Should Anonymous Internet Comments Be Allowed?

by SodaHead News Posted 2012/05/24 13:00:00

Related Topics: Internet, Anonymous, Anonymity, New York, Legislation, Ugly, Image

1,418 votes
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	Yes, it should be allowed	1,135 votes	80%
	No, it should be regulated	283 votes	20%

The anonymity of the Internet is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it's a valuable tool for privacy and security, and allows you to speak your mind without having to worry about it leaking into your "real life" too much. On the other hand, as we've clearly seen on sites like 4chan and YouTube, it sometimes coaxes out the worst in people, leading to hateful and disturbing content. New York lawmakers want to sheath that double-edged sword once and for all.

According to the Consumerist, legislation was drafted earlier this year that suggests, "A web site administrator upon request shall remove any comments posted on his or her web site by an anonymous poster unless such anonymous posted agrees to attach his or her name to the post and confirms that his or her IP address, legal name, and home address are accurate." However, opponents worry it will turn into a "heckler's veto" and completely ruin open speech on the Internet. Do you think anonymous comments should be allowed?

+40

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Assassin~ Badass Buzz Guru 2012/05/24 23:49:28

Yes, it should be allowed

+37
The day I have to start putting my actual name and address somewhere to post, is the day I stop posting.

My safety and privacy outweighs my pleasure in posting.
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More polls by SodaHead News

Eli Joh... to cupcakes 2012/05/29 13:53:29

+1
LOL, you made my day!

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TeresaP... to cupcakes 2012/05/31 05:55:16

LOL.. I was thinking the same thing. I mean some of these that are against it if you notice aren't using their real name....good one..

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Arpegiando 2012/05/28 18:16:35

Yes, it should be allowed

Guys, we can all agree that the internet is a strange place, I like to use the analogy, the next frontier. But we all have to remember, its still false reality. Sure there are business icons and stock and real world sites, but once you step away from the screen your still you. Plus if that happened how would it he regulated. The interney belonged to everon
e who has a computer, not a government.

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Rusty Shackleford 2012/05/28 16:26:03

Yes, it should be allowed

Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech.

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Drake 2012/05/28 15:25:29
mikeyavelli 2012/05/28 15:18:32

Yes, it should be allowed

do you think this is my real name?

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Tom 2012/05/28 14:20:39 (edited)

Yes, it should be allowed

People are entitled to their privacy.

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Nikki 2012/05/28 14:01:07

Yes, it should be allowed

+1
Of course anonymous commenting should be allowed on the Internet, but people still shouldn't use that anonymity to be a complete jerk. To be honest, you're never truly anonymous on the Internet anyway, sites can now track your Internet history based on your IP address and what you've searched for. Google uses this sort of technology for AdSense to make ads on webpages relevant to your "interests" (meaning repeated searches and such). You don't need to give out your IP anymore, it's unnecessary, a lot of sites will already have it by the time you've signed up.

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Gregg W... to Nikki 2012/05/28 17:46:40

I agree. Anonymous commenting should be allowed. But the truth is that sites can only track your computer, not you.

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tiramisu.x 2012/05/28 10:40:54 (edited)

Yes, it should be allowed

+1
I like my privacy. It is far more dangerous if people were made to post their comments under their real names.

For those that vote it should be regulated if you really believe in that you should all be posting your real first and last name on this site.

If and when I decide to share more about myself it will be on my on terms.

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Timothy 2012/05/28 08:38:11

No, it should be regulated

WT HELL IS THAT ALL ABOUT OF COURSE IT SHOULD BE REGULATED KEEP IT AS IT IS NOW WITH RULES ONLY AS THEY ARE NOW hmm

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Rusty S... to Timothy 2012/05/28 16:24:25

+2
You're not a big fan of Freedom of Speech, are you?

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TeresaP... to Rusty S... 2012/05/31 05:58:45

+1
Apparently Tim boy is not a fan of freedom of speech. Perhaps Tim should go live some place like Communists China..

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BHGOzzy 2012/05/28 06:39:01

Yes, it should be allowed

+1
And if you believe that full name, physical address and Ip number isn't ASKING to be stalked or hacked, then... you first.

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ServantOfAllah 2012/05/28 05:28:49

Yes, it should be allowed

Who are these idiots in New York?

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BHGOzzy to Servant... 2012/05/28 06:39:31

+1
A senator who just discovered we have this thing called "The Internet"

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akgold 2012/05/28 04:16:52

Yes, it should be allowed

+1
Oh hell no.

So one person says they support gay marriage and they lose their job because their employer feels differently. Another person says they are against gay marriage so activists put their home address on the web and they get protesters at their homes or even death threats. That is just one issue that gets people fired up. Great system they advocate, the only way out is to say nothing on hot button topics. Only tyrants are interested in shutting down opposition.

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Dirrty English 2012/05/28 03:02:03

Yes, it should be allowed

+1
Are you kidding me? The day we give in to such demands is the same day we open an artery on the first amendment and watch it slowly bleed out until our every thought is governed and regulated by fear mongers and over conservative book burners. Anonymity is nothing new to print... look at pseudonyms and anonymous posters to newspaper columns for Christs sake. Do you really believe "desperately confused" writing in for advice to "dear Abby" was legally named so by his parents? Or that Abby is even the columnists name? Fight this stupidity people.

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sgtcedar 2012/05/28 00:50:36

Yes, it should be allowed

+2
Not everything in this world should be regulated.

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The Bee Guy 2012/05/28 00:25:11

No, it should be regulated

+1
This should not need to be regulated, People should be willing to admit who they are and bare the consequences if posting problem producing items on the Web.

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Dirrty ... to The Bee... 2012/05/28 03:16:05

+2
If something posted is in some way violating hate laws or in some other way constitutes or contributes to a crime, the authorities have ways and means of tracing the poster with due effort. It keeps people from being unduly persecuted over idle remarks. There is no need to require the death of anonymity just to make a little less work IF it MIGHT be needed on some obscure "cyber bully" case.

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The Bee... to Dirrty ... 2012/05/30 20:27:45

Think you got my point, exactly, though I did hit no by accident, as the question was back handed.

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Randal A. Dorscher 2012/05/27 22:39:45

Yes, it should be allowed

+3
Last place for free speech why take it away!

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El Prez 2012/05/27 22:09:20

No, it should be regulated

+3
Comments yes, ananimity no. Own up to what you say.

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akgold to El Prez 2012/05/28 04:14:18

+1
So one person says they support gay marriage and they lose their job because their employer feels differently. Another person says they are against gay marriage so activists put their home address on the web and they get protesters at their homes or even death threats. That is just one issue that gets people fired up. Great system you advocate, the only way out is to say nothing on hot button topics.

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El Prez to akgold 2012/05/28 20:04:36

OR be prepared to own up to your opinions. Besides, most opinions etc are put up under e-mail names, like ours, and no retaliation is going to happen. I am not saying publish you name address and telephone. You could find me if you really wanted to but I am not really living in fear. I do not also splash out a drunken lifesyly on a facebook account, that is the height of foolishness.

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akgold to El Prez 2012/05/28 21:43:25 (edited)

+2
I have no problem owning up to my own opinions. I do have a problem facing retribution for them or making somebodies enemy list.

Can you read? It says attach their NAME, not an email, to the post. PLUS their home address. Of course we know anything put on a website is SECURE.

"A web site administrator upon request shall remove any comments posted on his or her web site by an anonymous poster unless such anonymous posted agrees to attach his or her name to the post and confirms that his or her IP address, legal name, and home address are accurate."

You can start by posting your real name and address right here, right now. Or do you just support it for other people?

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BHGOzzy to El Prez 2012/05/28 06:41:05

+2
Okay, post your real name, IP address and physical address.

I wanna see how fast your computer gets hacked

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akgold to BHGOzzy 2012/05/28 21:44:28

+2
I bet El Prez will pass on the opportunity.

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tiramisu.x to El Prez 2012/05/28 10:33:27 (edited)

+3
Why not start posting your real name instead of "El Prez" on SodaHead then. I dare you. Own up to what you say huh.. why don't you back up what you are supporting right now by doing so.

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akgold to tiramisu.x 2012/05/28 21:44:36

+2
I bet El Prez will pass on the opportunity.

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...Kat... to akgold 2012/05/29 01:21:02

+1
I guess he passed lol

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El Prez to ...Kat... 2012/05/29 18:30:17

+2
You are right! I do pass. I may not have thought this through before voting. The long range implications are far more complicated that appeared at first. I must bow to the majority and the better idea. I remain El Prez, thnank you for the lesson!

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...Kat... to El Prez 2012/05/30 02:12:03

Lol as long as you're not being sarcastic :) . It would be incredibly dangerous posting all your info for the whole world to see. It's bad enough people can pretty much find you now, but they have to work for it right now. This law would make it too easy, & for those people that don't know a thing about computers, it would make you more susceptible to being stalked and violated by them. I should know :)

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El Prez to ...Kat... 2012/05/31 18:43:38

+1
No sarcasm intended!

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Call me Mark willya? 2012/05/27 21:46:13

Yes, it should be allowed

+1
While it's true that many people abuse the anonymity granted them by the internet to simply be obnoxious and abusive of others, that anonymity also allows us to speak our political views no matter how unpopular they may be. It also allows us to make a stand against terrorism without becoming a target, and to stand against the bullies of society by lending morale support and advice to those that have need of such, all without drawing unneeded attention to ourselves. Not only do I think it should be allowed, I think it is absolutely necessary.

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NUCKLEDRAGGER 2012/05/27 21:05:05

Yes, it should be allowed

+2
For now it's still a free country. I fear more and more our rights will be lost in the name of Fairness, Security and Political Correctness.

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becky 2012/05/27 18:08:55

Yes, it should be allowed

+1
well I mean.. If you want...? It doesent matter

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Safury 2012/05/27 16:20:03
Deb 2012/05/27 13:38:28

Yes, it should be allowed

There are times when you need to use a screen name....a blogger may have the right to delete anon comments...but as someone else said...we have the right to NOT type in actual names...You still have to use safe measures on the net, even though. Google. etc is watching for Big Brother LOL and not a "haha" funny" but invasion of privacy. Also, I guess they do not take into account people who "Stalk!" Have a safe Memorial Day tomorrow....Thanks to our Vets and Active Military!

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