We've had a couple of recent situations that highlight some of the issues with allowing anonymous users on the site. Basically, allowing anonymous users allows people to post content with minimal accountability. The idea of allowing anonymous participation was to allow 'shy' members of the community to feel safe when posting content. But it also emboldens people to post content (potentially abusing the web site) that they would not do if they were not anonymous.
Generally speaking if we identify someone abusing the site we can attempt to monitor and, if necessary, block access to the site. But there are ways around any monitoring that is performed relating to security as well as limits on what can be done to block 'abusers' of the site without a lot of time expended by moderators. It can become a 'game' to see who has more patience.
What we are planning is to change our policy and to require people to register on the site with their real information. You will be able to pick an 'easy to remember/type' username ( i.e. 'dromano' ) but any postings will be displayed with your registered name ( i.e. 'Don Romano' ). We only collect email as well as name during the registration process but that will not be displayed. But, like at a town meeting or in any public discussion, you will be identified by name and thereby accountable for what you say. We'll deal with any 'duplicate names' as needed.
In reality many of the participants already use their real identities and many of those who are currently using an anonymous identity are willing to be recogized. This site is designed for real discussion around real topics in our community. It is like a virtual and perpetual town meeting that provides for these good and hopefully informative discussions. We should all stand up and be accounted for.
Before moving forward with this policy we will contact anyone who has posted in the past year who has what appears to be an anonymous identity to see if they would like to be public... i.e. their name will be exposed. Anyone who does not reply or agree will have their account disabled and their 'name' information will be updated to be 'anonymous' so that when names are really displayed theirs will not be exposed.
There is not immediate timeframe for this... this should occur within weeks following the process above. Feel free to reply to this with any comments... anonymous users can as well at this time.
