Comments on: Poll: Would you “out” an anonymous/psuedonymous blogger? http://targuman.org/blog/2008/04/07/poll-would-you-out-an-anonymouspsuedonymous-blogger/ Translating my thoughts into words. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:49:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Chris Brady http://targuman.org/blog/2008/04/07/poll-would-you-out-an-anonymouspsuedonymous-blogger/comment-page-1/#comment-26249 Chris Brady Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:16:17 +0000 http://targuman.org/blog/?p=1431#comment-26249 Rick - Over the years DD has said similar things, speaking rather directly and derisively about colleagues and superiors from a position of pseudonymity. I find it very unprofessional and is not the way that I would behave, but I am not trying to build a case against him. Rather his site and the post first referenced along with my brother's comment made me wonder aloud whether I would "out" a blogger and if so under what circumstances. Rick – Over the years DD has said similar things, speaking rather directly and derisively about colleagues and superiors from a position of pseudonymity. I find it very unprofessional and is not the way that I would behave, but I am not trying to build a case against him. Rather his site and the post first referenced along with my brother’s comment made me wonder aloud whether I would “out” a blogger and if so under what circumstances.

]]> By: Richard Wright http://targuman.org/blog/2008/04/07/poll-would-you-out-an-anonymouspsuedonymous-blogger/comment-page-1/#comment-26248 Richard Wright Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:52:52 +0000 http://targuman.org/blog/?p=1431#comment-26248 Well Chris I find that blog quite interesting and thought provoking. I did kill rather a lot of time on that two year old post/thread. Could you summarize other things Dean Dad does you find objectionable - besides the aforelisted (ha! I invent a word!) example? (Not disagreeing with you one bit. Just... not knowing what you mean.) Well Chris I find that blog quite interesting and thought provoking. I did kill rather a lot of time on that two year old post/thread. Could you summarize other things Dean Dad does you find objectionable – besides the aforelisted (ha! I invent a word!) example? (Not disagreeing with you one bit. Just… not knowing what you mean.)

]]> By: Chris Brady http://targuman.org/blog/2008/04/07/poll-would-you-out-an-anonymouspsuedonymous-blogger/comment-page-1/#comment-26220 Chris Brady Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:53:13 +0000 http://targuman.org/blog/?p=1431#comment-26220 "Just for curiosity, has anyone challenged him on the propriety of his posts?" Actually the two-year old post that I linked to contains my own questioning of his methods <a href="http://suburbdad.blogspot.com/2006/04/moral-dilemma.html?showComment=1145572260000#c114557228110571433" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here</a>. It is a very long thread there but interesting to read if one has the time to kill. “Just for curiosity, has anyone challenged him on the propriety of his posts?” Actually the two-year old post that I linked to contains my own questioning of his methods here. It is a very long thread there but interesting to read if one has the time to kill.

]]> By: Looney http://targuman.org/blog/2008/04/07/poll-would-you-out-an-anonymouspsuedonymous-blogger/comment-page-1/#comment-26218 Looney Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:35:58 +0000 http://targuman.org/blog/?p=1431#comment-26218 In this particular case, if I knew who it was, the proper outing method would probably be to contact the school trustees or the legal office. The people with responsibility over him should have the first opportunity to take action, rather than some sort of public chain posting. It would probably be best to warn him on his blog beforehand of the unethical nature of the posts - and how it would be viewed by others. Just for curiosity, has anyone challenged him on the propriety of his posts? I have seen a lot of crazy things over the years, so caution is always critical. What are the chances that the wrong dean gets outed? There are a lot of community colleges in this country. Or even a double pseudonym, where the person actually blogging isn't really the dean? Once outed, expect things to get much more complicated! Keep in mind 1 Corinthians 5:12-13. Having said that, the entire subject of whistle blowing and outing is very complicated. 25 years ago, I wish there was some experienced Christian to give me some wise counsel. Unfortunately, I might not have listened. In this particular case, if I knew who it was, the proper outing method would probably be to contact the school trustees or the legal office. The people with responsibility over him should have the first opportunity to take action, rather than some sort of public chain posting. It would probably be best to warn him on his blog beforehand of the unethical nature of the posts – and how it would be viewed by others. Just for curiosity, has anyone challenged him on the propriety of his posts?

I have seen a lot of crazy things over the years, so caution is always critical. What are the chances that the wrong dean gets outed? There are a lot of community colleges in this country. Or even a double pseudonym, where the person actually blogging isn’t really the dean? Once outed, expect things to get much more complicated! Keep in mind 1 Corinthians 5:12-13.

Having said that, the entire subject of whistle blowing and outing is very complicated. 25 years ago, I wish there was some experienced Christian to give me some wise counsel. Unfortunately, I might not have listened.

]]> By: Chris Brady http://targuman.org/blog/2008/04/07/poll-would-you-out-an-anonymouspsuedonymous-blogger/comment-page-1/#comment-26216 Chris Brady Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:26:50 +0000 http://targuman.org/blog/?p=1431#comment-26216 Thanks Looney. A lot of very good arguments in there and I am sure there are other things to consider as well. In case my post wasn't clear, I am genuinely unsure of how I would answer the poll (so far it stands at 2 "no" and 1 "yes") and I have not yet answered it. Needless to say (but I will say it anyway, why do we have such a phrase if it is always followed by the thing that was needless to have been said?), the circumstances might well alter one's vote. In this case I would lean towards outing him because I find his conduct coming very close to objectionable. Not his views mind you, but his (verbal) actions in discussing these matters in a public forum in this way. I don't think they belong in such a public forum, but if he wants to bring it out in the public then he should do so openly. And so on... Any other thoughts on this? Thanks Looney. A lot of very good arguments in there and I am sure there are other things to consider as well. In case my post wasn’t clear, I am genuinely unsure of how I would answer the poll (so far it stands at 2 “no” and 1 “yes”) and I have not yet answered it.

Needless to say (but I will say it anyway, why do we have such a phrase if it is always followed by the thing that was needless to have been said?), the circumstances might well alter one’s vote. In this case I would lean towards outing him because I find his conduct coming very close to objectionable. Not his views mind you, but his (verbal) actions in discussing these matters in a public forum in this way. I don’t think they belong in such a public forum, but if he wants to bring it out in the public then he should do so openly. And so on…

Any other thoughts on this?

]]> By: Looney http://targuman.org/blog/2008/04/07/poll-would-you-out-an-anonymouspsuedonymous-blogger/comment-page-1/#comment-26215 Looney Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:11:45 +0000 http://targuman.org/blog/?p=1431#comment-26215 Well, as one in the pseudonymity class, I have a number of thoughts: First, there are many reasons for keeping anonymity when blogging, given we have relationships with many others. We have more freedom here in the US, but supposing I happen to have a relationship with someone in North Korea, and then I happen to slip up and/or someone puts together pieces from various things I have written. Certainly I won't stop someone who is targeting me. On the other hand, I might give a little more protection against those who might be scouring the net at random looking for things that might connect the dots to a missionary operating out of Obscuristan where they perhaps eat missionaries. OK, that was too extreme, but there are other legitimate reasons for making things a little difficult, although I tend to think that people who are in professions like pastors, teachers and professors have the least reason for using pseudonyms. If your already in the business of making your ideas public, then why do you need a pseudonym? That being said, I think you are right that we have an obligation not to use the blog to discuss those we personally know while using a pseudonym. The particular post you link to goes further in that it seems to have some potential legal consequences that shouldn't be posted all over the net in any form. If sometime in the future things go awry between one party or another, the lawyers will find the post quickly and there will be a heavy price to pay. Which brings up another issue: If you will be directly discussing your occupation on your blog, then the pseudonym is the wrong way to go. Besides this, I communicate with many who use pseudonyms and it would probably take at least a court order to get me to out anyone. Are there other things that I should take into consideration? Well, as one in the pseudonymity class, I have a number of thoughts:

First, there are many reasons for keeping anonymity when blogging, given we have relationships with many others. We have more freedom here in the US, but supposing I happen to have a relationship with someone in North Korea, and then I happen to slip up and/or someone puts together pieces from various things I have written. Certainly I won’t stop someone who is targeting me. On the other hand, I might give a little more protection against those who might be scouring the net at random looking for things that might connect the dots to a missionary operating out of Obscuristan where they perhaps eat missionaries. OK, that was too extreme, but there are other legitimate reasons for making things a little difficult, although I tend to think that people who are in professions like pastors, teachers and professors have the least reason for using pseudonyms. If your already in the business of making your ideas public, then why do you need a pseudonym?

That being said, I think you are right that we have an obligation not to use the blog to discuss those we personally know while using a pseudonym. The particular post you link to goes further in that it seems to have some potential legal consequences that shouldn’t be posted all over the net in any form. If sometime in the future things go awry between one party or another, the lawyers will find the post quickly and there will be a heavy price to pay. Which brings up another issue: If you will be directly discussing your occupation on your blog, then the pseudonym is the wrong way to go.

Besides this, I communicate with many who use pseudonyms and it would probably take at least a court order to get me to out anyone. Are there other things that I should take into consideration?

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