Re: Somewhat OT: Thoughts about anonymous posting?

Posted by Jon K Peck on Mar 14, 2013; 11:29pm
URL: http://spssx-discussion.165.s1.nabble.com/Somewhat-OT-Thoughts-about-anonymous-posting-tp5718681p5718690.html

I don't like the idea of anonymous postings.  How would you feel about journal articles with anonymous authors?  When a poster is identified, it says something about willingness to stand by the post - and conversely.  And regular posters come with reputations that add context to the posts, whether it be the thinly veiled Neila Nessa or someone more normal.

IMO, if you are not willing to put your name on it, with whatever disclaimers are appropriate, don't post it, unless you are being persecuted by an authoritarian government that might put you in jeopardy for the post.


Jon Peck (no "h") aka Kim
Senior Software Engineer, IBM
[hidden email]
phone: [phone]




From:        R B <[hidden email]>
To:        [hidden email],
Date:        03/14/2013 04:40 PM
Subject:        Re: [SPSSX-L] Somewhat OT: Thoughts about anonymous posting?
Sent by:        "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

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One more reason for going anonymous (for me)--I teach a fairly large number of graduate students on a regular basis, and although I can't pinpoint exactly why that factors into the equation, it does. If I were not teaching, I think this would be less of an issue for me. I'd love to hear from others who teach on a regular basis, as well as from anybody else who has an opinion on the matter!
 
Ryan
On Thu, Mar 14, 2013 at 6:19 PM, R B <ryan.andrew.black@...> wrote:
Dear SPSS-L,
 
I'm curious...What are people's thoughts about posting anonymously versus self-identifying. Because much of what I post on list-serves ends up in some way, shape, or form in a peer-reviewed journal articles, I have toyed with the idea of posting from an anonymous email. Those who have followed my posts, I hope, notice that I always make a concerted effort to be respectful, and I take validation of whatever statistical method I propose for a particular research question very seriously. This, I am certain, would not change if I were to switch to an anonymous email.
 
So why go anonymous?
1. Right now, if someone were determined to find out exactly where I work and what I do, it wouldn't be all that difficult (I know this to be true--don't ask...). I enjoy my privacy.
2. Often, I think that if I want something I have written to be attached to my name that could potentially be on the Internet FOREVER, I would prefer that it go through the peer-reviewed journal process.
3. While I would remain respectful, I would feel more comfortable being a bit more direct.
 
Frankly, I post to this list because I enjoy doing it, hoping that what I post proves useful to the OP and others. Having my actual name connected to the post is less important to me. And I ought not forget to state that I learn much more from others' posts than I know I will ever be able to offer with my posts.
 
What do others think about anonymous posting? For me, this is not a black and white issue. Having said that, recently I've been leaning more and more towards anonymity.
 
Ryan