Text 7370, 39 rader
Skriven 2013-03-12 19:21:09 av Lee Lofaso (2:203/2)
   Kommentar till text 7369 av Roy Witt (1:387/22)
Ärende: The worst thing about censorship is XXXXXXXXX.
======================================================
Hello Roy,

 LL>> It is not illegal to use a handle/alias on a message board.
 LL>> Insisting on this echo being a "real names only" echo only serves
 LL>> to keep information from being free.

 JD>> It is if the rules of the echo say it is.

RW>OTH, what he is advocating is that the rules for Fnews be changed,
RW>without konwing what he is talking about. There is no written rule
RW>that says one must use their real name in this echo. Only the vocal
RW>word of one of the recognized moderators says that there is.

Once upon a time I thought the "real names only" rule was a good
thing.  Not just in this echo, but in every echo.  But that was long
ago.  Today, I find such a rule as being anti-democratic, and smacks
of censorship.  If an individual wants to use a handle/alias, he/she
should be free to do so, and even encouraged to do so.  For too long,
personal grudges have been displayed in fidonet, based only on the
name that appears before a statement is made.

An individual should be free to post messages under the handle/alias
of his/her choice, and also be free to change that handle/alias to
another handle/alias at will.  Sysops know the real name of who is
using their system.  As such, there is no real anonymity.  Individuals
are in fact using their real names to access a BBS and post messages.

Use of a handle/alias protects a participant from harrassment and
intimidation, as well as being blackballed by Ross Cassell and his
enabler Janis Kracht.  It is unfortunate that the entity once known
as Wayne Chirnside had to learn the hard way, but shit happens.

But hey.  Not to worry.  You are protected by your Master.
So don't sweat it.  And go catch some fish.

--Lee

--- MesNews/1.06.00.00-gb
 * Origin: news://felten.yi.org (2:203/2)