Guests

[patrick]

In regards to those secret identities that do not log in but simply register as 'guests', who is that masked man?

[MovieStuff]

I think the point is made and it's pretty self explanatory as I sign this using a very public and insecure method on a very public and insecure system. :lol:

Sophistic reasoning at its finest.

The very fact that you just manually signed in as "not mattias not logged in" clearly means that you could have posted a personal monicker of some kind and deliberately chose not to. It has nothing to do with using the computer in the library or an insecure system. You simply want your identity to remain hidden so that you can post with impunity.

Even if you consistantly use a fake name, at least we would know to associate the posts your create with you and not someone else. Again, it's not about people's rights to being anonymous or anything that convoluted. It's simply about courtesy within a conversational environment. Or do you wear a hat and sunglasses when you go to dinner parties or public gatherings, lest others associate your remarks to you specifically?

As Patrick wrote, "Who was that masked man?"

Roger

[Nigel]

In order to speak freely one should always have the ability to speak with anonymity.

I think the whole fascist mentality of if you are innocent then you have no reason to hide or protect yourself is bullshit.

I have never posted here without signing in. Yet, if someone feels compelled to let voice be known without exposing their identity then that is their choice. Do not make attempts to exclude those you don't agree with by saying that their opinions are not worthy since they are not "members".

Good Luck

[mattias]

In order to speak freely one should always have the ability to speak with anonymity.

nigel, would you please bother to read the posts you're replying to next time? there's a difference between an *anonymous* alias and a *generic* one.

I think the whole fascist mentality of if you are innocent then you have no reason to hide or protect yourself is bullshit.

me too, so? that's a completely off topic statement.

/matt

[Andreas Wideroe]

The reason why guests are allowed to post here in the first place is because a lot of people simply have a straight forward question about a camera or a projector or similare. Many of these questions will not be asked if one was entitled to register.

All of you have been guests once and it's a nice way to let people in I think.

On the other hand, there have been some abuse of this "guest-option" lately and I'm watching it. If things don't calm down I might regretfully have to disallow guest postings.

Guys, please!

[MovieStuff]

In order to speak freely one should always have the ability to speak with anonymity.

Agreed. What does that have to do with what we're talking about here?

I think the whole fascist mentality of if you are innocent then you have no reason to hide or protect yourself is bullshit.

Um, okay.... But, again, I don't see the connection.

if someone feels compelled to let voice be known without exposing their identity then that is their choice.

Exactly. But I still think you're missing the point here.

Do not make attempts to exclude those you don't agree with by saying that their opinions are not worthy since they are not "members".

*sigh* Whatever.

No one here is suggesting anything like what you've written above. Just as the whole "curse-filter" saga on Hostboard wasn't about violating anyone's rights to free speech or free thought, this debate isn't about violating anyone's rights to staying anonymous in their views. It's simply about courtesy and keeping the conversation organized so that we know who said what.

If someone wants to keep their identity a secret, I could care less. In fact, I don't REALLY know that your name is Nigel, do I? Your real name could be Irving Kaputnick, for all I know. And if you ever wanted to post something un-attributed to Nigel, then you could use a different alias. See?

But having post after post from "guest" makes the conversation disorganized and awkward. If someone feels compelled to keep their identity a secret, then all I ask is that they post with something distinctive, like maybe "the Masked Marvel" or "Mystery Man #1" or "Mystery Man #2". ANYthing other than the too used "guest" moniker that only confuses the conversations as to who said what.

I've seen instances where one "guest" posted something totally opposite to what another "guest" posted. That makes it look like the same person is being merely argumentative or is out to stir up trouble when, in reality, it is two different "guests" posting opposite opinions with the same name. As much as I'm sure you favor open debate, don't you also feel that multiple "hit and runs" from drop in "guests" causes only confusion and does nothing to further the understanding of what's being discussed?

Again, this isn't about revealing one's identity. It's about keeping the conversation organized through the courteous use of an alias and not a generic "guest" moniker.

Roger

[David M. Leugers]

Nigel wrote:
In order to speak freely one should always have the ability to speak with anonymity.

??? Might sound like it has merit, but really think about it. One can always speak anonymously, unless in person in front of individuals who can identify you. People of substance not only want their voice to be heard, but are confortable being identified with their ideas. It's called communication. The exchange of thought between human beings. People who communicate in this forum in a manner in which they can not be replied to are simple cowards sniping with words and not worth listening to IMHO. I haven't seen anyone being expelled from this forum because of their ideas (not even me 8) ) and certainly no one has suffered any violence of some sort due to their comments here. For crying out loud, let us not be afraid to speak freely. No forum where you feel you can not speak freely in, is worth your input. Here you can speak freely. Just stay on topic and have some civility.

I too sometimes forget to make sure I'm logged in. Like Roger, I use several computers and I might be using one that does not automatically log in. That is why I always sign my name to my inputs like some others do. You can use an alias if that is what you prefer. Just a suggestion.

David M. Leugers

[jessh]

On the other hand, there have been some abuse of this "guest-option" lately and I'm watching it. If things don't calm down I might regretfully have to disallow guest postings.

I totally agree that you shouldn't have to register in order to use the forum, so how about simply not letting people use the name Guest? By forcing them to type in something other than guest, even if it is still something to keep them anonymous it will hopefully be slightly more original.......

~Jess