Sunday, April 02, 2006

Anonymous or otherwise

I've long let anonymous comments go on this blog because for the most part they've been harmless. I'm sure in many cases they are people simply wanting to drop a line and don't have a blogger account or don't want to take several minutes to puzzle out how to leave a message without becoming a blogger member. So I've let it go, despite my...distaste for them.

I've worked in newspapers for about 15 years on and off and there has been one iron clad rule in the editorial department and that is "if you aren't willing to sign your name to the letter, we're not running it." The theory being that if you think it's important enough to be out in the public, then you ought to have the strength of conviction to put your name on the letter. If you aren't, even if you have perfectly valid worries (fear of reprisal from your employer, for example) then that is regrettable. But that's the price you have to pay.

I've seen some wonderful letters to the editor in my day that the authors didn't want their name attached to. I've called and pleaded with them to sign their name to it and we would happily run the letter. Some changed their mind; most didn't.

I know there are bloggers that post their opinions online and they remain anonymous. And that's fine. It's their blog, their rules. Ed doesn't even allow comments, which I thought was odd at first, but hey, it's his blog, his rules. If you don't like it then there are a few other blog out there on the Internet to read. But this is my blog and I have my rules. And while I allow anonymous comments I have a very, very thin threshold for them. Especially on controversal issues, such as the sealing.

I mention all of this because in my previous post, there is an anonymous comment. I'm pretty sure I know who it is, and I'm kind of baffled he/she hasn't put his/her name to the post (I'm hoping it was just a mistake in not signing it). I thought long and hard about deleting it, but it's relatively polite, so I'm letting it stand for now. But I'm not responding directly to the points because I don't who it is. And if they can't be bothered to sign a name, I frankly can't be bothered to respond.

But in case there are any doubts for the future, anonymous posts that use any kind of abusive or inciting language are gone. I will delete them as soon as I see them because they are no better than spam as far as I'm concerned. And if it gets to be a nuisance, I will simply block the ability of people to post anonymously.

So there's your only warning.

Currently Playing
Underdogs - Matthew Good Band

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The anonymus post was mine. I never sign into blogger, as my own blog is shamefully incomplete.

Don't know why my usual sign-off isn't there. I edited my post a few times, so might have cut n' pasted once too often.

regards, cat`

Anonymous said...

I get an occasional anonymous comment, but most people like to leave their name.

I don't much care. Perhaps I would if someone was hijakcing my comments section too much, but so far it hasn't been a problem.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous comments are part and parcel of this wonderful thing we call the Internet, I care far less about them than I do about the 200 or so attempts the SPAM bots try and drop off at my site everyday :-)

Welcome to the "Arctic Blogroll", the link to Townie Bastard was sent to me by an ex-pat Arctic Bay'er.