Anonymity: Good for ideas or no?

[Linus]

The TED Conferences (http://www.ted.com/) (Technology, Entertainment, Design) were created to help fuel ideas to be continued, extended and shared. Out of them I find come some of the most amazing things. And definitely get one thinking.

One discussion in this year's TED conference was called "Provocation" and Christopher Poole (as commented below from CNN) suggests that anonymous interaction online generates better ideas than would otherwise be there.


Anonymity promotes honesty

Christopher "Moot" Poole runs one of the seedier corners of the Internet. His site, called 4chan, is known as a den of porn, hacking and anonymous rants.


But Poole, a 22-year-old college student, says 4chan also protects its users privacy and promotes honest discourse. Without names in the way, people can focus on ideas, he said.


"It's anonymous and it has no memory. There's no archive. There are no barriers. There is no registration," he said of the site. "That's led to this discussion that's completely raw, completely unfiltered."

I don't know how true this is as anonymity has also opened up another side. Granted there may be many great ideas created but there is also the probability that some people will use this anonymity otherwise.

I'm curious what others think. Does anonymity truly lead to a greater focus on the ideas?

[Gemme]

I think, in the right forum, it can. However, what may be deemed as 'right' is obviously quite arguable.

Honestly, I don't think the thoughts and ideas expresssed on 4chan, as a WHOLE, do anything to progress humanity in any way. Does it allow some steam to be blown off? Sure. Does it allow a forum for those who may have (what some deem) darker desires? Sure. Does it offer information for the topics that are broached there? Sure. So, it's informational and some might say necessary but I just don't see a pool of great ideas springing forth from that particular site.

*shrug*

[Semantics]

Good for ideas.

Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric. -Bertrand Russell

Despite what Russell said, there are plenty of reasons to fear having an eccentric opinion.

Many scientists and philosophers were/are outcasts. Society can be stifling.

People are hesitant to offer ideas that are different or oppositional because of the potential effects on their careers, friendships, or how just how they're perceived in general.

Anonymity allows people to present ideas that without (with less) fear of backlash.

That said, to me there is a difference between the Rants and Raves section on Craigslist and a forum like this one.

True anonymity vs. pseudonymity.

Here we use pseudonymous identities, however, many of us have met in person, or talk on the phone, or are friends on Facebook where our real names are used.

I would say that there aren't many that are truly anonymous, and I think that makes us have some level of accountability.

I also almost always disagree with those who accuse that others on this site would "never say that in real life" or are hiding behind the anonymity of their online persona. I usually find the accused to be the most honest, direct, and the most willing to stand behind their ideas.

[Andrew, Jr.]

I think anonymity is not a good idea, esp. when it comes to anything for money. The threat of stealing ideas for money or benefits of any kind is universal now. I think of a salesman getting a lead, and winning a bid under anoynymity, but when it comes to cashing in on it...not a pretty situation. Society sucks imho.

As for online social sites, I don't think it really matters. You will always have the trolls, the clicks, and the folks who are online for entertainment or whatever.

Semantics is right - we all pretty much know each other personally. Not too much can get away from anyone of us. We all know who is honest, dishonest, who got laid off, who got promoted, who died, and what faith they follow. Anonymity here wouldn't work.