Dennis Prager writes for Townhall:
Being identifiable breeds responsibility; anonymity breeds irresponsibility.
That is why people — even generally decent people — tend to act so much less morally when in a crowd (the crowd renders them anonymous). That is why people tend to act more decently when they walk around with their names printed on a nametag. That is why people act more rudely when in their cars — they cannot be identified as they could outside of their car. There is no question but that most people would write very different entries on the Internet if their names were printed alongside their submission.
E-mail provides another example. It is the very rare individual who sends a hate-filled, obscenity-laced e-mail that includes his name. As the recipient of such e-mails, I know firsthand how rarely people identify themselves when sending hate-filled mail. It is so rare, in fact, that I usually respond to hate mail that includes the writer’s name just to commend him for attaching his name to something so embarrassing.
Anonymous responds:
I am sick and tired of his pontification. People act ethically or not, all day long. Otherwise our world wouldn’t exist. Example: Would you drive through a red light at 2:00 a.m.? Same with Anonymous bloggers. Some will and some won’t, depends in their moral standing. Anonymity affords the little guy equal footing in a forum where his voice can be heard. A place to air out concerns and check if other people experienced the same. Telling the truth without fearing reprisals from the Big Mach’ers e.g. SACRED COWS.
Sorry, Dennis! This is the newest vehicle of FREE SPEECH. Anyway, who died and made you Official Spokesman of Ethics? Time to get your pampas Tuch’as off your self-elected thrown. Rest assure; people will be fine. And…Speaking of Truth, let me be honest with you: You are a boring Has-Been and an intellectual fraud. How about getting a REAL job like Luke?
