Oh. My. God.

This is by FAR the worst, saddest, most pathetic, emotionally-charged and whining article I have ever read. I'm starting to feel the need to go back and find everyone else who've written a lousy article and apologize to them for not being THAT bad.

Although Houellebecq has perfectly outlined what is wrong with it, I feel I owe it to the principle of FREE SPEECH to reinforce it.

Gone are the days where you had to keep your thoughts to yourself for fear of being attacked by some idiot or mob (possibly even physically) who can't handle what you say and is much too stupid to make a counter argument, and the only thoughts expressed were moderated through a handful of newspapers and a few TV execs.

If you ask me, the old-fashioned way was more like "keeping quiet or getting hit by a rubber"

The beautiful thing about today is that thanks to anonymous internet posting, ALL topics must now be open for discussion, regardless of how politically-incorrect they are, and everyone that doesn't like it can only either try to use counter-arguments, or if they're too stupid, whine.

Ignoring that anonymous posters who post MEAN comments are themselves just as susceptible to the NASTY words by others, so I don't see where the 'cowardice' is. But I think the real reason some people feel this way is because there are some things they can't handle and just want to suppress- just like the good 'ol days. After all, free criticism makes like hard for a LOT of people worthy of criticizing.

To these crybabies all I can say is go find a kleenex and cry into it.

Sticks and stones. Can't stand the heat etc...

I'd LIKE to believe this guy is just taking the pizz to get us debating, but I don't think that's what it is.

Mr/s Morgan, I feel the need to apologise if I have played a part in getting you into that mess back on p2, but I thank you for your honesty, which is obviously a very rare quality in Australians these days.

I suppose that it's fair to conclude that Mr Ferrier has a point about the ruination of the World-Wide Web (et al.) by the uneducated and/or sneaky masses, under the misled banner of 'free speech', which was not meant to mean that anyone is free to troll around the web under supposed false identities, but that honest people can speak their opinions under their true name without needing to hide in fear.

Much of the reason is possibly due to greed, because they don't want their bosses to know that they're fooling around on web-forums when they're getting paid for their time at work, as well as those who I have met online who don't want their uni lecturers to find out what they really think of the studies that they are hoping to get graduated from (delayed greedification), but in any case, it's either one of those old traditional 8.3 notation 'helo_wld' geek notions that we can let go now that we have the technology, (and that's acceptible for newbies to this medium) or it's about innate dishonesty and fear of being caught in the act. I consider that web-abuse because after 11 years online, it's become pandemic now.

Until I found this forum, I thought it was more of a yankee disorder, but it's quite evidently infected Australia too now.

Like Don Henley once sang:

'Call some place paradise, and kiss it goodbye.'

RIP World-Wide Web.

Some of the most telling critiques of injustice or misgovernment were distributed anonymously, and contributed to the development of our present system of democracy.

The nice thing about the online forum is that ideas can be approached from many angles and arguments weighed on their merits. Anyone is free to disdain anonymous detractors, but ignores well-made points at their peril. The truth stings big names and organisations even when not attributed.

Rusty Catheter.

"Anyway the protection of anonymity works both ways. People can now say stuff about things they previously might have been too scared to in normal society. It opens communication on many taboo topics"

I hate it when he is right and that was absolutely spot on.

CJ I've seen plenty of nasty, hateful comments from people posting under what appear to be real names. Of the regular contributers over the time I've been on OLO I don't see a pattern one way or the other.

For many it's probably about their perception of risk from unwanted consequences to the expression of their views.

R0bert

CJMorgan, I used to contribute to another forum a few years ago using my real name. I guess I must have slipped up at one time and given out a clue to where I lived too, because I recieved a very nasty, threatening letter in the post one day.

You see, there was an awful topic we were discussing on pedophilia and the Catholic Priests. This letter described how this sicko felt about children, and said I just didn't understand how it was for 'them'.

I was absolutely terrified as I had a young daughter at the time.
It put me off writing anything anywhere for years!

I have only recently ventured back to these pages as a contributor, and am glad I have done so.
However, while using another name, I still write exactly the same way as when I used my real name. (whether that is good or bad-:)

Adam and others

Interesting article. True, I only wish I lived in a world where it was possible to always sensible to put ones name.

That doesn't mean that when it really counts I haven't been prepared to put it on the line.

The problem is that I could and did put up with the rubber band behind the ear but it is often a LOT more.

As an adult retaliation has been everything from
being threatened with a gun, (once by a known hit man) (other x2)
drive by bullets through the windows,
threats of (numerous)
actual beatings, ( X4)
obscenities painted on the road in front of our house,
house being egged
even my dog being fed mince meat and razor blades,
run off the road, (x2)
threatened to be sued,
my family threatened by anonymous calls to females of my family late at night, (several)
and more.
Yep it pays to be known. And I'm not even well known by comparison.

Mind you that has been over 30 years. One might ask what did I do to deserve this?

I campaign for the rights of Aboriginals to vote.
Belonged to the original Australia party (ZPG being the actual cause)
Defended some 'boat people' being allowed to move into our area.
Defended a girl and mother from being punched and kicked as they entered a birth control clinic.
Defended a family victimised in the Painters and Docker royal commission
Blew the whistle on Council/Mayoral abuses denying democracy etc.
The list goes on.

Adam, I say this not for self glorification but to indicate that courage of convictions can have consequences. As a non entity I and my family are very vulnerable.

It is repeated here on OLO usually because I advocate for objectivity, civility and higher standards. And yes, sometimes I get it wrong and take my lumps.

Some people, like blowies, are happiest circling the cesspit and will fight vehemently to stay there. The sad thing is they fight just as vociferously to force others to do the same.