I know we all like the handles we've so carefully and cleverly chosen for ourselves, and indeed, some are really priceless! But . . . .
I'd like to know what you all think of the conclusion by Mr. Brooks (Arthur Brooks, AEI, and author of "Love your Enemies" ) in the quoted series of tweets from earlier today. I happened to hear him talking with Hugh Hewitt and it got my attention because last week or so I'd actually made a suggestion to an Admin in here that maybe if people used their real names in IDW Community we could circumvent one of the major pitfalls of other social media sites and comment sections.
I have personally eliminated my aliases a while back for the same reasons Brooks gives, mainly that using my real name keeps me civil and more importantly, keeps my integrity uppermost when I'm representing myself online.
Quoted below are Brooks's ideas.
"Many studies show that anonymity lowers people’s morals through what is called “deindividuation”: If I am not an identifiable person, I don’t have to live up to my own moral standards."
"The broader problem on social media is the culture of contempt—treating others with disgust; as utterly worthless. The problem with this is that contempt creates enemies and makes dialog impossible."
"If your goal is persuasion, contempt may feel satisfying but it is inherently self-defeating. Furthermore, it hurts other people and leaves you more stressed and unhappy. Lose-lose."
What are your thoughts on this idea? Please feel free to elaborate rather than just a yay or nay type response.
I put this under General category as it doesn't quite fit anywhere else.
2
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6 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.I think deindividuation is more of being in a hive mind, thinking alike. Individual thoughts ditched for collective thinking.
eschatologyguy
Level 9
May 9, 2022
1
The author of the OP above had long ago deleted her account on here, kind of surprised to see her posts are still floating around on the site.
@SpikeTalon As I understand it, posts that get a lot of responses cannot be edited or deleted anymore after a certain amount of time.
@eschatologyguy Correct.
The problem isn't being anonymous, it's a lack of integrity. If you know my name, doesn't change much, because there's dozens in the U. S. with the same name. What if my name were something like John Smith? Would that really help you feel like I'm acting with more integrity because you know my name? I regret to say I have acted contemptuously online in the past simply because I was not looking the person in the eye when I responded to their irritating posts while using my name. It didn't stop me from behaving badly. Then again, how do you know they are representing their actual name? I could've used Stanley Goodwin -- not my name, but it looks like a name -- enough that you you would probably be fooled into thinking it was my name. And just how are the admins supposed to police such a policy? After all, the only thing they have really tied to me is an email account and it doesn't have my name in it. The post shows an element of authoritarian-think.
Lickspittle
Level 6
Mar 24, 2019
2
@HollyLouise I hope so too. I think rigorous and fair policing of uncivil behavior is the way to go. A stern warning on the first offense with increasing penalties for continued infractions. But, and this is a very important but, it has to be clear and fair. Not done undercover for nebulous infractions, like Facebook and Twitter have done. I enjoy being challenged by reasonal cogent arguments, but not as much as my freedom to be who I am and speak my mind.
I use an alias because (1) I first "hacked" a computer in 1977: old school meaning of "hacked' ie used a computer for something not allowed (playing Star Trek) and (2) it's shortened from an abnormally long name
My real name is on my profile should anyone care
Source:
Not a "black hat" hacker
Phrankhs
Level 7
Mar 24, 2019
0
Some of us have specific reasons for using pseudonyms while interacting online. Furthermore, how would we immediately be able to tell with absolute certainty that the name the individual supplied is in fact their real name? No one should be forced to give out their real name or upload a photo of themselves if they don't want to. Personally speaking, I don't ever intend to become a well known member of the IDW Community (not referring to this site), so knowing that it's really not important to share my real name.
SpikeTalon
Level 10
Mar 24, 2019
3
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