Comments on: (Academic) Integrity and Anonymous Blogging http://targuman.org/blog/2009/12/13/academic-integrity-and-anonymous-blogging/ Translating my thoughts into words. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:49:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Nathan Rein http://targuman.org/blog/2009/12/13/academic-integrity-and-anonymous-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-54010 Nathan Rein Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:49:49 +0000 http://targuman.org/blog/?p=3768#comment-54010 I don't know Lee McCardle, and maybe you do, and so forgive me for butting in. But that particular anti-academic sneer always gets under my skin. I work at a private institution, which gets its funding just like any other business (by providing a service for pay, in the form of tuition, and by getting a return on its investments, in the form of an endowment). So, yeah, I have tenure, but I have yet to see dollar one of Mr. McCardle's unwashed and unlettered money. But even if you work at a public institution, it's not as if the state is doling out sinecures to professors, at least that's not my understanding. The point of the state funding is to subsidize education for residents. Anyhow, whatever. Sorry, this is pretty off-topic. I don’t know Lee McCardle, and maybe you do, and so forgive me for butting in. But that particular anti-academic sneer always gets under my skin. I work at a private institution, which gets its funding just like any other business (by providing a service for pay, in the form of tuition, and by getting a return on its investments, in the form of an endowment). So, yeah, I have tenure, but I have yet to see dollar one of Mr. McCardle’s unwashed and unlettered money. But even if you work at a public institution, it’s not as if the state is doling out sinecures to professors, at least that’s not my understanding. The point of the state funding is to subsidize education for residents. Anyhow, whatever. Sorry, this is pretty off-topic.

]]> By: Chris Brady http://targuman.org/blog/2009/12/13/academic-integrity-and-anonymous-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-54008 Chris Brady Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:44:10 +0000 http://targuman.org/blog/?p=3768#comment-54008 Presumably the fact that Penn State receives (usually, not so far this year) funding from the Commonwealth. Penn State is, however, only a "state affiliate" university which means that only something just south of 8% of our total budget comes from the legislature. If you omit agriculture and cooperative extension it is even less. Presumably the fact that Penn State receives (usually, not so far this year) funding from the Commonwealth. Penn State is, however, only a “state affiliate” university which means that only something just south of 8% of our total budget comes from the legislature. If you omit agriculture and cooperative extension it is even less.

]]> By: Nathan Rein http://targuman.org/blog/2009/12/13/academic-integrity-and-anonymous-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-54007 Nathan Rein Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:01:11 +0000 http://targuman.org/blog/?p=3768#comment-54007 "Pay their salaries"? What are you talking about? “Pay their salaries”? What are you talking about?

]]> By: Christopher Long http://targuman.org/blog/2009/12/13/academic-integrity-and-anonymous-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-53990 Christopher Long Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:41:24 +0000 http://targuman.org/blog/?p=3768#comment-53990 Jim suggests something important about anonymity, it seems to encourage modes of interaction that are not conducive to productive dialogue. Further, when a belligerent anonymous commenter enters a community of learning a dimension of uncertainty and fear is introduced that can hinder the free exchange of ideas. The question of accounability here is central. Increasingly I am convinced that the pursuit of truth requires not only the freedom of expression, but a certain accountability for what is expressed and how it is expressed. I have been thinking a lot about these things as I work on cultivating the excellences of digital dialogue. I talked to a graduate student about anonymous blogging on episode 5 of the Digital Dialogue podcast: http://www.personal.psu.edu/cpl2/blogs/digitaldialogue/2009/07/digital-dialogue-podcast-05-identity.html Jim suggests something important about anonymity, it seems to encourage modes of interaction that are not conducive to productive dialogue. Further, when a belligerent anonymous commenter enters a community of learning a dimension of uncertainty and fear is introduced that can hinder the free exchange of ideas.

The question of accounability here is central. Increasingly I am convinced that the pursuit of truth requires not only the freedom of expression, but a certain accountability for what is expressed and how it is expressed.

I have been thinking a lot about these things as I work on cultivating the excellences of digital dialogue. I talked to a graduate student about anonymous blogging on episode 5 of the Digital Dialogue podcast:

http://www.personal.psu.edu/cpl2/blogs/digitaldialogue/2009/07/digital-dialogue-podcast-05-identity.html

]]> By: Academics blogging anonymously? Are we being academics, then? http://targuman.org/blog/2009/12/13/academic-integrity-and-anonymous-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-53983 Academics blogging anonymously? Are we being academics, then? Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:39:22 +0000 http://targuman.org/blog/?p=3768#comment-53983 [...] My brother has extended the ongoing discussion about anonymous and pseudonymous blogging yet again in his recent blog entry. [...] [...] My brother has extended the ongoing discussion about anonymous and pseudonymous blogging yet again in his recent blog entry. [...]

]]> By: John Hobbins http://targuman.org/blog/2009/12/13/academic-integrity-and-anonymous-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-53982 John Hobbins Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:59:40 +0000 http://targuman.org/blog/?p=3768#comment-53982 Snark is fine so long as you can be held accountable for it. Otherwise, it's not a level playing field. Snark is fine so long as you can be held accountable for it. Otherwise, it’s not a level playing field.

]]> By: Chris Brady http://targuman.org/blog/2009/12/13/academic-integrity-and-anonymous-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-53981 Chris Brady Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:57:47 +0000 http://targuman.org/blog/?p=3768#comment-53981 I think that is a good point Jim. Anonymity seems to lend towards one becoming a little more lose or vitriolic than when we know that we can be held accountable. I started my blog anonymously but within a few weeks made it public for two reasons. (1) I wasn't going to say anything that I wouldn't own up to since I know that ultimately no identities are secret on the internet if someone tries hard enough to find out the truth. (2) I wanted to engage with my audience. I wanted to know them and them to know me so that we could have a more fruitful discussion. I think that is a good point Jim. Anonymity seems to lend towards one becoming a little more lose or vitriolic than when we know that we can be held accountable.

I started my blog anonymously but within a few weeks made it public for two reasons. (1) I wasn’t going to say anything that I wouldn’t own up to since I know that ultimately no identities are secret on the internet if someone tries hard enough to find out the truth. (2) I wanted to engage with my audience. I wanted to know them and them to know me so that we could have a more fruitful discussion.

]]> By: Chris Brady http://targuman.org/blog/2009/12/13/academic-integrity-and-anonymous-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-53980 Chris Brady Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:55:16 +0000 http://targuman.org/blog/?p=3768#comment-53980 I cannot say that I have made a study of the micturation habits of scholars, but I would think we are all alike in this process. And the reality is that the games played by faculty are no different than anyone else, it is just that the academy does have additional guarantees to allow more "play," so long as it is still within one's field. I cannot say that I have made a study of the micturation habits of scholars, but I would think we are all alike in this process. And the reality is that the games played by faculty are no different than anyone else, it is just that the academy does have additional guarantees to allow more “play,” so long as it is still within one’s field.

]]> By: Jim Getz http://targuman.org/blog/2009/12/13/academic-integrity-and-anonymous-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-53978 Jim Getz Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:27:05 +0000 http://targuman.org/blog/?p=3768#comment-53978 I've had a few anonymous and pseudonymous blogs over the years. At some point the anonymity of the idiom led to its own destruction. I wound up becoming mean. I won't say I don't get snarky when I blog under my own name. I'm just more accountable for the snarky comments I make. I’ve had a few anonymous and pseudonymous blogs over the years. At some point the anonymity of the idiom led to its own destruction. I wound up becoming mean.

I won’t say I don’t get snarky when I blog under my own name. I’m just more accountable for the snarky comments I make.

]]> By: Lee McCardle http://targuman.org/blog/2009/12/13/academic-integrity-and-anonymous-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-53977 Lee McCardle Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:09:55 +0000 http://targuman.org/blog/?p=3768#comment-53977 Do tenured folk pee any differently than us unwashed and unlettered folk who pay their salaries? I am obviously ignorant about the games people play in the academy. Do tenured folk pee any differently than us unwashed and unlettered folk who pay their salaries? I am obviously ignorant about the games people play in the academy.

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