Is it normal- anonymous

47 Comments

Although we all have a certain amount of anonymity on this site, due to things such as our username, in a way we all have an online identity (at least on IIN). Lets say, for some reason, we get this taken away from us: no username, no profile, no number, just complete anonymity. Granted, with some people their writing styles tend to give them away, but just play along with the idea anyway:P.

What do you think would happen? Would you stay? Would you even prefer it?

Be honest:P!

Most users would leave 28
Most users would stay 23
It wouldn't change anything 31
Other 3
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Comments ( 47 )
  • …Space_Ghost?
    11 years ago | pl

    bananaface? Is that you? :D

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      11 years ago

      Oh, if only I could type my reaction, ha!

      Ok, busted, you got me! Blah, damn you guavavisage! Damn you!:P Grr, this is so frustrating! It looks like it wouldn't even matter if I lost my username, I can never get away with anonymity.:'(

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      • …Space_Ghost?
        11 years ago

        That's a good thing! Well, in a way it is. :)

        It means that I care about you and that I am familiar with your typing style. Although, it isn't really that hard. There are only handful of others that use emtioncons the way you do:P! But this is such a ...Galaxie_Geist? question.

        I'll make it up to you. When I go to Newcastle, I'll bring you a 5 star apple pie from the states. Sounds good, right? :D

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        • Anonymous Post Author
          11 years ago

          @_@ Apple pie? Oh my:O. That sounds more than good, Spacey:D!

          Yeah, I notice people's emoticon use too, mine does give me away. And I'm starting to think people here know me better than I know myself, haha!:P I kid, but is this really a ...Galaxy_Geist? question? Hmm, I don't even know what that means, but I'll take your word for it:P.

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          • …Space_Ghost?
            11 years ago

            Your whole attitude towards this site is different from a lot of users. Not many of us take a positive interest in the users here without it being in the form of a "shout out thread". :P

            The idea you told me about in private, the free thinking, the voice accent comparison thingy. You are very interested in all of it. See how this question is just like you? :D

            Or am I way off!? D:

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            • Anonymous Post Author
              11 years ago

              Haha, I didn't realise my attitude towards the site was different to others. I'll have a think about that:P. And I didn't realise this question would fit in with that too, I'll also think about that, haha:P!

              But yeah, it does interest me how people view their IIN "identity", I guess you could call it. We're always saying that we're anonymous here, which to an extent is true, but do we not end up creating a name for ourselves? Maybe it's different to our identity "in real life", but it's still an identity. If you read enough of someone's comments, and they're all labelled with the same username, you pile all those comments together to get a vague idea about who that person is. Sorry, I'm rambling, I'll stop. It just interests me whether people would still be here if we had no identity, I guess. Are people really here to help others? Is that enough for some people?

              As for that idea I sent you in private, I'm thinking of posting it, just in different words maybe. I don't know, we'll see:).

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  • charli.m
    11 years ago

    I would definitely miss the knowing who the posters were. Primarily, I have to admit it's a familiarity with some users sort of thing. I do appreciate that on this site, though I don't see that as the most important part of it

    But it's also a matter of knowing someone's...knowledge and ability, shall we say?...to answer the question. Some people have experience, professional or life, in certain areas, and for me, that's important when they're answering a question.

    Accountability, too. Nothing pisses me off more than people who just make random shit up on every post. If you're gonna make up a persona, fine, whatever, but be consistent dammit!

    I have no idea if I've made any sense. Sorry.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      11 years ago

      Wow, that's a really interesting point, and one I didn't even think about. When you see certain usernames, you expect a certain type of comment. It would be very difficult to get a reputation, either good and bad, if there weren't usernames. And sometimes there are users who you need to be wary of.

      That all made sense, and I glad you brought it up. Thanks:D.

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      • charli.m
        11 years ago

        Yay for coherency! Dunno if that's a word but I'm sticking with it!

        No probs :)

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  • NeuroNeptunian
    11 years ago

    Yeah, I don't really give a fuck.

    If anything, it would make shit way more interesting because users will have LESS accountability.

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  • …Space_Ghost?
    11 years ago

    Hahaha! It would drive me insane. I would be so busy trying to identify the users. I probably wouldn't even comment anymore... I think it would be better based on some of the recent events that transpired here. It would be so different; my curiosity has beat the best of me, I would stay just to know what it is like. But I would miss everyone after we became nameless posters. D:

    dappled summed up my second part better than I would have. I'll just copy/paste like so. :)

    "But yes, I have often wondered about true anonymity. I think I'd prefer it. Clustering replies together with a username makes some people a target. Some feel pressure here to suppress their personality and if they were anonymous, may be better IINers. Some don't want credit and don't want to be "known". But on a site where popularity is so easily measured in thumbs, where some people really do strive to be popular, it's easy to believe that everyone on the site has exactly the same motive, despite it being obvious just how ridiculous a statement that is."

    Edit: it would be easy to spot me with all the d**n typos I make. ;)

    Edit: ...Galaxie_Geist?, I hope you don't mind. I made a typo, so I removed my comment just to put it back up, minus the typo. ;)

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      11 years ago

      Omg, you really are too funny sometimes, Spacey:D! I don't even know why I'm finding this so hilarious, but just the thought of you staring at a typo and actually getting so annoyed at it that you have to delete your comment and put it back up (minus typo of course) is really amusing to me.:P

      So I think it's fair to say I don't mind;P.

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      • …Space_Ghost?
        11 years ago

        LOL
        Now I am very amused by your amusement! :D
        When you put it like that, it is too hilarious! ;)

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  • dappled
    11 years ago

    I tend not to think of myself as having much (or any) anonymity here. I write a variant of English that a minority of people here write. I post often so the chances of there being clues are elevated. If I use a word like metagrobolisation, the radar starts beeping. Plus I have a distinct writing style and I have several written tics, some of which I've discussed and one which was pointed out by the esteemed banana face of yourself. I could try to hide but I'd be spotted and people would think, "Why is dappled trying to hide?"

    But yes, I have often wondered about true anonymity. I think I'd prefer it. Clustering replies together with a username makes some people a target. Some feel pressure here to suppress their personality and if they were anonymous, may be better IINers. Some don't want credit and don't want to be "known". But on a site where popularity is so easily measured in thumbs, where some people really do strive to be popular, it's easy to believe that everyone on the site has exactly the same motive, despite it being obvious just how ridiculous a statement that is.

    I vote anonymity, although I'd miss you all when we become hidden and can't be social any more. It would certainly solve some problems, though.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      11 years ago

      Hmm, I've never really viewed your writing style as something which would make you a minority, and I'm not sure what variant you're talking about. I guess it would make you a minority, though. You write well, and sometimes your choice of words is very, well dappled, I guess:P. Yeah, your writing style is very dappled:D.

      Good point about the thumbs, though. The more I think about it, the more I wish the feature would go. I don't know, maybe I'm just being bitter because I've been feeling targeted recently:P. Although, I guess it doesn't bother me that much. And I worry that sometimes people leave comments with the thumbs feature in mind, hoping they'll get the most thumbs up or something like that:/.

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      • dappled
        11 years ago

        Maybe I'm not so much of a minority any more. There are loads of Brittingtons here. Even jardy ones. :P On a recent poll there were something like two dozen of us.

        I get the feeling the thumbs thing gets used completely wrongly by the majority. If someone I've had a run-in with makes a great comment, they get a thumb. It's not a personal thing, nor should it be. It's about the comment, not the people behind them. :/

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      • charli.m
        11 years ago

        Sometimes the thumbs genuinely confuse me.

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    • boston12
      11 years ago

      get ur head out of ur arse

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      • dappled
        11 years ago

        If only I was flexible enough to get it up there in the first place I'd probably be better in bed. :P

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      • Wild_Child
        11 years ago

        Boston12 2 inch cock doesn't get hard. But, he is too dumb to fuck anyway.

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  • GuessWho
    11 years ago

    It'll just end up like 4chan, where everyone is anon by default and some choose to identify themselves.
    Needless to say, there would be more trolls as a result.

    It wouldn't bother me at first, but I'd probably eventually leave when the trolls take over.

    I have enough anonymity with my username. Based on all the personal information I've given away on this site, I could be any one of over 1000000 people.

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  • Boo!
    11 years ago

    But I like being boo. :( I agree with you, I think I've obtained a identity in IIN and that sometimes make me want to keep certain part about me away from here as well. I wish there was the ability to have complete anonymity, but also have the freedom to be boo again. Just like you as the OP have the ability to either show your username or stay anonymous.

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    • dappled
      11 years ago

      Aww, where did you go, boo-face?

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      11 years ago

      Yeah I guess that does sound appealing. Being here for as long as I have means that some people know me a bit, which has sometimes made it hard for me to give advice on stories. Mainly when the topic is personal for me, and something which I don't want attached to my name, I guess. Having the freedom to leave a comment anonymously would definitely solve that problem.

      But it's pretty pointless me being OP anyway:P. The first commented outed me:'(.

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      • Boo!
        11 years ago

        Oh, well from the other side where I'm currently sitting, your side of the bench seemed so much fun to this outsider. I would gladly trade places to test the waters myself but unfortunately impossible. Haha, I saw that, I thought it was cool you have people who understand you enough to catch you right on the spot. You have your perks. :)

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        • Anonymous Post Author
          11 years ago

          Haha, sorry, I'm not sure I understand. What's impossible?:)

          But yeah, I guess it is sort of nice that some people have read enough of my words to know when I'm OP. Although, it's not difficult, I write a little differently I guess. E.g. I overuse certain words, emoticons and certain punctuation.:P

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          • Boo!
            11 years ago

            Us switching seats, silly. :p Yeah, I can tell. I thought I figured one out but no I was mistaken. Wrong lead.

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            • Anonymous Post Author
              11 years ago

              I didn't even realise there were seats, haha. I'm not sure what that means, but ok:P

              And sometimes I'm not very good at guessing people either. There are only a few people who are obvious to me, but that's only because I'm used to the way they write. Most people are a big blur to me:S. Guessing OPs isn't something I tend to do either.

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  • alv1592
    11 years ago

    I don't think much would change. At least half of you I only know by your usernames, but I don't know anything else about you, even your first names lol. I've only seen a few people mention their real names; Simon told me his name on Twitter because he knew I was curious, and later revealed it here.

    I would stay here if it was totally anonymous. Most of you would still recognise me anyway. If you see anything about unicorns, funnel cake, Big Bang Theory, Al Pacino or my favourite music (which I've mentioned many times) you know it's me lol

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  • dinz
    11 years ago

    We already dictate the anonymity of ourselves anyway. Yeah we might have user names but if you are worried about protecting your identify and other personal information, the simple thing is not post it on IIN.

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