Text 5067, 61 rader
Skriven 2010-02-20 11:49:00 av Lee Lofaso (3:800/432.0)
Ärende: Using An Alias 2
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Hello Everybody,

Time to continue this insane rant about using an alias/handle -

The Moderator of this echo, Bjorn Felten, has requested a participant
who chooses to go by the pseudonym Freejack to use his/her real name to
post messages.  Is this fair?  Why, or why not?

This echo, like all other fido echos, is shared with BBS's all across
the country and around the world.  As well as being on the web for all
to see.  Everyone else in this echo is presumed to be using their real
name, so why should Freejack be an exception?  It is common courtesy
that Freejack should do the same as everyone else.  Wouldn't you agree?

Oh.  That's right.  Not all fido participants have to use their real
names.  Forgot about that.  Sysops can use an alias their choosing.
Moderators can use an alias of their choosing.  Nobody has to know
their real names.  The kicker is, sysops and moderators can use an
alias in every single fido echo that exists.  Without exception.
But God forbid participants who are not sysops or moderators use an
alias/handle.  That is a no-no.  A big no-no.  Sysops and moderators
will jump all over you if you decide to go by the name of Freejack
or any other alias/handle.

Why does the use of an alias/handle have such a bad reputation in
fido?  Is it because sysops and moderators want to reserve such use
for themselves, at the expense of everybody else?  What has Freejack
done that is so wrong, that has gotten the Moderator all in a tizzy?

Is the use of an alias/handle rude or dishonest?  The Moderator of
this echo seems to imply that it is.  But he does not say why.  Why
do sysops/moderators assume that anyone other than sysops/moderators
wishing to conceal his/her identity must be up to no good?  Can the
Moderator answer that question?  I am sure he can.  If he wants to.

The fact of the matter is, the Moderator of this echo has an extremely
prejudiced point of view.

Before I continue this rant, let me make it perfectly clear that I
do NOT challenge the need or the right of legitimate government or law
enforcement officials to know the real identities of those who choose
to participate in fido!  However, I do believe, with all my heart and
soul, that a sysop/moderator who collects the real names of participants
has a very serious responsibility to protect that information.  But what
happens if the sysop or moderator is using an alias/handle in order to
deceive no only the participants of an echo in fido, but also to deceive
legitimate government and/or law enforcement officials?  Who is
responsible for those sysops/moderators?

The bottom line is that no one should have access to the data (an
individual's real name) without a legal warrant.  No sysop or moderator
should pressure participants to reveal their real names in a widely
disseminated public forum such as fido or any other network.

--Loose Flea


 * SLMR 2.1a * BE A SAINT + 

--- Maximus 3.01
 * Origin: Xaragmata / Adelaide SA telnet://xaragmata.mooo.com (3:800/432)