on others. I do not think that most anonymous users do this. But I feel sad when a person hides behinds it to do that. In real life the person would not have that option but I guess it serves the purpose to let off some steam. Otherwise I understand more now since this thread, which I appreciate greatly so much, the reasons most users do use the anymonymous function. I have way more understanding now than I did before.