Comments on: FREE SPEECH AIN’T FREE

By: Mercutio

Mercutio — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

You seem to be ingoring the main reason for anonomity. Today's politic is highly polarized and their a a significant number of nutballs out there on either side of the spectrum. One may reasonbly wish to express an opinion in a public forum without being the target of said nutballs.

By: Mercutio

Mercutio — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

You seem to be ingoring the main reason for anonomity. Today's politic is highly polarized and there are a significant number of nutballs out there on either side of the spectrum. One may reasonbly wish to express an opinion in a public forum without being the target of said nutballs.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

I suppose, although I think the fear is overblown. Ann Coulter, Al Franken, Rush Limbaugh, Howard Stern... and dozens of others seem to avoid being accosted.

By: Mercutio

Mercutio — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

My apologies for the double posting. The Posting pop-up window apparently did not recognize the "Cancel" button.

By: Mercutio

Mercutio — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

James__

A letter from Mark Steyn's website:

"TAKE PRECAUTIONS
Have just read your latest rift on the California recall thing and the column on Maria the Terminatrix. Both marvelous, but got to wondering why the left hasn't let a contract on you. I would certainly hire a security detail for my protection if I were in your place."

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Apparently, thoughts of rampant nutballism are fairly widespread.

Let's remember that Blogs are fairly recent. Internet chat rooms, bulletin boards and uselists have been up and running for at least a decade now, and those of us who actively use them have much experience in the stalking, annoyances, attacks and occasional violence that can occur when some moke learns who you are and takes exception to your opinions.

By: JC

JC — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Remember Moxie vs. Moxie... And that was tame compared to some things in the past.

By: Little Miss Attila

Little Miss Attila — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

I'm anonymous partly because I'd rather that potential clients not know all the sexy (and, more often, unsexy) details of my private life.

But my real overarching reason for anonymity is concern over my physical safety. A handful of bloggers know my real first name, but that's it. I do *not* want potential stalkers out there to know who I am.

Ann Coulter can afford to insulate herself from the commoners to some degree. I cannot.

I hate to say this, but I really do think it's different for women.

By: Director Mitch

Director Mitch — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Didn't a bunch of Drumm supporters start phoning up people and threatening those who disagreed with them? I also remember some of the same people messing with Tacitus, but that must have been email spam. I distinctly remember Drumm issuing a "STOP IT!" posting.

Mine is a nom de plume, but more so since I blog from work (although it's not like I have anything else to do)

By: Mercutio

Mercutio — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

This posting may be in the nature of beating a dead horse, but I do think it is an important issue.

Should opinions published publicly (that may be a redundant phrase) be anonymous?

1) The founding fathers thought it was desirable in at least one case. The one public venue in which a private citizen is likely to publish his/her opinion is in the exercise of the vote, which is mandated to be by secret ballot. Some may argue that a vote is not the same as posting a comment on a blog, but if a vote isn't the expression of one's opinions and preferences, then what is it?

2) Those who run blogs and or choose to sign their true names to their opinion are no longer acting as private citizens but public citizens. There are those who may wish to be heard but still remain private citizens.

3) Yes, anonomity can be abused - most often by those with strong emotions about a subject but lacking in the ability to make a cogent argument. If someone launches an ad hominem diatribe, the issue shouldn't be that the moke was too lowlife to sign it, but that it took place at all.

By: Discount Blogger

Discount Blogger — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

FREE SPEECH AND ANONYMITY Daniel Drezner on Atrios and blogger anonymity:A final thought on Atrios' criticism of Easterbrook. I think that he makes a good point in this post -- namely, that Easterbrook assumed way too much about Eisner and Weinstein's faith. There's also...

By: Lead and Gold

Lead and Gold — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Easterbrook II
Not everyone agrees with the "serves him right" view. Outside the Beltway got it right.:

By: Discount Blogger

Discount Blogger — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

FREE SPEECH AND ANONYMITY
Daniel Drezner on Atrios and blogger anonymity:A final thought on Atrios' criticism of Easterbrook. I think that he makes a good point in this post -- namely, that Easterbrook assumed way too much about Eisner and Weinstein's faith. There's also...

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