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Release 2.0 by Ester Dyson Chapter 9: Anonymity
Table of Contents |
Summary: Anonymity is a big issue today is the world of the internet. It has both its advantages or its disadvantages. For the person who wishes to remain anonymous they can do so with relative ease on the internet. Much of the internet is based upon user names of which the user picks. It can be a nickname or something other than that. It is totally up to the person who is online.
The biggest reason for anonymity is privacy. Being anonymous, one can surf the internet without the fear of being harrassed by other users or fear of reprimand for ones actions. The internet has created a whole new world for the misuse of information. Giving out ones name and address is useful information that can be potentially harmful for the person who gives it out. Most often email adresses are kept private to avoid spamming and other internet crimes involving email.
But keeping ones identity may have more practical uses than that. As Dyson says, an employee may ridicule and protest against his or her company without fear of reprimand. It gives the weak a voice and shield them from the dangers of those who would do them harm.
Dyson tells of a tale in which a scientific community had a virtual community in which one could share ideas and make friends. Everyone knew everybody else and there was a type of utopian air about the community. Then an offshoot of that original community was formed in which names were not needed. It was anonymous. There people were suspicious of eachother and it was quite easy to impersonate eachother due to the tight knit group that it was. It bred dissent within the larger group in which names were used and the anonymous site was eventually closed down due to the degenerative effect it had on the entire community.
One can also explore new worlds with anonymity. It is possible to change gender or race with comfort of a screen name. One cannot tell whether you are black or white, gay or straight, male or female by looking at your screen name. Then that information is voluntary to be given out at the user's discretion.
Nowhere else except the internet can we transcend our human forms and take on the identity of someone we want to be or someone we are not. It is because of anonymity that we can do these things. But anonymity can be used in other ways that are not so legal.
Acting without a name cause some people to do things that they would never do. Maybe it is the fact that they can get away with it without the hinderance of a name and face to go along with the actions. Maybe it is the natural tendency for mischief in all of us that causes us to abandon reason and civility. One can be so tame as to flame a fellow citizen of the internet or spam email, or one might be so bold as to commit crimes like exchanging child pornography on the net.
Questions:
1. "Should web sites restrict access to users who want to remain anonymous while visiting? If so, why? If not, why?"
-Albert Ne
Response: One could restrict the level of privialges to that person who wants to remain anonymous while visiting a web site. As it is now most web sites do not require you to register before using their resources. There are MUDs that operate on this principle. You graduate to a higher user status once you complete a certain amount of time there. I think that web sites should limit the privilages of those that wish to remain anonymous.
2. "Do you feel that anyone online has total anonymity?"
-Craig Kawamura, Russ Muramatsu
Response: I am not sure. I don't think that we will have the total benefit of anonymity in the future. Someone will find a way to take that away from us and when that happens the internet will be changed.
3. "In your opinion, are there any psychological effects when a person engages in gender-swapping or takes a new identity while on the net?"
-Jocelyn Manibusan
Response: Yes I think there is. Often times in therapy the therapist askes for his patients to role play. I think that gender-swapping and taking on new identities on the net is an extention of this practice. Although it could have a detrimental effect without the proper supervision supplied by a trained psychologist.
4. "How do you feel about the idea of being anonymous? Do you always say who you are (put your name) when writing, asking a question or even telling a joke?"
-Carolyn Agmata
Response: There are times when I do like to be anonymous. But I only use a false identity when I am in a place that I know is hostile. For instance I often play games on the net. Westwood Online is the chat server that handles the games. On that server the user only needs to supply a nickname. Because the players are often very competitive they often swear at you if you cheat or don't play by the rules. They often take offense to things said. They are mostly young kids who play. Because of this they are immature and hostile. They often flame eachother and make fun of eachother's nicknames. To shield myself from taking it personally I don't reveal my personal information except where I live. I have been know to tell others that I am a 12 year old girl. The game that I play is dominated by a male clientel. They cannot believe that a young girl would be so good and be able to out stratigize them.
5. "What do you think about building relationships online? Is it right that you become someone you're not?"
-Val Iinuma
Response: I feel that becoming someone you are not is part of the allure of the internet. The internet can be anything that you want it to be. It can be a fantasy world in which you can transgress gender lines and become a differnt sex. You can be sweet if you are mean, handsome if ugly, and rich if you are poor. Words are exchanged on the internet as easy as air through your lungs. With the ability to be anonymous comes the ease in which it is to lie. I am not sure if it is right to pretend to be someone you are not. I am sure that building relationships online often times leads to something that you are not looking for. If you take everything you read on the screen as truth then you are only fooling yourself.
6. "if anonymity was no longer possible on the internet, do you think that a lot of web sites would shut down? What would the future of the internet be like without anonymity?"
-Sheri Lieberman
Response: I think that a lot of them would be forced to shut down, at least the ones that were of questionable morals. Much of the pornography sites protect thier client's identity because pornography itself is not accepted as a nobel practice in our country. In other countries such as Japan, Germany and Sweden, there is not so much resistance to the pornography element. In many parts of those countries pornography is accepted and part of the mainstream. But in this country pornography is not permitted in polite society. Without anonymity I think that the internet will be free to expand and be free of much of the parasitic element. But I think that before that can happen there will be a time of chaos when people will use the information from the internet (with anonymity) and it will be harmful for everyone.
7. "Do you use pseudo names on the net?"
-Kyle Michibata
Response: Yes I do.
8. "What are the repercussions of being anonymous on the internet? Are there any?"
-Evelyn Moss
Response: I think that the repercussion fo being anonymouse is that no one will truely trust you unless you disclose. If people feel that you have something to hide then they are not going to trust you. If you choose to disclose your personal information then you must be willing to take the harm that comes with it. Suddenly people will have access to your life just by having your name. You will no longer have the protective blanket of being without a name.
9. "Anonymity protects people, both good and bad. How is this true in cyberspace? If we have nothing to hide, do we need the protection of anonymity?"
-Dr. James
Response: The first question explains itself. Both good and bad people are protected by anonymity. They do not have a name or a profile. All of that information is given voluntarily. It protects good people from the harm that can be inflicted by bad people and it protects the bad people from the harm of the government and prosecution. If we have nothing to hide do we still need protection of anonymity? Yes, I think that we do. We need to know that we can go somewhere and be free of persecution. Anonymity ives us that freedom. But if we were to go into a Nazi chat room with a Jewish last name we would be flamed on site. So there are times in which we need to use this tool to our advantage or at least for our own safety.
10. "Anonymity can be a good thing when your intention is to remain unknown. But some abuse the benefit and do not respect people's choice to be anonymous and try to perpetrate another's privacy. In the end, people become more secretive and a little cynical about the internet. What do you think? If you would remain anonymous why would you be afraid when people abuse your secret? The way I see it you shouldn't even be revealing secrets about yourself when you don't want to be known.
-Wilfred Lee
Response: Thanks for the lecture and the long question. I really have fun thinking about all of these things and coming up with a credible answer. Well to answer your first question. I think that people are more cynical when people refuse to diclose information. It is like going to a used car dealer and not having him give you a straight price or a name or a phone number. You don't know who you are dealing with and therefore don't trust anyone. As for perpetrating another's privacy I think that anonymity was set up as an easy way for people to have some personal security. Remember that when the internet was being developed it did not have the advanced security measures that we have today. I am not sure what you are getting at in the second question so I am going to leave that blank.
11. "Should there be restriction on how much annonymity (I can't spell it) you should have on the net? Why or why not? If yes, then who should be putting up restriction on?"
-Hyechin Kim
Response: I typed the question exactly as it was written to me. I don't think that people should impose their own wants or rules about anonymity on others. A person should be free to choose to diclose or not. So I answered no to the first question so I feel that I am exempt from answering the third question.
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