The Dictator observations thread.

[Kory]

https://thehill.com/opinion/congress-bl ... ification/

I've long supported the importance of anonymity online, but I confess to being open to persuasion on the question simply because of how wretched things are under the current norms. Without a doubt, there'd be a lot of negatives to mandatory open identity standards—e.g., do you want your boss or prospective boss to know your opinions on any number of important questions?—but maybe the trade-offs are a net social benefit? I dunno.

edit: I should add that, no, that's not what this piece is about, only that it touches on a question that I wrestle with.

Given that we can’t just shut the internet down, I can’t think of many other solutions.

[gkbill]

https://thehill.com/opinion/congress-bl ... ification/

I've long supported the importance of anonymity online, but I confess to being open to persuasion on the question simply because of how wretched things are under the current norms. Without a doubt, there'd be a lot of negatives to mandatory open identity standards—e.g., do you want your boss or prospective boss to know your opinions on any number of important questions?—but maybe the trade-offs are a net social benefit? I dunno.

edit: I should add that, no, that's not what this piece is about, only that it touches on a question that I wrestle with.

Hello,

I'm very open to having your identity known. If you don't want certain people to know what you're posting, don't make it public - email/message co-workers, friends, etc. There's a sense of accountability/responsibility. I don't give social media much thought (nor use) so I might be too quick about this. If I say something, it can come back to me - and I'm okay with that. I think I developed this coaching where all your actions are open for public discussion/judgement/evaluation/second-guessing (I've used my quota of slashes for a while in this post).

[Dr. Medulla]

https://thehill.com/opinion/congress-bl ... ification/

I've long supported the importance of anonymity online, but I confess to being open to persuasion on the question simply because of how wretched things are under the current norms. Without a doubt, there'd be a lot of negatives to mandatory open identity standards—e.g., do you want your boss or prospective boss to know your opinions on any number of important questions?—but maybe the trade-offs are a net social benefit? I dunno.

edit: I should add that, no, that's not what this piece is about, only that it touches on a question that I wrestle with.

Hello,

I'm very open to having your identity known. If you don't want certain people to know what you're posting, don't make it public - email/message co-workers, friends, etc. There's a sense of accountability/responsibility. I don't give social media much thought (nor use) so I might be too quick about this. If I say something, it can come back to me - and I'm okay with that. I think I developed this coaching where all your actions are open for public discussion/judgement/evaluation/second-guessing (I've used my quota of slashes for a while in this post).

Well, as a counter-example, what if someone is seeking advice because of domestic abuse or they're wrestling with their sexual identity or even seeking info about reproductive health and live in a repressive household or community? Just asking questions without anonymity could put them at risk. In the vast majority of cases, I agree with you, but there are legitimate, non-ratfucking scenarios where anonymity is vital.

[gkbill]

https://thehill.com/opinion/congress-bl ... ification/

I've long supported the importance of anonymity online, but I confess to being open to persuasion on the question simply because of how wretched things are under the current norms. Without a doubt, there'd be a lot of negatives to mandatory open identity standards—e.g., do you want your boss or prospective boss to know your opinions on any number of important questions?—but maybe the trade-offs are a net social benefit? I dunno.

edit: I should add that, no, that's not what this piece is about, only that it touches on a question that I wrestle with.

Hello,

I'm very open to having your identity known. If you don't want certain people to know what you're posting, don't make it public - email/message co-workers, friends, etc. There's a sense of accountability/responsibility. I don't give social media much thought (nor use) so I might be too quick about this. If I say something, it can come back to me - and I'm okay with that. I think I developed this coaching where all your actions are open for public discussion/judgement/evaluation/second-guessing (I've used my quota of slashes for a while in this post).

Well, as a counter-example, what if someone is seeking advice because of domestic abuse or they're wrestling with their sexual identity or even seeking info about reproductive health and live in a repressive household or community? Just asking questions without anonymity could put them at risk. In the vast majority of cases, I agree with you, but there are legitimate, non-ratfucking scenarios where anonymity is vital.

Hello,

I would suggest contacting someone with experience dealing with the issue - seek out/google a site that specializes in the issue. If you are seeking help with domestic abuse or some other serious issue that may call for someone's identity to not be known by the public, I don't believe posting on social media would be as effective as communicating with someone who has the necessary background or information that would be really helpful. Again, part of my thinking reflects my personality and I understand some may be more comfortable with an open call for direction or assistance.

[Flex]

I definitely know people who are anonymous and active on social media just as, you know, part of their social lives who participate in online groups of marginalized people - trans people, are the specific examples I'm thinking of in my life - who do live in fear right now of their employer somehow finding out their status as a trans person and firing them. Losing anonymity would cut them off from social communities that support them. I think there'd have to major commensurate increases in worker protections to not get fired (or be passed over for hiring) for online identity stuff. And I don't know how you'd protect them from more malicious actors who may just look for vulnerable populations to target.

Personally, and lower stakes because I'm just some old white dude, I know I speak my mind freely online because I'm using anonymous handles here and other places I write. If someone really wants to, they can connect the dots to my identity without too much trouble, but if I was more obviously searchable to current and potential clients and whatnot, I'd probably have to basically nuke my internet presence. In this case, it's more that using an anonymous handle simply allows a place like, say, this to function as a private social gathering for me rather than a workplace conversation. I think you'd have to basically treat being online as being at your workplace wherever you go. It's not that I have anything to hide per se, it's more that I think it's normal to have different kinds of conversations in and out of the office.

I do think anonymity allowing people to be deranged lunatics is a real problem. I'm just not sure if this is a "cure is worse than the disease" situation or not. Maybe it is. I don't think this is an issue I've fully thought through, so I see both sides.

[Dr. Medulla]

https://thehill.com/opinion/congress-bl ... ification/

I've long supported the importance of anonymity online, but I confess to being open to persuasion on the question simply because of how wretched things are under the current norms. Without a doubt, there'd be a lot of negatives to mandatory open identity standards—e.g., do you want your boss or prospective boss to know your opinions on any number of important questions?—but maybe the trade-offs are a net social benefit? I dunno.

edit: I should add that, no, that's not what this piece is about, only that it touches on a question that I wrestle with.

Hello,

I'm very open to having your identity known. If you don't want certain people to know what you're posting, don't make it public - email/message co-workers, friends, etc. There's a sense of accountability/responsibility. I don't give social media much thought (nor use) so I might be too quick about this. If I say something, it can come back to me - and I'm okay with that. I think I developed this coaching where all your actions are open for public discussion/judgement/evaluation/second-guessing (I've used my quota of slashes for a while in this post).

Well, as a counter-example, what if someone is seeking advice because of domestic abuse or they're wrestling with their sexual identity or even seeking info about reproductive health and live in a repressive household or community? Just asking questions without anonymity could put them at risk. In the vast majority of cases, I agree with you, but there are legitimate, non-ratfucking scenarios where anonymity is vital.

Hello,

I would suggest contacting someone with experience dealing with the issue - seek out/google a site that specializes in the issue. If you are seeking help with domestic abuse or some other serious issue that may call for someone's identity to not be known by the public, I don't believe posting on social media would be as effective as communicating with someone who has the necessary background or information that would be really helpful. Again, part of my thinking reflects my personality and I understand some may be more comfortable with an open call for direction or assistance.

Right—it may not be smart to post on social media for advice, but people do it all the time. I regularly check the Reddit page for my school and there are so many questions asked that would be more sensibly directed to their professor. But they feel more comfortable asking their peers.

[Dr. Medulla]

Short oral history of the time Jello ran for mayor of San Fran: https://www.loudersound.com/features/je ... -francisco

[Sparky]

God help us.

[Dr. Medulla]

Ha … ha?

[Flex]

https://bsky.app/profile/usspcrichardan ... 6nxv7au22y