Why does nobody trust FreeThoughtBlogs?

There are very good reasons to use a pseudonym on a blog. Perhaps you have opinions that are contrary to the majority in your region, and you face serious consequences if your identity gets out; Lord knows, many atheists have that particular problem. Or perhaps you just want to use the internet to have a conversation, and would rather it not lead to greater and more intrusive involvement; I know women who’d rather not see an escalation of an interaction from people who don’t know how to graciously accept a “no.” Sometimes people sensibly try to limit their commitment to the internet and the often too agressive efforts by the internet to commit to them. All things in moderation and all that.

But there are also bad reasons to use a pseudonym on a blog. The very worst? Some people use anonymity to empower their ability to be a shithead. They snipe and sneer, they hide behind fake names, they use multiple sock puppets to generate the illusion that more people support their hatred, and also to prevent people from blocking them — they want to force you to read their venom.

I do not support shitheads.

I ban them. I am announcing now that if you persist in being a shithead on my blog, I won’t hesitate to expose your IP address and email. There have just been too many of you lately, and I’m spending too much time cleaning up the smears of shit you leave everywhere you go. I am aware that you’ll spend more effort now trying to cover your tracks, because that’s what you do: you’re a shithead and a coward. But I don’t care, and if I find you are using an anonymizer, or a fake email address, or are using multiple identities, that will be sufficient grounds to ban you.

On a related note, I’ve noticed that prominent shitheads tend to have absolutist opinions about their “rights”. They have a right to free speech, they declare; they can say any damn thing they want, and it is their privilege. They also shriek in outrage about “dropping dox” — how dare anyone reveal their identities to the world? I have seen enough of this black and white nonsense about an unqualified support for free speech and an unqualified opposition to “dropping dox”, and I’m here to tell you…you don’t get to hold both positions. They’re incompatible. If you want to be free to say anything, I expect you to have the courage of your convictions and be willing to stand up for what you believe.

I have absolutely no respect for someone who insists on the privilege of simultaneously being a shithead and being free of any responsibility for what they say.

So post anonymously if you want, but realize that I expect responsible and reasonable behavior if you do so.

About the only downside to this is that those few posters who do go to the Slymepit to challenge the scumbags there will face the equivalent outing.

PZ hit the nail on the head. There is huge tendency of freeze peach absolutists not to take responsibility for what they say, and how they say it. You can be a shit, but don’t expect folks to treat you and what you say like they aren’t shit. That is hypocrisy that they usually decry—in someone else, usually those they disagree with.

It is the internet, no one is truly anonymous, not without a LOT of work and forethought. It still shocks me that the MRAtheists seem to think that being bullies is somehow a protected right. If you are afraid that your RL identity will become known, or that your on-line antics will tarnish your IRL reputation and cost you prestige, reputation or business, perhaps you should rethink your behavior.

Never post a comment on my blog again. If you do, I will publish your email address and all personal information I have about you. You have been warned.

It’s becoming clear to me that pseudonymity is possible only in the context of a community with a certain baseline level of trust.

Slymer-types are anonymous to be able to harass and bully without repercussions for their real life personae, while I and many others aim to remain anonymous on the net to prevent slymer-types from harassing and bullying us and our families. These things are not the same, as PZ says.

And I don’t know if a warning or “reading of the riot act” is really needed. It would be a good thing if it became part of internet nettiquette and protocol that shitheads have to know that their anonymity may be removed if they use it to engage in harassment, threats, bullying or abusive behaviour.

If you’re citing slymer’s reactions, rethink what you’re doing. Guess how many fucks I give for what a slymer thinks? They’re ALL shitheads over there. It’s a forum by and for shitheads.