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There are several good reasons to allow anonymous
posting: there are valid questions one might ask that
involve embarrassing information.
(E.G. "You mean the MegaCorp tech writers have to ask
whether I is before E after C?" or "Why is a writer from
the WeSaySo Thermo Nuclear Division asking that
particular question about product safety ethics?")
There are discussions of contract terms and job hunting
that some people can't openly participate in, for fear of
damaging current negotiations or employer relations.
Some people may have something worthwhile to add
to a discussion, but can't do so openly because of who
they are.
In practice, most anonymous posting is just junk.
I'd like to see more acceptance of anonymous posting
as a tool for communication, and less anonymous
posting as an exercise in stupidity. But that's just
----------
From: Richard Dimock[SMTP:red -at- ELSEGUNDOCA -dot- ATTGIS -dot- COM]
Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 1995 3:56 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list TEC
Subject: Anonymous Postings/ Restricting Access
ANON wrote: well maybe did. Don't really know....
>From her postings, I detect P. Owen to be a bit opinionated.
- ANON
This is probably "Bill."
*****************************
Sheriff, this time the Masked Man has gone too far! Danged White Horse
left this STUFF all over our street.
Eric, I too am concerned. Can we filter anonymous postings out at
the Listserver?
I for one will delete any anonymous mail forthwith!
If no other techwrler rises to any of the Anonymous baiting or
commentary, the Masked Man may retire from the game.
Eric, I too may be accessing my mail from different machines. I suppose
I could subscribe under each address, but that eats mail bandwidth.
The spammers don't bother me because I have unlimited email use. I
have no opinion on allowing Usenet postings.
However, comma, this here Billy Anonymous we can do without.
Dick Dimock with finger poised over DEL at
AT&T GIS with axe poised over peons at
El Segundo, CA with fog poised over all.
red -at- elsegundoca -dot- attgis -dot- com
