What if no one was anonymous?
Seth Godin occasionally writes about the effects of anonymity.
He suggests that if anonymity was removed, we would no longer receive junk mail or unsolicited mail. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Unfortunately, there’s no sign of junk mail disappearing just yet, but we can all reduce the distraction of emails, and increase our focus, by unsubscribing to lists that no longer support our goals. I’ve been consciously doing this for the past month, and am amazed at how many emails had gradually snuck up on me.
The other downside of anonymity is that it allows people to offer opinions without accountability.
Reading through comments on blogs and websites, it can be tricky to know who is an expert and who is a mythmaker.
Of course, anonymity has a vital role to play in protecting those who speak uncomfortable truths, but more often than not it is a shelter for those who are unwilling to stand behind their comments.
So next time you’re reading something online, be aware who the writer is and if they are willing to put their name to their comments…