Anonymity and the Forum (1 Viewer)

[Peter Reuss]

As has been raised on a different thread, Forums like this one gather together a wide range of people from all over the world. Some freely give their personal names; others prefer to remain anonymous.

Normally this system works well. Collectors feel free to post all sorts of opinions. 99% of the time it doesn’t matter if people know names of collectors who post. The nature of the Forum allows for that anonymity. Shouldn’t people be free to post without sharing personal info?

The challenge comes when people suspect that the person posting isn’t just a collector – but someone with a vested interest in the toy soldier world. If a dealer (under a hidden name) poses as a collector and constantly tells the world how wonderful his shop is, would people want to know that information? What if a dealer wanted to take an anonymous jab at a manufacturer?

If a manufacturer poses as a collector for the sake of denigrating a competitor’s products (or building up their own), would people want to know that?

If the moderators can prove that any of these is the case, should they be free to announce it to the rest of the forum?

Note: these are merely hypothetical questions. I thought it might be better to deal with the core issue at hand.

 

[Alexdakar]

Good points Peter or is this really Andy?

 

[trooper]

As has been raised on a different thread, Forums like this one gather together a wide range of people from all over the world. Some freely give their personal names; others prefer to remain anonymous.

Normally this system works well. Collectors feel free to post all sorts of opinions. 99% of the time it doesn’t matter if people know names of collectors who post. The nature of the Forum allows for that anonymity. Shouldn’t people be free to post without sharing personal info?

The challenge comes when people suspect that the person posting isn’t just a collector – but someone with a vested interest in the toy soldier world. If a dealer (under a hidden name) poses as a collector and constantly tells the world how wonderful his shop is, would people want to know that information? What if a dealer wanted to take an anonymous jab at a manufacturer?

If a manufacturer poses as a collector for the sake of denigrating a competitor’s products (or building up their own), would people want to know that?

If the moderators can prove that any of these is the case, should they be free to announce it to the rest of the forum?

Note: these are merely hypothetical questions. I thought it might be better to deal with the core issue at hand.

What exactly is the core issue at hand?

 

[Combat]

I don't think the moderators or anyone associated with the running of this forum should reveal any personal information submitted as part of becoming a member. If the information comes from some outside party let them say so if they feel the need to make that information known. The forced taking and revealing of names is not generally a great sign in any context. Cue Johnny Cash:

There's a man going around taking names
And he decides who to free and who to blame
Everybody won't be treated all the same

 

[Peter Reuss]

The way I read things...should people be allowed to remain anonymous or do people have a right to know who their fellow forum members are?

I think it's a valid conversation, but one that will work better outside of the charged atmosphere of the other thread.

 

[King's Man]

I vote "anonymous"

King's Man

 

[damian]

I could tell you who I really am but then I would have to kill you all. SO best you don't ask too many questions about me. Capiche Bada Boom

 

[Njja]

Its really quite simple, fraud should not be allowed or tolerated. If the person

making the statements is simply a collector no problem.

If the Forum itself finds out the person complaining has a vested interest,

such as being a competitor, or competitors agent, or major dealer he should

be outed.

Shannon has assured us that people are only allowed to have one ID on

Treefrog, a problem found on other Forums.

We should all feel comfortable that they would not allow a manufacter, or

dealer attack another company without disclosing the confliction of interest.

Just my opinion.

 

[eborris]

In my humble opinion if you can find out that the xyz toy soldier company is bashing the abc toy soldier company and they are competitors, I think it's fair to say who they really are. I don't think it's fair to bash someone without that someone knowing who you really are, face you accuser so to speak.

 

[thebritfarmer]

I don't think that my personal info should be made public. If I wish to give it out I will. And by the way I really don't have a problem with anyone knowing anything about me.
If in the case of a manufacturer is disguising themselves, I think it should be a matter for admin to discuss privately and if the matter wasn't resolved then have their account deleted. I regards to the other thread, I really don't care who is who and who is saying what to whom. That's their business, but it should have been handled privately.

Scott

 

[MCKENNA77]

Sweet, someone should start playing the hit song by The Ting Ting's -
"Thats not my name"

Take Care

 

[maddadicus]

I don't think that my personal info should be made public. If I wish to give it out I will. And by the way I really don't have a problem with anyone knowing anything about me.
If in the case of a manufacturer is disguising themselves, I think it should be a matter for admin to discuss privately and if the matter wasn't resolved then have their account deleted. I regards to the other thread, I really don't care who is who and who is saying what to whom. That's their business, but it should have been handled privately.

Scott

What he said...DITTO!...Michael

 

[Peter Reuss]

For the record - this has been how Treefrog has dealt with the issue.

 

[Shiloh]

If you want to post your real name go ahead but beware that idenity thieves are constantly looking. All you information is out there on the web all they have to do is put 2 and 2 together and your screwed. The day this forum stops being anonymous I want my data wiped as if I never was here, not a trace and each member should be given this chance also. Having been hit with an idenity theft and recent rash of virus problems I do not want to take chances.

 

[Steven Chong]

... Normally this system works well. Collectors feel free to post all sorts of opinions. 99% of the time it doesn’t matter if people know names of collectors who post. The nature of the Forum allows for that anonymity. Shouldn’t people be free to post without sharing personal info?

The discussion on the other thread of whether someone posting on a public forum should identity themselves when they post criticism lacked a discussion of what is the consequence of identifying oneself. Ignoring for the moment the issue of whether the poster is a manufacturer or dealer intentionally disparaging another company, does knowing the name or identity of a critical collector somehow change the nature of the criticism? If the poster is not a manufacturer or dealer, I would argue it does not. Comments critical of every manufacturer are posted under anonymous ID's almost every day without generating any controversy. Oberstoskar's initial criticism generated little or no response. If there is no real benefit to knowing a poster's identity, then we should not be required to share personal information.

Are there any other consequences to knowing a poster's identity? In his post where he provides ten details about himself, Oberstoskar asked whether K&C, if it discovered his identity, would cancel his Hong Kong store club membership or refuse to sell him anything. Would a Forum member refuse to trade or not sell something to him if Oberstoskar used his real name and they now knew he was Oberstoskar? I hope not.

...The challenge comes when people suspect that the person posting isn’t just a collector – but someone with a vested interest in the toy soldier world. If a dealer (under a hidden name) poses as a collector and constantly tells the world how wonderful his shop is, would people want to know that information? What if a dealer wanted to take an anonymous jab at a manufacturer?

If a manufacturer poses as a collector for the sake of denigrating a competitor’s products (or building up their own), would people want to know that?

If the moderators can prove that any of these is the case, should they be free to announce it to the rest of the forum?

As a collector, I certainly would want to know if a manufacturer or dealer was posing as a collector in order to intentionally post disparaging comments. If the moderators somehow had proof, I think they should post it as it speaks to the motivations behind posted comments and allows Forum members to better judge the worth of the comments.

Steven Chong

 

[OzDigger]

If you want to post your real name go ahead but beware that idenity thieves are constantly looking. All you information is out there on the web all they have to do is put 2 and 2 together and your screwed. The day this forum stops being anonymous I want my data wiped as if I never was here, not a trace and each member should be given this chance also. Having been hit with an idenity theft and recent rash of virus problems I do not want to take chances.

I had my eBay identity stolen back when I was PC naive, and was lucky to get out of it without much financial loss. I vowed never again to have my personal details in plain sight on the internet.

 

[Canadian Samurai]

Are you required to sign your name on the ballot when you vote? NO and it's that way for a reason - to ensure that people can provide their honest and critical opinion without feeling like they will have rocks thrown at their house (or a bomb planted under their car) by fanatics who don't like what they have to say. As usual, certain manufacturers on this forum just need to grow up and learn to defeat the logic of the argument they oppose, rather than start making it personal through ad hominem attacks. If the critiques have merit and reflect an opinion held by many collectors, they will stand. If they don’t, the manufacturers have nothing to be afraid of.

 

[Spitfrnd]

As has been raised on a different thread, Forums like this one gather together a wide range of people from all over the world. Some freely give their personal names; others prefer to remain anonymous.

Normally this system works well. Collectors feel free to post all sorts of opinions. 99% of the time it doesn’t matter if people know names of collectors who post. The nature of the Forum allows for that anonymity. Shouldn’t people be free to post without sharing personal info?

Yes anyone should have the option of sharing his personal information with whomever he pleases. I chose to share mine with those here with whom I have some further connection or relationship, not to the public at large. The identity theft issue is very real and quite serious.

The challenge comes when people suspect that the person posting isn’t just a collector – but someone with a vested interest in the toy soldier world. If a dealer (under a hidden name) poses as a collector and constantly tells the world how wonderful his shop is, would people want to know that information? What if a dealer wanted to take an anonymous jab at a manufacturer?

I would think you can police that well enough since all the dealers I know of here freely reveal their status. Based on what I have observed over the last year, this is a non issue.

If a manufacturer poses as a collector for the sake of denigrating a competitor’s products (or building up their own), would people want to know that?

Yes

If the moderators can prove that any of these is the case, should they be free to announce it to the rest of the forum?

Yes.

 

[OzDigger]

Are there any other consequences to knowing a poster's identity? In his post where he provides ten details about himself, Oberstoskar asked whether K&C, if it discovered his identity, would cancel his Hong Kong store club membership or refuse to sell him anything. Would a Forum member refuse to trade or not sell something to him if Oberstoskar used his real name and they now knew he was Oberstoskar? I hope not.

Steven Chong

My guess would be all of the above, sad but true

It's bad enough as it is the way some members pick on 'hidden' members that have made negative comments or suggestions regarding K & C. Take a certain forum member that posts thread after thread asking Andy over and over again for Desert WWII stuff.

On almost every thread the guy is attacked by other members that feel it's their function to police what people post about K & C. Yes his threads can be boring and repetitive but you don't have to read them and he is as entitled to post what he wants, within forum guidelines, as anyone else.

As a collector, I certainly would want to know if a manufacturer or dealer was posing as a collector in order to intentionally post disparaging comments. If the moderators somehow had proof, I think they should post it as it speaks to the motivations behind posted comments and allows Forum members to better judge the worth of the comments.

Steven Chong

I would tend to agree, however to be equitable, as stated before, this policy would also have to be applied where members are over praising products for financial gain.

 

[Mister Dave]

Sweet, someone should start playing the hit song by The Ting Ting's -
"Thats not my name"

Take Care

Great album, isn't it?