Text 5643, 68 rader
Skriven 2010-03-04 21:33:10 av Lee Lofaso (3:800/432.0)
   Kommentar till text 5400 av Bob Ackley (1:300/3)
Ärende: Using An Alias 3
========================
Hello Bob,

>LL>The question is not what fido is, but rather what
>LL>rights/privileges participants should have in order to
>LL>protect themselves from harm. My position is very
>LL>simple.  All participants, including sysops and
>LL>moderators, should have the right/privilege to conceal
>LL>their real names when posting messages.  As it is right
>LL>now, only sysops and moderators have that
>LL>right/privilege.

[..]

BA>We went over just this subject several (many!) years ago in POLITICS.
BA>A couple of people there used 'handles' at the time but it wasn't any
BA>secret who they were.  One fellow got all up in arms about the use of
BA>those 'handles,' and I pointed out that unless one was personally acquainted
BA>with the individual one was conversing with via computer one did not know
BA>if the 'real name' being used was in fact that individual's name.

Lots of folks use an alias/handle, including many who participate
in fido.  For example, gamers use an alias/handle on a regular basis.
It is almost unheard of for a gamer to use his/her real name, the use
of an alias/handle being part of the fun of playing the game.  Most
message boards allow the use of an alias/handle, very few requiring
the use of a participant's real name.  Published authors use pen names.
And nobody criticizes them for doing so.  So why should participants
who author words of wisdom in fido be criticized for using an
alias/handle?

BA>A couple of decades ago a poster had been banned from an echo (POLITICS)
BA>and returned using an alias.  When called on it he claimed that alias was in
BA>fact his real name and that he was not the person that had been banned;  the
BA>moderator of the echo (Ed Cleary - I said it was a long time ago) told him
BA>to make a copy of his drivers' license and mail the copy to him.  The fellow
BA>went away.

If an individual fails to use his/her real name when registering with
a bbs, that would be fraud/deception.  However, using an alias/handle
to post messages is not about fraud or deception.  That being the case,
it was none of anybody's business what the individual's real name
happened to be.  Except for the sysop, who would have real reason to
know the real identities of those he/she allows to use his/her system.

The real issue is not about how dangerous it might or might not be to
post messages under one's real name.  The real issue is who decides
whether to use an alias/handle or not when posting messages. In my view,
that decision is best left for all participants to decide for themselves
how to protect themselves (or not) from harm.  No sysop, moderator, or
fido administrator should tell a participant what he/she cannot do.
Especially when those same sysops, moderators, and fido administrators
are reserving that same right/privilege for themselves.

If only policemen had the right to own guns in order to protect
themselves from harm, how would regular citizens be able to protect
themselves from harm?  Would a well-armed Texan be willing to give
up his arms in order to be protected by well-armed policemen?  I
don't think so.  Ask Roy W. and he'll tell you in no uncertain
terms.  Criminals would have a field day in Texas, and policemen
would be sitting in a shop eating doughnuts and drinking coffee.

--Lee


 * SLMR 2.1a * What would Breesus do?

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