Re: Somewhat OT: Thoughts about anonymous posting?
Posted by
Jon K Peck on
Mar 15, 2013; 3:37am
URL: http://spssx-discussion.165.s1.nabble.com/Somewhat-OT-Thoughts-about-anonymous-posting-tp5718681p5718699.html
Ryan,
There is certainly no prohibition about
posts from anonymous or obviously fake ids, but I think such posts are
given and deserve less credibility. I'm also puzzled why someone
would want to be anonymous when posting on topics relevant to this list.
I don't think readers expect internet posts to meet the standards
of a peer-reviewed journal. I know, for example, that when I see
your name on a post that it is worth reading or puzzling through while
I might not take the trouble with an anonymous post.
As for Neila Nessa, the pseudonym was
immediately obvious when I saw the first name years ago. It could
only have been one person.
OTOH, maybe if I posted anonymously
people would get my name right :-)
Jon Peck (no "h") aka Kim
Senior Software Engineer, IBM
[hidden email]
phone: 720-342-5621
From:
R B <[hidden email]>
To:
[hidden email],
Date:
03/14/2013 09:19 PM
Subject:
Re: [SPSSX-L]
Somewhat OT: Thoughts about anonymous posting?
Sent by:
"SPSSX(r)
Discussion" <[hidden email]>
Jon,
Were you asking me a direct question about how I feel
about journal articles with anonymous authors? Frankly, I had never given
it any thought. Moreover, I do not equate posting to this list as publishing
an article in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. I'm not implying that
one is superior to the other; I simply view them as distinctly different.
I suppose if I had to choose between an individual who prefers to publish
work that clearly moves the field forward anonymously over not publishing
at all, then I would clearly go with the former option. For me, again,
this is quite different from posting to SPSS-L. I really do not want to
open up the debate regarding anonymous publishing in scientific journals;
at least I will not partake in it beyond what I have just said.
I think the list should be open to individuals who prefer
to remain anonymous. There are posters on SAS-L who use the some obvious
fake name, if you will, and have contributed a great deal to the list.
They, too, have built reputations over the years due to their *substantive*
contributions and as a result are highly regarded, despite the
fact that we do not know who they are. In a similar vein, I would hope
that those on SPSS-L would prefer anonymous *substantive* posting
over to not posting at all.
Regardless of the decision I make, I must state unequivocally
that if somebody is considering posting to SPSS-L, but would prefer to
do so anonymously, to go right ahead and do so. Of course, if
you choose to end your post with a very silly or offensive name and/or
use a silly and/or offensive email address, then regular posters may not
take you seriously. I would include myself in that camp.
At any rate, thanks to you and others for responding.
Ryan
On Thu, Mar 14, 2013 at 7:29 PM, Jon K Peck <peck@...>
wrote:
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
peck@...
phone: <a href="tel:720-342-5621" target=_blank>
720-342-5621
From: R
B <ryan.andrew.black@...>
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]>
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