The Costco Connection

Should we eliminate anonymous comments online?

ANYBODY CAN POST remarks on social media or in the comments sections of newspaper and magazine articles without giving their name. Such online anonymity has been under attack by those who say that it encourages misinformation, rude comments, stalking and bullying. Others argue that requiring people to use their real names in these instances would curtail free speech and eliminate an important forum for activists, victims of abuse, whistleblowers and others.

What do you think?

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS TOPIC. On the internet, search:

• Should anonymous comments be banned on blogs?

• Should we have the right to anonymity online?

• It’s time to end anonymous comments on the internet

• Anonymity: Electronic Frontier Foundation

INFORMEDDEBATE

•I think it makes no difference.

There are plenty of folks using their real names who post obnoxious comments, so I’m sure that eliminating anonymous comments would change nothing.

—Kevin J. O’Conner

•Anonymity allows people to speak freely without fear and reprisal for speaking unpopular views.

—Hal Summers

•A real-name-required policy would be virtually unenforceable. Many decent and honest people have good reason not to want to be personally identifiable by an anonymous public.