Why choose? There are times I want to be anonymous, partially anonymous, totally identified. Sometimes I want to be in an uncivil discussion -- sometimes public, sometimes private. Sometimes moderated, sometimes not. Sometimes sterile, sometimes provocative.
Right now, the Internet is perfect for this -- pretty much any kind of "community" I want to be in exists, and I participate in the ones I want to, following the mores established there.
I think the very premise of this "Roundtable" is flawed: Given the propensity for humans in large and relatively anonymous groups to descend into fatuous vitriol and misspelled narcissism, why bother at all?
This isn't the case. Sites like Lamebook show us that people will attach their face and names to stupid things. There are countless (semi-) anonymous webforums, etc that provide useful discussion. You are right, it doesn't matter what type of community you post in.
Comments
Why choose? There are times I want to be anonymous, partially anonymous, totally identified. Sometimes I want to be in an uncivil discussion -- sometimes public, sometimes private. Sometimes moderated, sometimes not. Sometimes sterile, sometimes provocative.
Right now, the Internet is perfect for this -- pretty much any kind of "community" I want to be in exists, and I participate in the ones I want to, following the mores established there.
I think the very premise of this "Roundtable" is flawed: Given the propensity for humans in large and relatively anonymous groups to descend into fatuous vitriol and misspelled narcissism, why bother at all?
This isn't the case. Sites like Lamebook show us that people will attach their face and names to stupid things. There are countless (semi-) anonymous webforums, etc that provide useful discussion. You are right, it doesn't matter what type of community you post in.