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Simon Phipps's personal commentary

On anonymous comments

Blogger's comment system allows comments to be added to postings here anonymously. If the system was smart enough, you'd be required to leave a name, e-mail and URL like you would be at most other personal sites (although that, unauthenticated, can sometimes be even worse). Sadly, the system allows either the creation of a new account in accordance with the Blogger/Google terms of service from which to post or a completely anonymous comment posting. I would rather not force all visitors to register so I have left 'anonymous' as an option in good faith.

While I know there are good reasons very occasionally why truly anonymous comments might be a good thing, I believe they are in general bad because they cancel out the one good thing blogs bring to online discsussion, namely accountability. Anonymous comments are more likely to be aggressive, disruptive or even dishonest.

I'm transparent with my identity here - readers can see my photo and read my bio if they choose - and I expect visitors posting comments to be equally transparent. If you mean it, say it and sign it, otherwise don't say anything at all. Consequently I'd like to make it clear that any and all comment postings are expected to have enough information in them to identify you reliably to me - a URL, a hint at an e-mail, a signature from a regular visitor, whatever works. Postings without this information will most likely be deleted. It's a house rule - not up for discussion. And let's not even begin to discuss astroturfing.

posted at 10:33 PM (UK) | |