Internet Anonymity Destructive?

Back in October, I read a post written by Dennis Prager at TownHall.com which discussed his opinion that Internet Anonymity is as Destructive as Internet Porn.

Personally, I think that internet porn is far more destructive and harmful to our society. However, I get Mr. Prager's point that allowing anonymous comments can also be considered quite destructive; especially when the vitriol starts flying.

He makes several good points in his article.

For example:

1. Until the Internet, in the public's best known venue for self-expression -- letters to the editor published in newspapers and magazines -- people either expressed themselves in a civilized manner or they were not published. And overwhelmingly, even those letters that were not published were written in a respectful manner because the letter-writers had to reveal their real names and their addresses (though only names and cities were published).

Being identifiable breeds responsibility; anonymity breeds irresponsibility.

Before my blogging days, I used to write two, 200 word letters-to-the-editor and submit them to our local newspaper. Every Friday, the paper provided a "faith and values" letter section. I always lamented the fact that I was limited both in content and number of times I could submit a published letter. When blogging came along, it gave ordinary people like me a forum to write posts and content as often as I wanted to. My letter writing days seem so pass'e now, in comparison.

2. The Internet practice of giving everyone the ability to express himself anonymously for millions to read has debased public discourse. Cursing, ad hominem attacks and/or the utter absence of logic characterize a large percentage of many websites' "comments" sections. And because people tend to do what society says it is OK to do, many people, especially younger people, are coming to view such primitive forms of self-expression as acceptable.

Some might argue that anonymity enables people to more freely express their thoughts. But this is not true. Anonymity only enables people to more freely express their feelings. Anonymity values feelings over thought, and immediate expression over thoughtful reflection.

This is certainly a concern. The "flower children" of the 60's and 70's baby boom generation (now known as liberal left loonies) and the young people of today's generation who have been indoctrinated by them in schools and colleges are often found to be much more crass wherever and whenever anonymous comments are allowed in a forum. Just check out The Daily Kos. It was recently outed as a hate website.

My comment over at TownHall dealt with both of these concerns.

Christinewjc writes: Monday, October, 29, 2007 10:26 AM
Dennis' idea makes sense
I think that Dennis' idea makes a lot of sense. It is each individual blog owner's choice to allow or disallow anonymous comments at his/her own blog.

I don't see disallowing anonymous comments as a free speech issue. I see it as common sense. In any other form of communication, a person does not have to allow the conversation to continue if an individual is being foul-mouthed or offensive. Free speech does allow the right to "freedom of association" as well.

Personally, I have learned over the past 3 years of blogging at my own TalkWisdom blog (as well as at the blogs of internet friends) that anonymous commenters do not usually add much to the conversation regarding the original blogpost topic. Many only post to disparage or debase what is being discussed. If a commenter is not willing to at least share his/her screen name and register with a legitimate email, then their views are probably not worth reading anyway. That's just the way it is!

Secondly, they are usually trolls who object to what has been written, but don't have the guts to attach their internet "signature," so to speak, to their comments. This way, if they make absolute fools of themselves via their own written words, it dissipates into blogosphere oblivion.

When someone registers at a blog and then writes something stupid, offensive, mean, ugly, debased or even threatening and does not have the ability to erase it later, then they are stuck with their ignorance forever being broadcast to the entire world. That is certainly to their detriment.

There are over 128 comments posted at the original article link with differing opinions on this. What's your opinion?