There are lots of them. People that leave comments anonymously, that is.
Let me make one thing crystal clear. If you prefer to be anonymous, keep commenting all you want. That’s fine.
But I do think that if you are going to stir the waters, be controversial, take issue with the blogger, make great and substantial comments, or just comment frequently, it’s much more polite to establish an identity online.
Mrs. Darling said it wonderfully over at Life in the Shoe. Some anon commenter (seventh comment down) inexplicably and astonishingly was troubled by the tone and attitude of LitS (I’m still completely bewildered how they ever came up with that doozy). Everybody started jumping to defend Dorcas, and Mrs. Darling gently chided the original instigator and another anon or two about posting the kind of things they were saying as anonymous.
Then of course they tried to turn it on her, but she brilliantly deflected their ridiculous statements. Basically, go right ahead if you want to be anon, but create an identity. Use initials, come up with a unique name, anything.
Like I told Darin, I love controversy on a blog. It makes it so much more interesting. I was a little afraid of writing this, because I don’t want to stifle a single comment. So if the only way you’ll make that bold and controversial comment attacking the blogger is if you do it completely anon, do it anyway! I like those kind of comments too much. But maybe think about creating an identity.
You see things like PFC, EG, The Baritone, Truthseeker, Peacefullady, atthecrux, and I’ve even seen ones such as Dave and Sharon! See, it can be done. And it’s probably painless.
Like last night, this comment came in signed by Anonymous Coward. This dude must have seen the comment I left over here. I love it! What a great sense of humor. See, and he’s creating an identity.
All this to draw attention to my own new proactively instigative anonner! This dude (dudette No one knows!!) laid into me on my political post, but he (she) must have been a little chicken because they waited until it was old and way down the page! I love these kinds of comments. I don’t think I’ve really gotten any like this before. So thanks, anon. Maybe I’ll have to come up with a name for you.
Hey, maybe he’s AC from that previous paragraph!
You all know I gave Ag her name, don’t you? That was way back in the good old days on the by-log, when we commenters out-wrote By by a 4 words to 1 margin. Come to think of it, Truthseeker does that now all by himself!! Ha ha! Just having fun with you, TS!
20 Responses
June 1st, 2005 at 6:02 am
And you are probably the only person that I would allow the “privilege” of calling me that to face!
Oh my! The good, old days in the by-log. We should all meet in there for a reunion sometime. Remember our great discussion on lead singers? How could you forget, you are probably still offended.
You should be proud, I never post anon. What power of influence you have……..
Ag
June 1st, 2005 at 6:04 am
Oh and Tom, I can’t wait to see what you name your children!
Ag
June 1st, 2005 at 11:30 am
Lets face it..being anonymous comes in real handy at times….especially when its time to defend Dorcas…although we weren’t anonymous to her, she knew who we were.We just had no clue who we were up against!!LOL!!
June 1st, 2005 at 2:26 pm
I think that you are the worst lead singer.
June 1st, 2005 at 2:27 pm
Oooh, Tom, you asked for that one! Not that I think it’s true or anything…
Ag: Looks like I’m in trouble. I called you Ag to your face…
June 1st, 2005 at 2:54 pm
No, I’m not that pathetic. I wouldn’t be rude about it, I would just steer you away from it in time or politely correct you into using my given name. I dislike being called Ag in person.
June 1st, 2005 at 3:19 pm
Ag — after comment #4, I’m no longer offended at you for that long ago discussion!!
Arlene — anonymous usually comes in handy when you should be ashamed of what you’re posting (ahem, fourth comment). You should be proud to sign your name when you’re doing something noble like defending Dorcas!
“You are the worst” anon — I’m sure you’re not the only one of that persuasion! Ha ha! Shoot, even I’ve been on your side a few times.
That was probably just Darin posting anon trying to push my buttons.
June 1st, 2005 at 4:23 pm
Not guilty!
June 1st, 2005 at 7:49 pm
So, what, do I call you Anita?
June 1st, 2005 at 8:03 pm
You may call me anything you like and I will most likely be gracious and not make a scene. The whole Ag thing stuck in here which is why I still use it, I just prefer not to be called that IN PERSON. But if we ever meet and if it makes you a more satisfied person to do so, I won’t be ugly about it. :)
Ag
June 1st, 2005 at 10:12 pm
Tom–I must confess–I was also one of the anons standing up for Dorcas–I seem to get in enough touble w/ some of my opinions so sometimes is easier to hide–Dorcas did know who I was–as for standing up for Mrs.Darling–I personally know her and she needs no help whatsoever in that dept.!!!!!LOL She can let it fly when the occasion comes up–and she definetely would take credit for it no matter what!!!!LOL
June 2nd, 2005 at 12:52 pm
I’m definately a chicken when it comes to leaving pointed statements on a blog toward the blogger. I do the anon. thing most of the time, or just go off about it to one of my friends.
June 7th, 2005 at 12:57 pm
The pity is, that apparently whover was nasty enough to post comment #4 is now too chicken to come back and confess it, apparently….
Lauren
June 8th, 2005 at 2:08 pm
Loren: I am not a chicken!
Transparently Signed,
Anon #4
(which shall henceforth be my identity)
June 8th, 2005 at 4:38 pm
I don’t know, I kinda like referring to you as the “you are the worst” anon.
June 9th, 2005 at 9:01 pm
Ag, I thought that Crystal named you Ag after one of her Polish friends? Well, won’t be the first time I got it wrong. {:^)
June 9th, 2005 at 9:13 pm
Tom, I know that I tend to take up a little bit of space on By’s and Darin’s blogs, but then they start something that I think is important to talk about! {:^)
BTW, if you go to a few of the other blogs that I comment on, you will see a long comment or two. {:^)
Have you ever gotten into a discussion with a Reformed Theology type? I thrive there!
June 9th, 2005 at 10:54 pm
That is where the name Ag came from, but I was the one that first applied it to Anita. She was anon at the time and we hadn’t figured out who she was, so I gave her an identity.
No, I never have. I’m afraid I would be in over my head pretty quick!
June 9th, 2005 at 11:27 pm
Yeah. I think Crystal brought up the famous name and Tom pinned it to me or something like that. Don’t remember exactly. Whatever, whoever, however, it stuck.
Tom, you gave me my identity? That’s funny!
Ag
June 12th, 2005 at 5:35 pm
Tom and Ag, thanks for clearing up that story about Ag’s moniker.
And Tom, with your wit you should be good at discussing Calvin’s institutes or the writing of Owen or the other Reformed Theology advocates in the past. The modern ones just try to modernize the wording of the older writers. Makes for some good thinking and firming up on one’s beliefs to go toe to toe with them. Try it sometime, just bone up on your Bible and beliefs and fire away.