There's an explosion of genuine and multifaceted controversy here (who knew?) I'll stand by my first post which K Rex imported from another thread to start this thread. I don't think he and I agree but he at least called my post "thought-provoking", which I'll take as praise.

"Community" is often glibly used as a metaphor describing on-line groups like stickist.com, but I feel these forums are the real thing, each one having the essential attributes of a living community.

An alternative metaphor for such forums might be "masquerade ball" and it does seem true that we're less inhibited while cloaked in disguise. Under the mask we seem to express ourselves more "openly", but do we get any closer (Mr. Wilde?) to honest opinion and exchange? My feeling is, we live out our truths, demonstrated in our lives, while our words might just as easily mislead as illuminate. How to know the difference? That's where name and reputation comes into play to back up the words, as in societies of all times and places.

Dubyasee asks whether I'm "not so keen on secret ballot as well?" Anonymity while supporting your candidate with one vote seems somehow different than using pseudonyms and avatars for on-line opinion and criticism. The creators of our Constitutional system were intent on balancing power in favor of the citizen against his or her government, in case it ever became oppressive as in their earlier homelands. Because of such concerns the voter gained privacy behind the curtain and freedom to render a true vote.

To complicate the matter, voters must register and are thus identified. Also, the act of voting can turn into a deceptive tactic, that of registering with the party you oppose, then voting in the primaries for their weakest candidate.

I'd like the Internet to remain unregulated by big government and big business alike, but it seems we live in a rare time, a utopia with mixed blessings, and that the power blocks will eventually close in. I hope the Internet stays bigger than them all, as vast as the high seas, and yes, there be dragons and pirates. BSharp

Here in Massachusetts an unaffiliated voter can vote in the party of their choice's primary. It's kind of funny how the democrat/republican party system is integrated into the election system since they're not state establishments. But that's a total digression, just an interesting thought.

Dan

Emmett,

First, you state we do not agree... then you say the following:



This is the crux of my argument, although I'm certain HOPE without action will end the era of the free internet as we know it. The question is, what can we do to stop the power blocks from closing in?

Emmett, on what point, exactly, do you feel we disagree?

Kev

Emmett,

Also, thanks for taking the time to post here. I know you're a busy fellow, and it's evident that your reponses are thought through before you post them. It's valuable to me to speak with people who are intelligent, though we may not always agree.

That goes for other regulars on this forum as well.

Kevmodeus Rexorum ad nauseum

Kev, you imported my post that ended with my question, "So again, how is Internet freedom bound together with anonymity?" You replied that it's "the only way we can ensure our total freedom to communicate any and all ideas without the fear of a poisonous, politically correct environment...", to which I countered, "Seems a grim freedom, speaking out from a hiding place."

Now you ask, "Emmett, on what point, exactly, do you feel we disagree?" It's on that first point, anonymity. You're certain that it's essential to Internet freedom and I expressed uncertainty, to which you commented, "thought provoking".

As I see it, we're already too mobile a society. (Get outta town on the Grayhound.) (Play the same game with another name.) Given names mean far less in today's society. We can act like energetic jerks on the freeway (in L.A. at least) with easy aggression and insults with no consequences, and now we have the Internet to boost it all up several notches.

I'm not sure how anonymity became a dominant part of Internet culture except that it's a technical feature built into the software (that is, because we can!). Anonymity almost seems more of a style, creeping into our new virtual world. (I'm BSharp and wait 'til you see my avatar.) In most cases there seem to be no ulterior motives, just a big costume party. In many cases you could even use your own name, or a legally changed name, and still be in hiding.

I come back to my "lessons of nature" mode. We're given a face, a voice, even a personality beyond our conscious control, and normally a lengthy life span in which to carry out our "soul purposes" of existence. In other words, we're recognizable! On top of that we build a reputation, becoming even more familiar with age. Shouldn't such rich complexity of human relations be added to the Internet software?

There are bound to be huge changes as the Internet grows and not just in size. And I'm sure there will be endless controversy with every new twist. Best, Emmett.

Thank you. I apologize for my earlier outbursts. It just hit me wrong first thing in the morning that an interesting discussion was being turned in a laundry list of Traktor's sins. I did try to erase the posting a few minutes after posting it. The subsequent dig was inappropriate, sorry.

This is exactly why free and unrestricted access to the internet is so important. Places like Stickist - virtual places - are pan-global. Anyone from anywhere in the world can post here on any subject they wish - except China that is, and Iran maybe, and Burma, and possibly North Korea, and and and ..... but if people in those countries can get around the blocks, they can inform us about issues happening in their neck of the woods that we will never see on the news. We are all human and we all have rights. [I personally wish here in the UK we had something like you do in America, a Constitution, a Bill of Rights as a cornerstone of our legal framework.]

Despite the national boundaries that exist we do live in a global community. Despite our ethnic and cultural differences, forums like Stickist allow us to mix - albeit virtually - with people we would never otherwise meet. When I search ebay for something I only get results from a limited area. When I was looking for a Stick I had to go to the U.S. ebay site to find Sticks in America. If ebay can stop me from seeing things in America just imagine what could be hidden from people if the internet becomes less free.

Yes Emmett, names mean little enough already. I know of a guy who changed his real name to Zaphod Beeblebrox by deed poll - far more interesting than Joe Bloggs. That is one of the joys of the internet - you can have multiple identities and avatars - if you want to play merry hell under a guise then you can, but you also have the choice to identify yourself if you want to stand by what you say and stand up for what you believe in. An honest person will always let you know who they are one way or another. It did not take long for me to work out who BSharp was - just reading your posts revealed your identity.

I absolutely do not believe in people hiding behind a mask to sew discord just for the sake of it [or even 'dischord' or datchord], but I do believe in them having the right to do so. I don't have to listen to what they are saying, I have the ability to filter them out. What I don't want is not to have the choice to filter them in.

Emmett,

Your post was thought-provoking precisely because you asked an interesting question without taking a firm stance either way. Then, you seemed to take an absolute stance by saying you hoped the net would remain open, free and unrestricted... though there be pirates.

Unrestricted access = anonymity, it's that simple. Why must it be so? Because if the internet remains a source of great knowledge and power, it must be open and free to all; to political dissidents, fun-loving freaks, investigative journalists, scientists and malcontents alike.

This is why I assumed we agreed on all points, but you know what they say about assumption.

We can all agree that we don't necessarily LIKE the way people use their anonymity, but the origin of the post was how anonymity and net freedom are bound. It has to do with unrestricted access. Total information access cannot be restricted by the government. If that happens, it will become a vehicle for governmental control of information, like we see in eastern nations.

Kev

... and American cable news

Does this mean I can't sign your Free Hands book?

Tritone