By MARK RIBBANDS
Added: Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:55:49 UTC

Since these comments pages have not become populated by abusive idiots, as was sometimes the case with the old ‘forum’, why do so many people hide behind anonymity?

I am puzzled by this phenomenon.

I dislike this aspect of the internet, and feel irritation* at being expected to engage in discussion with people who are frequently just silly names, and for all one knows could be cunning AI programs :)

In some cases anonymity is indicated to ensure safety, or to avoid discord with family and friends, but surely such cases must be the exception.

I suggest that, almost by definition, anyone who fully accepts reason and science as the ultimate guiding principle in their life should be proud to advertise the fact.

Furthermore, I hold that hiding behind false names may give the impression that members are either secretly ashamed of their atheism, or are reserving the right to abuse other people in a way they would never dare face-to-face. Neither trait is attractive.

So, ladies and gentlemen, at the risk of presumption, I challenge you to reveal all. (Perhaps with your old nickname in brackets, or vice-versa). Or, alternatively, explain clearly why you can’t do that.

We should stand tall, and let the abusive fools and nay-sayers hide: it weakens their case.

*Please, no one take this personally. The sun coming up in the morning can irritate me: it’s called ‘ageing’ :)

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