A Blogger By Any Other Name…
By Anthony | October 23rd, 2006 | 9:03 pmPerhaps spurred by TheCA’s quest to discover and “out” local commenter greendog’s true identity (the thread turns in that direction about 14 comments deep), meblogin wonders if he should reveal his own identity:
I have been thinking about adding my real identity to my blog. Others seem to give more credit or seem to prefer to know the name of who they are blogging with or at least that would be my guess.
My reply:
“Real identity” is often overrated. Who are you? You are meblogin. As long as you are consistent in using that name, and as long as you aren’t trying to pass yourself off as some expert in some area of discussion (which would require some verification of your credentials), that’s all we really need to know.
When I first started meeting folks at blogger meetups, I would introduce myself with my real name first, and be met with a blank look, and a smile. After adding, “I blog as PotatoStew” a look of recognition would come over most people’s faces. My pseudonym meant more to them then my real name.
Identify yourself if you want to, but don’t feel pressured to do so. You will be accorded the respect and credibility you deserve based on how you deal with others and present your arguments, whether under your real name or a pseudonym.
October 24th, 2006 at 2:33 pm
Anthony, your last sentence is critical. Too many pseudonymous bloggers have taken numerous personal shots at other bloggers from behind a wall of anonymity. Using a pseudonym carries certain responsibilities that an asymmetric playing field is not created.
October 24th, 2006 at 6:24 pm
Thanks for the comment Joe. I’m not sure that I buy the notion that blogging pseudonymously carries the “responsibility” not to create an asymetric playing field – I’m actually not even sure that I agree that any *meaningful* playing field is being made asymetrical by the conduct you mention.
I assume you are referring to greendog in your comment (though you say “too many” – I’m not sure what other examples you mean at the moment). Greendog – according to greendog – exists for the sole purpose of making personal attacks on Sam and Bubba. As such, greendog doesn’t really have (or attempt to have) any credibility at all. The real playing field – at least the one that I see being important – is the one that pertains to the issues being discussed. Relying solely on personal attacks is essentially leaving the playing field, not making it uneven. It’s greendog’s choice to go down that path – the consequence is a hit on his/her credibility if nothing of substance is offered.
October 25th, 2006 at 5:06 pm
I actually was not referring to Greendog. There have been others locally, but I will not name them. I agree with you that they discredit themselves by engaging in this type of behavior (and I was not referring to your previous sole identity as ‘Stew’– you always have stuck to the issues!)
Pseudonymous bloggers represent a quandary. Some can provide useful insight that otherwise might not become available. I do not attempt to restrict them.
The hit and run tactics, however, offend my own sense of justice. I do not think it is right. I have said before– we would all do much better if we just discussed the issues– and not each other.
October 25th, 2006 at 5:59 pm
I stand corrected regarding my assumption. I think we’re mostly in agreement. I certainly agree that we’d be better off sticking to the issues as much as possible.
October 27th, 2006 at 10:57 pm
There is a difference between using a pseudonym and anonymity. Elton John is a pseudonym for Reginald Dwight, but we all know who he is and his biography is the same either way.
To say that greendog exists to badger me and Bubba is fine and probably true. But greendog could be Ed Cone or anyone else for all I know AT THIS POINT. So if you believe it is okay to use an alias for the sole purpose of attacking individuals, that’s fine. That is not a good precedent to set.
I could just as easily create an alter ego for such a purpose, however, I doubt I would get very far before I am outed by Cone or any other liberal who’s blog I post on. In fact, when I first used my pseudonym “The CA”, Cone outed me in like 5 minutes.
It is a bad thing to allow hit and run tactics. It is equally bad to allow one side to use them but not the other. But if it’s your blog, you can do what you wish, just don’t get pissed when the recipients of these tactics fight back by outing these people.
October 28th, 2006 at 1:45 am
I find this very interesting. My take is that if I am ever overly rude or need to be outed that one will. In the meantime I will continue as meblogin…smile…though if the name PotatoStew comes available…grin.
October 29th, 2006 at 10:19 pm
meblogin, if your statement were true, someone would have “outted” Bubba a long time ago. I for one am perfectly willing to stick to the issues unless someone like Bubba starts a fight for no good reason other than to take a partisan cheap shot. He and others have done it numerous times and like the democrats for the last 6 years, we’ve just taken it.
I for one say no longer. Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire when it is called for. I won’t be the one to start it, but I have no qualms about matching it point for point when it starts.
October 31st, 2006 at 7:25 pm
….geez…shouldn’t Ed be added to the list for cheap shots…smile