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The Forum > Article Comments > Who is Anonymous? > Comments

Who is Anonymous? : Comments

By Andrew Riddle, published 14/5/2010

The Anonymous culture is an increasingly significant part of the online world.

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Hi Andrew,

An intersting article, but I must point out some errors. There is no such thing as Anonymous, it is a joke started on 4chan or EDramatica.

People post articles JUST TO ILLICIT A REACTION. They don't mean what they say, they just get amused by people responding (negatively OR positively) to a post. To ignore their behaviour is depriving them of 'oxygen'. So called 'trolls' will be laughing their heads of that your very article has been written.

'Trolls' are often ADHD people, will tiny attention spans who want to create 'drama'. Scientology protesting has become boring to many. One of the popular web forums where this is discussed (forums.whyweprotest.net) has become a hangout for the so-called 'moralfags'. They are moralfags as they see everything as black and white - there are no shades of grey.

For example, someone might enter a Scientology building to attempt to gather evidence of alleged fraud or wrongdoings with a hidden camera. So called moralfags would argue that this is deception and therefore abhorrent. Others may argue it's journalism. (that's just a very random example
Posted by Chris Hatfield, Friday, 14 May 2010 7:58:02 PM
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Chris,
While Anonymous doesn't exist as a "group" or "network" as it is often described in the mainstream media, it certainly exists as a subculture. That is, there's a shared set of knowledge, expectations and beliefs that is quite distinct from mainstream society, with trolling being just a part of the bigger picture. Certainly there are many people who consider themselves a part of it and dedicate significant time to it - and what else defines a human social group?

The reductive idea of trolls as having ADHD is in itself evidence that they need more discussion and exploration. Trolling can be quite a complex way of gaming the rules of social behaviour, and I suspect many of the people involved are actually very high-functioning. (While, of course, very many of them are bored teenagers.) It's clear that many people who would consider themselves part of Anonymous are actually much smarter than many parts of the internet or society.

As for your definition of "moralfags", the term is generally used for anyone who applies morality to online behaviour.
Posted by AndrewRiddle, Friday, 14 May 2010 9:45:00 PM
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Hey Andrew, Anonymous is onto you now:

http://forums.whyweprotest.net/15-media/who-anonymous-66601/

Get popcorn, folks.
Posted by Nonyrama, Saturday, 15 May 2010 9:20:41 AM
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Once upon a time our Newspapers had articles submitted by "Our Washington Correspondent" - aka The Pentagon.

I'm sure that there are various political interest groups that are mobilised to call radio talkback shows and post to various forums en-masse at various times. It's just another form of Viral Advertising.
Posted by wobbles, Saturday, 15 May 2010 10:11:15 AM
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My apologies Andrew, missed the paraphrase of the other author (I'll see if I can re-edit the last bit).

To address the article;
In general, it seems the media, losing more people to the internet as the main source of information, is simply trying its very hardest to demonize it to keep its remaining (more easily susceptible) audiences away, in increasingly unorthodox and blatant ways knowing that barely any rational people are going to be reading it to take notice.

In short, online anonymity extends from ANY form of expression that would make enemies with some zealous nut who would get annoyed and key ones car if they knew who's to look for.
Come to think of it, newspapers, Current Affairs shows and the such often resort to invasive and arguably illegal methods to leak private details of people they don't like (that Camden lady in the Australian-flag hat being one, and the reporting of David Hicks' current address on a half-yearly basis being another).
In short, anonymous online posting is moreso something the media created itself in many ways, by setting standards of social stigma stiffling expression- and putting them in trouble by broadcasting their identity, address and workplace to angry stalkers.

The result- open and free mediums of unlimited expression- including 4chan which I am aware of- whose only limitations are stronger ideas expressed by equal others- which really is the only way people are going to evolve at this point in time.
Posted by King Hazza, Saturday, 15 May 2010 10:59:11 AM
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Andrew,
You should have written "partly strangle". To strangle means to kill by compression of the windpipe.
Posted by GlenWriter, Sunday, 16 May 2010 1:41:33 PM
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