Would you still participate if it wasn't anonymous?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has the nastiness on DCUM always been this bad or is there an increase? It's just awful. I understand things can get heated when talking about politics, for example, but even posts on mundane topics become a battlefield. Twice in recent weeks I posted completely innocuous comments in discussions and someone responded in such a sarcastic manner that I didn't go back. I've seen people who post a question about a health matter get ridiculed, and know not to open some threads because it is so toxic. I wonder how much of this is attributable to just a few people (there does seem to be some commonalities) but surely no one has that much time on their hands. I also wonder if they are like this in real life, which is kinda scary.

This is exactly why it would never work. Even in an anonymous format you have people looking for and assuming commonalities in posts. Imagine what that would amount to if someone could track every comment. This site would cease to exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure. In my experience people are equally rude on sites that require registration and people can develop beefs and just go after each other constantly.

Yep. This.

I was a member on a forum years ago that required log in. Legit fights broke out often and nastiness knew no bounds.

[Anonymous]

Every now and then I have a soccer related question and go to post but no, it was changed and I don’t want to register. I don’t know why. That forum was so helpful to new parents who weren’t familiar with the sport. So many won’t post if we need to log in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. But I would love it if each user was assigned a random number for each thread so we know who is OP and who is posting multiple times.

No need to track people from thread to thread.

I think this would be a helpful feature within a thread.

Me too. Sock puppeting sucks.

[Anonymous]

Yes, but I don't post often.

I frequent another site that requires registration and has some boards about sensitive/controversial topics. A person will post there and someone will respond with, "is this the same person as your thread three months ago?" and the OP is like...umm maybe I don't know. Like you don't think we can see your post history? It gives a fuller picture of your situation. Which I appreciate because then I know if the OP is someone who is looking for real help or advice instead of someone who just wants to stir up things or not make any actual changes. I feel like here in it's anonymousness, people are more interested in stirring things up than actual constructive help or advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every now and then I have a soccer related question and go to post but no, it was changed and I don’t want to register. I don’t know why. That forum was so helpful to new parents who weren’t familiar with the sport. So many won’t post if we need to log in.

Agree. Love DCUM and love Jeff’s moderating, but hope he revisits the Soccer Forum decision. I get why he lost patience with it, but would bet a lot of money that a very small number of morons posted the vast majority of the obnoxious posts. I’ve never been clear on why he didn’t just ban them for the good of all of us. Regardless, the decision killed a vibrant forum.

[Anonymous]

No way. Would not post here.

[Anonymous]

Yes. I’d prefer it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has the nastiness on DCUM always been this bad or is there an increase? It's just awful. I understand things can get heated when talking about politics, for example, but even posts on mundane topics become a battlefield. Twice in recent weeks I posted completely innocuous comments in discussions and someone responded in such a sarcastic manner that I didn't go back. I've seen people who post a question about a health matter get ridiculed, and know not to open some threads because it is so toxic. I wonder how much of this is attributable to just a few people (there does seem to be some commonalities) but surely no one has that much time on their hands. I also wonder if they are like this in real life, which is kinda scary.

This is exactly why it would never work. Even in an anonymous format you have people looking for and assuming commonalities in posts. Imagine what that would amount to if someone could track every comment. This site would cease to exist.

Nah. It’s how most discussion forums work.

[Anonymous]

The trolls would hate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. But I would love it if each user was assigned a random number for each thread so we know who is OP and who is posting multiple times.

No need to track people from thread to thread.

I would leave if that happened.

Anonymity is that entire point, and it’s important within and across threads.

It’s only important within a threat if you are being a jerk.

Not necessarily. I have a high profile job. I wouldn't risk it somehow coming out that I am stating my opinion.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. But I would love it if each user was assigned a random number for each thread so we know who is OP and who is posting multiple times.

No need to track people from thread to thread.

I would leave if that happened.

Anonymity is that entire point, and it’s important within and across threads.

It’s only important within a threat if you are being a jerk.

Not necessarily. I have a high profile job. I wouldn't risk it somehow coming out that I am stating my opinion.

+1

Are you guys aware that you don’t have to have your SSN as your profile name??

[Anonymous]

I think the key to this anonymous forum's success is Jeff and his ability to moderate well and his willingness to do it vigilantly. Without that it would be Fairfax Underground which was a cesspool last time I checked which was years ago.

One does have to be kind of tough here and not take the snark and insults personally which can be hard but the more you read and post here the more you understand about how it works.

Almost all posts have valuable responses as well as worthless responses and you really just have to take the value and ignore the rest.

[Anonymous]

Even on Reddit I usually delete my posts once they're useless to me so that there's no trail in my profile. I don't reddit much. But I like the cannabis sub and a dumb video game I play , plus a very specific professional group. I've recognized colleagues in the professional group and if they recognized me I wouldn't want them to know about the weed or the dumb video game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. I am reporting posts more for being mean/pointlessly rude etc though

Same here. Also wish people wouldn't engage those posters. The responders end up being just as annoying, only feeding the fire.