These days we want "transparency" in all institutions, even private ones. There's one massive exception -- the Internet. It is, we are told, a giant town hall. Indeed, it has millions of people speaking out in millions of online forums. But most of them are wearing the equivalent of paper bags over their heads. We know them only by their Internet "handles" -- gotalife, runningwithscissors, stoptheplanet and myriad other inventive names.
Too bad journalism schools don't teach about the eminent journalist, Benjamin Franklin, anymore.
During the eighteenth century, it was common for writers and journalists to use pseudonyms, or false names, when they created newspaper articles and letters to the editor. Franklin used this convention extensively throughout his life, sometimes to express an idea that might have been considered slanderous or even illegal by the authorities; other times to present two sides of an issue, much like the point-counterpoint style of journalism used today.
Ben Franklin aka:
Silence Dogood
Caelia Shortface and Martha Careful
Busy Body
Anthony Afterwit
Alice Addertongue
Richard Saunders
Polly Baker
Benevolus
Mr. Grubisich, when you strip the stereotypes away with a pen name, you're left with one thing - an idea. Could be a good idea, bad idea, or mediocre idea. If you are concerned about anonymity on the internet perhaps your real problem is your inability to reason with someone's idea.
Perhaps Mr. Grubisich thinks we would be better served if sites like these didn't have anonymous authors.
H/T CQ
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