While we have had many discussions in class about privacy on the Internet I think anonymity is taking it a step too far. I think if people are going to post something on the Internet they should be held responsible for that content. Particularly when reading the “Economy of Offense” section I am left feeling that there is little to no good that comes out of anonymity on the Internet. Sure, many people find it hard to socialize in person and I can empathize with that but these platforms mentioned contain “a nonstop barrage of obscenity, abuse, hostility, and epithets related to race, gender, and sexuality” as stated in this reading. Can anyone tell me what good has come (not can) from anonymity on the web, preferably from one of the sites mentioned in the reading? Saying “freedom of speech” is not a valid argument. You are allowed freedom of speech on the Internet as long as it doesn’t contain content mentioned in the quote above, which in my opinion, has no place on the Internet. If you are going to go as far as spewing your bat-shit beliefs on the Internet I’m surprised that so many refuse to link their identity to it. It’s what they believe in, is it not?
This reading has also opened my eyes to yet another thing leaving me disappointed in the human race. I thought reality television was about as low as it could get but now that I’ve read this article I have come to realize there are even worse ways people waste their time here on earth. Not only is the Internet and sites mentioned in the reading in some cases, a world separate from reality, they are ones filled hate. There are many forums and chartrooms on the Internet used to discuss academic/important things which I find to be one of the promising aspects of the Internet, but people do not need anonymity to discuss these things. So why do these people really want anonymity? To discuss things deemed inappropriate to share on the Internet.
I hope during our class discussion someone can talk about anonymity from a positive perspective rather than negative, I’m struggling to see any good coming out of this and would like to hear all sides if anyone has a different viewpoint.