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

1,419 votes
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	Yes, it should be allowed	1,136 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

Mark 2012/05/27 13:22:02

No, it should be regulated

Have the courage of your convictions. Be loud and proud!

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Donnie to Mark 2012/05/27 17:17:13

+2
so to say anything i need to leave complete permanent records of who i am where i live; and how would you propose at keeping this information safe from the occasional person who would try to hack this data just to screw you over.

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Mark to Donnie 2012/05/27 17:48:19

Personal information isnt that safe now. So what would change?

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Donnie to Mark 2012/05/27 18:02:21

+1
generally when people hold onto data that they don't want to bother with in the 1st place but are forced to have they tend to be less secure, usually being sloppy with its security, with it.

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Mark to Donnie 2012/05/27 20:10:01

All sights hold onto our data, it is naive to believe otherwise. Holding onto hour data is how advertisers are able to target more precisely

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Donnie to Mark 2012/05/27 21:31:22

but this is data they mine at their discretion with things like IP and the possible derived location of it not your exact name, phone, and address. and if any site required those to comment on them i assure you hardly anyone would visit such a site. and yet this is about a law adding to the amount of required data witch is further than the amount they would gather.

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BHGOzzy to Mark 2012/05/28 06:41:42

Post your real name, physical address and IP address, see how long you remain safe and your computer remains under your control.

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Mark to BHGOzzy 2012/05/28 07:49:45

Up there is my real name and photo.

What are you afraid of, not to post yours?

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BHGOzzy to Mark 2012/05/28 08:27:54

Well, the cartoon is actually me (as drawn by Kittyhawk) and Ozzy is my nickname, but I do value what little privacy I have, and there's no way in hell I'm posting my physical address or IP address. Too many nutjobs who'd stalk me or try to hack my PC.

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Mark to BHGOzzy 2012/06/01 15:38:55

+1
Fair play Ozzy

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tiramisu.x to Mark 2012/05/28 10:39:19

That's only your first name.

Don't even ask me where's my photo, name .. information because I DO NOT SUPPORT the above. You however have no excuse because you voted in support of it.

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Mark to tiramisu.x 2012/06/01 15:38:43

I dont understand what point you are trying to make.

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Jonas Le Miserable 2012/05/27 13:04:56

Yes, it should be allowed

+2
If we can't be just somewhat anonymous on the Internet, I think there's too much watchings going on.

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Watermusicranger 2012/05/27 12:19:28

Yes, it should be allowed

+4

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Temlakos~POTL~PWCM~JLA~☆ 2012/05/27 11:43:11

Yes, it should be allowed

+2
You cannot stop people from speaking without becoming a dictator.

But everyone else should remember to take anonymous words with several grains of salt.

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rose to Temlako... 2012/05/27 22:21:03

Are people that BLOCK and stop freedom of speech on SodaHead Dictators??

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Temlako... to rose 2012/05/28 01:52:46

+1
Who are you talking about? I was talking about anonymous comments on blog spaces, not blocking on Sodahead. And besides: well, you and I obviously are not blocked, but I've got quite a number of liberal blockers to my credit, more than I can count. So if you're accusing some of my friends of over-blocking, you're off base.

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renatae 2012/05/27 11:39:51

Yes, it should be allowed

+2
A law forcing people to always be identified for random comments would make it too easy for others to harass or stalk them. Rather, those making comments considered "hateful" or otherwise inappropriate are already limited by TOS of websites, which can delete such comments and ban the users. The current method protects everybody. In addition, IPs are already logged, anyway.

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bono nere 2012/05/27 08:53:48

Yes, it should be allowed

there will always be idiots on the internet just like there are in real life. anonymous comments let the comments stand for themselves.

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bleep 2012/05/27 06:46:25

Yes, it should be allowed

+1
you should be able to say what you want without some jerk picking your words apart and telling you how he or she wants you to be

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2585661 2012/05/27 06:11:35

No, it should be regulated

+2
People are disgusting behind their anonymity.

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Donnie to 2585661 2012/05/27 17:08:33

+1
people are discussing in person so whats the difference. you get more troll with anonymity but what the hell we gonna try and stop trolling with a law?

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NUCKLED... to 2585661 2012/05/27 21:08:54

That coming from 2585661 is that your phone number?

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Elmware to 2585661 2012/05/28 12:11:22

If they pass this stupid law, then how about passing a law to reveal the names and address of every voter and who they voted for, and names and location of anyone in a witness protection program, hell, let's reveal the location of Area 51 while we're at it, and all classified files such as how to build a nuclear weapons, etc... After all, anonymity is for cowards, isn't it?

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Ding a ling 2012/05/27 05:39:33

No, it should be regulated

Most sites require you to register before you can leave a comment anyway, and if you're going to make one, you should be willing to stand behind what you say.

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NoName to Ding a ... 2012/05/31 18:18:56

+1
Um... but most website don't require a REAL NAME and HOME ADDRESS.

Which is why people have issues.

And "standing behind what you say" - who says you have to, and if you want to, how does anonymously commenting prevent that? You standing behind your own comments comes from WITHIN YOU, not the keyboard, or the computer that sends the bytes of data across the internet, but you, your beleifs, your forthright statre and integrity.

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Ding a ... to NoName 2012/08/29 20:09:49

When you make a comment, you are making a statement, about something, or somebody, and if it's false you should be held accountable and liable, opps get we'll have to lock up most of the polititions

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Ding a ... to NoName 2012/10/17 16:15:14
stevmackey 2012/05/27 04:48:09

No, it should be regulated

All threads can be traced,

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Christo... to stevmackey 2012/05/27 13:02:40

It's the first amendment baby!

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kloe35 2012/05/27 03:49:32

No, it should be regulated

+3
Anonymity exempts the writer from accountability for what s/he writes. That's what can lead to horrendous abuses of forums.

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Christo... to kloe35 2012/05/27 13:03:43

What type of abuses are you afraid of? God knows liberals live their lives in fear.

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NUCKLED... to kloe35 2012/05/27 21:10:53

like kloe35 is that your age or IQ.

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belle 2012/05/27 01:54:52

Yes, it should be allowed

+1
If it ends up not being allowed there will be many people leaving sites, I know I will be gone in an instant

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Elmware 2012/05/27 01:53:44
dimwit 2012/05/27 01:01:04

Yes, it should be allowed

It should be allowed ONLY if derogatory comments are made ONLY about caucasian people from south of the Mason Dixon LIne who all the ultra left wing liberals insist are the only human beings capable of "hate".

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The Crusher 2012/05/27 00:32:42

Yes, it should be allowed

If there truly is freedom of speech, where then, is it allowed? If not the Internet then where? Are we so soft we mustn't allow disagreeable comments from people outside the know? But of you say it, own it. The land of the free is packed with idiots as well.

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firelooker 2012/05/26 23:55:51

Yes, it should be allowed

Freedom of speech applies, the left wants to stop it.

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Dale G to firelooker 2012/05/27 00:18:31

+2
Sorry to disappoint you, but you've been gazing into the flames too long. Republicans are on THE RIGHT, not the left. Are yolu dyslexic or just dumb?

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Donnie to Dale G 2012/05/27 00:34:18

the right, the left, republicans, democrats is their any difference besides slight differences in retorts and how they try to control or take things from people. hell it seems the mafia is more honest stating it in similar but slightly different terms: give us what we wont or we kill you.

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