Poll: Should posters on this board be anonymous?

Poll Question:

Should posters on DegreeInfo.com be allowed to post - without using their real names?

Barry Foster

 

I posted this poll question - not to attempt to direct policy or create more work for our hardworking and much appreciated admin team, but to help us develop more accountability to those of us who dish out the advice.

My position is this: We need to create a social norm (a clear expectation). The norm would expect posters to use their real names. I don't think it should be forced as I'm sure there are *very few* circumstances where anonymity would be helpful to get accurate information. Did I say VERY FEW clearly enough?

How do I see this working? (I don't know what the software can and can't do, so I'm going to assume no change in software or admin workload). As a social norm, we could:

Prior to launching into the discussion, *always and consistently* demand accountability by pointing out when someone posts debatable ideas via a cloak of anonymity. (Of course, what's not debatable on this board??) If an anomymous poster hears it from 2-5 poster *every* time for *every* reply, s/he'll get the message. They can still elect to ignore it, but ya gotta love the power of peer pressure!

When this norm is ignored, the person would be reminded about the norm - prior to any response by a real-namer. This would serve as a warning to new (and welcomed) participants that:

(a) We are accountable for our ideas - even when we are wrong.
(b) We expect you to be accountable as well. It's OK to be wrong, but be accountable.

Maybe someone can offer a better solution. What do you think?

Barry Foster

 

I don't know if it matters that much. Some people prefer anonymity, and as long as they don't use that anonymity to spam or be disruptive, I don't see the harm. Very often we see people joining just to ask about a specific program, I don't think they should be required to post their personal info if they feel uncomfortable doing so.

OTOH, if someone is seeking advice on a school, they would do well if they accepted anonymous advice with a grain of salt.

And for those who don't know, my last name is Tait (I don't know why I didn't register my last name, it was awhile ago).


Bruce


[Note: This message has been edited by Bruce]


[Note: This message has been edited by Bruce]

 

I think important information regarding distance learning choices for study and degrees is more credible and reliable from a "real" person rather than an anonymous poster. It's a case of the known vs the unknown. There is just no way to know whether an anonymous poster has experience and knowledge of DL (if giving advice) or is making legitimate inquiries (if asking advice).

Those who are serious about answering queries with valid information should stand behind their suggestions and comments. Which is why I changed to my real name after several months here (with permission from board admin).

Leslie Bowman
aka Sunnie http://onlineteach.homestead.com

 

Hello. I prefer real names. I am looking for honest advice in the academic forum and feel better when I see what I believe to be a real name. I'm looking forward to the new format with new graduate offerings. Thanks for the continued good advice. Hille Baldyga

 

I prefer that posters use their real names, but I agree with Bruce, that as long as they are following forum rules, posters can hold on to their anonymity, if they so choose.

I suspect that we are all a little more comfortable with taking advice from someone with a name, rather than from someone who is anonymous. Perhaps, even more important than a name, is profile information. If someone is giving me advice on IT degrees, for instance, and I look at their profile and see that they work in the IT field, I can place a little more importance on that advice. I realize, of course, that users can lie about profile information, but they can also use false names, for that matter.

Posters need to realize that their advice will be taken more seriously, and their input will be more appreciated if they post using real names. Once, I posted a message to a career advice board on another website. After posting her answer to the board, the adminstrator sent me a personal e-mail thanking me for using my real name. It does matter to some people.

Tracy<><

 

I'm going to agree with Bruce and say that it doesn't really matter.

If a post makes a valid point, then the point remains valid regardless of who wrote it.

Names are really only important to buttress personal authority. And my policy is to accept as little as possible on personal authority. No matter who says it, if I am skeptical that it is correct, then I will want them to explain to me why I should believe it.

So I vote to let people post anonymously if they are more comfortable doing that. But they should be reminded that if they expect us to accept their personal authority, they may be called upon to come out of the closet and justify it.

 

I agree with Bruce, Tracy and Bill, I do prefer that people use their real names, especially when they make or take strong stands that could be taken to be a "party line". But, I do understand why some prefer anonymity.

My wife is a free lance writer and tries to keep our home address out of print. But we do keep a web presence to let people know about us: http://www.albrechts.com/ and http://www.albrechts.com/construction/



------------------
M. C. (Mike) Albrecht, PE

 

I really prefer real names. Perhaps this is because most of my life was in the pre-internet era, when I would have not taken seriously a letter or inquiry from "Baldy Fatso" or "Oscar17328."

My second choice would be a system whereby people provided their real name to the moderators (of whom I am not one), but could use a screen name if they wished.

 

No

Regrds,
Dick

 

My preferences are the above two, in that order. Absent these, opinions and experiences of anonymous posters are not only not credible, they are not real. They should not be construed as reliable sources of information or opinion.

Rich Douglas

 

Real names only! There is no way to assure the validity, legitimacy or credibility of anonymous posters.

Russell
aka, Fatso Baldy

 

I'm tempted to say it doesn't matter to me one way or the other. Then I remember the tail end of the alt.education.distance forum and an anonymous review of one of the Bear's Guides I saw posted on Amazon. Clearly some people have other interests than merely preserving their privacy. With this in mind, I'd be in favor of requiring real names for use by the moderators, but allowing a screen name if the user prefers.

My concern is preserving the dicotomy between my personal opinions/warped sense of humor, and the interests of the program I represent. I use my full signature when I'm providing program information; otherwise it's just me, hanging out and soaking up the benefits of your pooled knowledge.

 

Hmmm.

I was thinking about this a few days ago while fiddling with the new software we're going to be switching to. It has fields for real name, login, and displayed name, if I remember correctly.

So one possibility might be to require real names and contact information for registration, but not requiring that those names be used for posting. That way, there would be accountability but we could still maintain privacy.

There could be a "transition period" in which existing users who have login names could be given, say, 60 or 90 days to update their registration information. Or the existing users could simply be exempted from the new policy.

Thoughts?

 

1. If it is a good policy (to require real names to the moderators but allow users to display "handles"), then it is a good policy to be applied to all. No grandfathering.

2. Grandfathering is sometimes a good idea, especially when those in place have a financial interest in the status quo, and would be damaged by the change. When the spitball was outlawed in baseball, each team was allowed to name two pitchers (designated spitters?), who were then allowed to use the spitter for the rest of their careers. This was so the rule change wouldn't put anyone out of a job. Well, no spitting at degreeinfo, that's what I always say.

Rich Douglas, wondering how Gaylord Perry and Don Sutton got away with it all those years.

 

IMHO anonymity changes behavior. It generally allows people to act in a less acceptable manner than if their real identity were known. They feel that they can act with impunity. Examples of this can be found throughout the internet, especially on newsgroups. I see no serious reason why this practice should be supported here, especially from those offering advice or answering questions (especially those from newbies).
Jack

 

Yes, posters should be allowed to remain anon. After all, why not?

We are not writing research papers that require footnotes. The purpose of a forum like this is to exchange information.

As an anon poster, I feel more free to be critical of certain educational issues. If I posted with my real name, then I would be more cautious in sharing overly-critical opinions which could haunt me.

They might haunt me anyways!

 

I guess I could register with a stage name if it comes down to requiring a "name" to register.

Mmmmm, let's see... How's Artumus Gordy? It kinda has a nice ring.

 

But in all candor, I am extremely serious about educational issues, regardless of my user name: "me again".

 

All candor? One definition of candor is openness, which doesn't seem to jive with anonymity.

Tracy<><