Should Anonymity be allowed on the board?

[Jacklitsch]

While I may have an idle curiosity about who three25hits is, with his snarky posts, or dstudeba, whatever that is, or Wonkaticket, now there's a handle for you, it really doesn't matter to me whether someone is anonymous or not.

Me, I'm not so important that I have people out there searching me on google so I have no problem with people knowing who I am.

[barrysloate]

This is one of these issues that we will always have differing opinions. I just made the decision years ago that I would include my name, and stand behind all of my posts. If I say something inflammatory I'm willing to take the heat for it. If I am fortunate enough to express a wise opinion, then hopefully I will be looked upon kindly. But I chose from the start not to be anonymous.

[dstudeba]

Barry -

The difference between what you are saying and what I am saying is that you are talking about your own posts whereas I am talking about other people's posts. I cannot control what other people on the board say, so I choose to not post personal information.

[barrysloate]

Dan- I know there is a lot of fighting that goes on, but it's usually among lawyers. My best advice is don't become a lawyer, and you will do fine.

[dstudeba]

Good one Barry, my attorney has advised me similarly.

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

This is one of these issues that we will always have differing opinions. I just made the decision years ago that I would include my name, and stand behind all of my posts. If I say something inflammatory I'm willing to take the heat for it. If I am fortunate enough to express a wise opinion, then hopefully I will be looked upon kindly. But I chose from the start not to be anonymous.

My point is that since this is an internet chatboard, your decision to "stand behind" all of your posts is really just a decision to remain consistent with a collection of letters that happen to spell "Barry Sloate". You are as much a real person on here as anyone who posts under the same assumed name every time.

[barrysloate]

But if I say "the sky is blue" I want people to know that Barry Sloate said it, not just some guy on the internet. In that sense I am a real person. I'm encouraging others to form an opinion about me. If it's a good one, it will be beneficial for me down the road.

I would hate to be the guy who unlocked the mystery of the universe, and nobody knew I was the one who figured it out.

[barrysloate]

John- I hear what you are saying. Having never had a job myself, I'm a little out of the loop when it comes to office politics.

[Al C.risafulli]

If I am not mistaken, if I added a period or two and identified myself as "Bar.ry Slo.ate" wouldn't that keep my name out of standard searches?

Barry, that's exactly why I put a period in my last name on this board. I started doing it a few years ago, when someone from outside the hobby started asking me nosy questions about my 54 posts.

Unfortunately at that point I had already made the decision to use my real name here. It's the only board where I do. To remedy the situation, I put a period in my last name. But if I had to do it over again, I would NOT use my name.

-Al

[Leon]

I don't think Barry S is just a bunch of letters behind a screen. Actually he has a lovely wife and was a great host when I went to New York a year or two ago. I stayed with him for a few days and had a simply wonderful time. I felt sort of like I was on Seinfeld (being in NY and all)!! The hobby was fine before the internet, or this board, and it would be fine without them. As I mentioned I think this thread has validated our anonymity rule and has also shown a few members there can be a different, intelligent reason, or way of thinking other than their own. Rarely is anything "black or white". This is one of those cases.....thanks for all of the good responses so far. best regards

[barrysloate]

Thanks Leon, you were a model guest...like you said, we will never have agreement on this issue. I guess I will soften my position and recognize some people have a reason to remain under the radar, and it's not my place to tell them to do otherwise.

[Mr. Mitt]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

My point is that since this is an internet chatboard, your decision to "stand behind" all of your posts is really just a decision to remain consistent with a collection of letters that happen to spell "Barry Sloate". You are as much a real person on here as anyone who posts under the same assumed name every time.

I'd like to expand on this a bit. If a new person stumbles on this forum and wants information about T206's, perhaps they'll look for posts where T206Collector is involved. If they're looking for information about a Draper Maynard G41 Ruth, they may seek out Mr. Mitt. If they want chocolate or any information on Agustus or Veruca, they might assume Wankaticket may have a little knowledge. Not many Barry Sloate collectors out there. But, I digress.

Seriously, As you said Barry, over time, they read what you have written and begin to understand your points of view and trust your opinions. Now, at the same time, T206Collector and Mr. Mitt and Wankaticket post and their opinions become as trusted and respected as BarrySloate. Why would you assume that we wouldn't take pride in our posts, or stand behind them, or take the heat when we are incorrect? It comes down to vanity. You said in your last post referencing the mysteries of the universe. I don't need to have the world know my accomplishments. It's just not that important... it's a hobby, not splitting the atom! Does it really matter that Mr. Mitt questioned the authenticity of the Cobb advertisement and that Wankaticket provided visuals that damn near proved it without a shadow of a doubt? Would it have been any different if Jerry XXXX and John XXXX did the same thing? Does it matter to me that Jerry XXXX is going unrecognized for this very minor accomplishment? Not at all. As T206Collector said, if I can add some value to the forum as Mr. Mitt, it's just as important to me as using my real name.

[barrysloate]

It's not vanity in my case, it's wanting people to know that I've been around a long time and know a little bit about baseball cards. I have to tell you that being on this board for so many years and posting regularly helped my business tremendously. I decided a long time ago that having my name here in print was important. That's all really. I decided early on the being anonymous would not have been a good decision. You obviously feel differently.

[Mr. Mitt]

I'm glad that it has helped you in your business, Barry, I truly am. I'm just not sure about my case, though. I see a greater chance of it adversely affecting me than helping. I like the fact that we have a choice.

[barrysloate]

Exactly.

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by Mr. Mitt

I'm glad that it has helped you in your business, Barry, I truly am. I'm just not sure about my case, though. I see a greater chance of it adversely affecting me than helping. I like the fact that we have a choice.

I can actually see very little good coming from using a real name on a public internet chatboard unless it also helps support one's business that also contains a real name.

[Mr. Mitt]

Steve... Even if you searched me on Google, you still wouldn't have any idea who I am. It's not an issue of fame or vanity, it's simply an issue of privacy. Let me pose a few scenarios for everyone. Though probably unlikely to occur, you can't say, given the world today, that these situations are impossibilities:

-A perspective client searches your name and, along with your professional data on the web, views a substantial amount of information about your involvement in baseball memorabilia. The client finds it juvenile and goes elsewhere.

-You work for a conservative firm and they, given the current economic conditions, are looking to downsize. They perform background checks on employees that include cursory web searches. They see your involvement in this hobby and 1) think you're spending too much time on outside interests and let you go or 2) see what you have recently purchased on a thread and decide that you have enough disposable income where letting you go won't adversely affect your lifestyle.

-A lurker on the forum reads that you have recently won an expensive item in an auction or you reference an item you already have and, because full names are mandatory, he easily locates your home via the web. Perhaps a burglary ensues or a kidnapping.

Outlandish? Perhaps. But not out of the realm of possibility. I, for one, will chose privacy each and every time because, above all, my family's safety and my livelihood are of the utmost importance. This is a just hobby and more than enough personal information is provided to the people in charge. If something illegal is done, this information should be used appropriately. If you are a "member" in good standing, you should be able to remain anonymous if you so chose, for whatever reason, without having to justify it to the community.

It's been mentioned that this isn't like splitting the atom. I concur, wholeheartedly. It's a hobby, plain and simple. Actually, this forum is a side effect of a hobby. If I were to prioritize my interests, as mentioned earlier, family and profession would top the list. My interest in memorabilia would be a several notches below that. Further down the list would be this forum. That's not a low blow to Leon or the rest of you. We all can still enjoy this hobby without the forum. Hell, most of us fell in love with this stuff long before the internet came along. This forum is an enjoyable outlet loaded with information, but not necessary to collect trinkets. I am afraid that a substantial portion of people would cease to post if anonymity were to become mandatory.

[wonkaticket]

Jerry 100% on the money.

Or what if you employed dozens of folks and recently denied a few raises around the office due to business being down as a whole...but a few employees stumble upon this forum and an item you won out of your own savings.

Wouldn't be hard for a few workers to become upset and think he can afford Ty Cobb cards but not my raise!

This kind of stuff could affect ones business and or someone’s work environment if one works for someone else does Bob really need that raise? He seems to be doing just fine I dont have 10k to spend on a silly baseball cards says employer to himself and he needs a raise?…

And Barry we all decided to not remain anonymous when we reregistered with Leon for this forum we provided him an email and number. Much more than we ever had on the old Net54...

[three25hits]

Originally Posted by Jacklitsch

with his snarky posts

Anonymity should certainly not be allowed on your blog, Strand deserves much better.

[Fred]

I don't care either way.

Leon, if someone doesn't register does that mean they can't post?

I wouldn't like it if you couldn't post unless you first register because we could be missing out on lurkers that may actually have something positive to contribute but they just don't like to register for anything. Personally, I hate registering on websites. This website is different because it's actually something I really like and I feel like part of the community.

I'm going to venture to guess that if registering is a prerequisite to posting then the number of posts have decreased.

I don't care if someone is anonymous because if I don't like what they say I just ignore it. If they become a nuisance then Leon (and the mod dudes) can take care of it.

[Leon]

Registration is mandatory to post and will continue to be....We got away from 100% anonymity due to many reasons, Trolls being the main one....There can still be one on this board but the back end security makes it fairly easy to deal with. Too many issues the other way.....