Despite trolls, hate, and lies, we still need online anonymity

[hrmjustin]

Brian Pellot

This week I spoke about “challenges for religious freedom in the digital age” at the International Association for Religious Freedom’s world congress in Birmingham, U.K.

Audience members and panelists identified anti-religious “hate speech” as one of today’s most pressing concerns. The real problem, most agreed, is online anonymity.

When trolls hide behind pseudonyms they can say whatever they like to offend and to inflict emotional pain, some argued. So what’s to stop anonymous Internet users from inciting violence, spewing libel and spilling state secrets?

Existing laws, terms of service and community guidelines.

- See more at: http://brianpellot.religionnews.com/2014/08/28/internet-free-speech-anonymity-religious-freedom-syria-iraq-facebook-google-twitter/#sthash.gfG2wrCI.dpuf

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

1. In another thread, cbayer and I are talking about where we live in Italy

Neither one of us is more specific than the region. I know that if I were to give the specific town where my apartment is, it would be easy to track me down, as my wife and I, AFAIK, are the only Americans in the town. I have also mentioned that my apartment is on the Piazza Karl Marx (Umbria used to be a stronghold of the Italian Communists), which would make tracking me down child's play if I were to mention the town.

[cbayer]

2. Agree with that.

My anonymity has been breached previously on this site and it can be a very anxiety provoking situation.

We all have people that don't like us here, and some that are even obsessive about it. I assume that most people are harmless, but it would be naive to think that everyone is.

So while I think anonymity creates an atmosphere that can lead to more abuse and hostility, I agree with the author that it is necessary.

[hrmjustin]

3. Yeah it is better to be cautious.

[rug]

4. Personally, I wouldn't mind meeting some of them.

[okasha]

5. Because of trolls, hate snd lies,

we still need anonymity.

[hrmjustin]

6. Lol yes.

We have a site devoted to trolling this place.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

7. We do?

[hrmjustin]

8. Yes.

There are at least two websites that do this. I willsend you a pm on their names.

[el_bryanto]

9. They are amusing

Probalby more than two - once there was a blog called the DU Wolverines - because I guess like the Wolverines in Red Dawn they would come over hand and . . . fire explosive arrows of rhetoric at us?

They are defunct now I think, but there are always a few around.

Bryant