X-Message-Number: 26867
Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 01:06:24 -0600
From: 
Subject: Shortcuts & Reputation vs. Anonymity

First, I would like to acknowledge and thank those who took the time to 
post in favor of those whose preference is that their identity remain 
anonymous on Cryonet and elsewhere on the internet.  Most of the Antoniks' 
assertions appear to be rebutted, though I generally don't read most things 
longer than about one page, unless it is good and I already know it is 
fiction.  Or if it is on a subject worthy of the length, say, of a 
textbook.  Few subjects are.

Second, a couple of posters, one of whom apologized in his post for flaming 
me in the subject line, defend their position against anonymity by stating 
a need of people to know the reputation of a speaker, and therefore of 
course their identity, in order to decide of they have time to even read 
the message.  It is a "shortcut" they take, they say, to save time.  I am 
to assume, I guess, that posting anonymously presents a bewilderment to 
them, as they have no idea what, if any, my reputation is.  Some of course 
make the erroneous assumption a priori that since my identity is unknown, I 
have no reputation, and should not be read.

Well, what can I say.  I must confess to having fallen to this temptation 
myself, on occasions, when in a hurry.  I'll often not bother reading 
things from folks I already know who are and I already have read enough of 
to guess they probably have little new information that would interest 
me.  That's the other side of the coin with non-anonymous postings, 
folks.   You get a "reputation."

With anonymous posters, you usually don't know what's in the box, and what 
you may be missing.

Except for me, of course, as long as I maintain my current anonymous 
handle.  I'm sure I have a reputation now in the minds of most, despite 
your not knowing what is on my personal, private and none-of-your-business 
birth certificate.

But back to me .... I usually even check back occasionally on many sources 
that talk about things that interest me, even if I have "shortcutted" them 
in the past.  Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised.

I suppose the bottom line is:  I'm not too worried that some folks, like 
Billy, will not read me because I am anonymous.  Probably even less folks 
read some of the non-anonymous posters on here, as they have gotten more of 
a "reputation".

A pleasant day and very long life to all,

Flav

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