Comments on: Online Coward

By: Becky

Becky — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:37:28 +0000

I can see both sides of this argument, though I guess it’s b/c no one’s talking about me on the internet, so it’s easy to stand back and say that’s not fair to release identities if she’s not threatening anyone. But if Google was court-ordered to provide that info, then I imagine her suit won’t go very far.

By: froto

froto — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:36:33 +0000

Wait a minute. so people can find out I am really a guy? No more being nancy on myspace! Thanks for the info.

I hope my blog will be protected. At this point I have lost my fan base with my extended absences.

speaking of internet privacy…. you hear about facebook checking your email and recommending people you might have emailed 4 years ago? your ex girlfriend. people not even in your contact list? that’s scary.

By: Nuke

Nuke — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:55:11 +0000

If I read the info above correctly, Google supplied the customer information after receiving a court order to do so. Sucks for the plaintiff but I don’t see how she can win a suit against somebody who was following court instructions.

As to anonymity on the net, even places I don’t use my real name I do NOT expect to be utterly anonymous. It is possible to do so, I suppose, for people who are really good with internet hardware and protocols could do so but most of us don’t have the time or knowledge to do so. Just because you don’t put your legal name on something doesn’t give you an internet invisibility cloak. Before you hit send on anything, ASSUME your identity can be found out. It might make you think about toning things down to the point somebody won’t bother to root you out.

And tying back into the booze statement John, you’re right. An anonymous asshat would gladly be an asshat IRL if they thought they could get away with it.

By: billy

billy — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:33:13 +0000

pretty poignant post. can’t hide behind a machine and spew garbage. at least spew garbage about yourself..

By: John

John — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:08:47 +0000

I hope the Internet stays at least as anonymous as it is now. The second everyone knows who we are on the internet is the second we get tailored advertizing popups. I’d be surfing the net at work, playing on facebook or something, and BAM! A popup ad for a sex doll beer holder made out of legos. That would be a fun one to explain to whoever happened to be looking over my shoulder.

By: Shane

Shane — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:48:15 +0000

Great post, John. One of these days, you and I will actually meet face-to-face. And I will prove to you that I am real.

By: meesha.v

meesha.v — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:28:35 +0000

I wrote on Shane’s blog-I hope she wins 15 mil. Anyone can belittle anyone else,it hardly ever causes real harm,but by outing the chick they damaged her future chances for anything.Also knowing the name doesn’t help much i.e. “mayor funky” knows who TKC is and his address and his mom,how does that help him with anything.what if TKC was anonymous,would that make any difference?

By: Sam Stratton

Sam Stratton — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:51:30 +0000

Hey Log – could I be on your blogroll? I’ve had you on mine for ages (well, at least the two months that it’s been up)

As for anonymity on the internet, you are only anonymous as long as you do not warrant a more thorough look. the tall blade of grass gets snipped.

By: Melinda

Melinda — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:41:52 +0000

Ahem. I’ll be happy to be on that blogroll, mkay? I know you’d love to meet me.

By: Smidgeon

Smidgeon — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:47:56 +0000

Wait – You’re a real person??? How can that be? -I just assumed you were a computer generated program spewing out random phrases to make what could be taken as a well thought out and planned article. Are there other real people on the internet? Can they see me? Do they know what I’m doing right now? –
Actually John I think you bring up a valid point. There is no true anonymity anymore and anyone who thinks there is is just fooling themselves. From the ability to track cell phones to those “discount” tags tracking our purchases one would have to live with their head up their nether regions to think they were unknown to the world. It is what it is and to belittle and insult other people and think you have a right to because it was on the internet is just foolish – just my opinion