Graham,

Most of us appreciate what you do. OLO requires a lot of work and money. I would like to second what Poirot and Forrest Gump have been saying, however, and would prefer a subscription system, perhaps where articles and comments can be viewed for free, but you would need to pay for membership to post. Limited time memberships could be offered for a small amount of money, so that it is affordable by all or most.

People need the option of anonymity, because they can be victimised in the real world for what they say online, even if their comments are backed up by evidence and expressed in a civil manner in their own time. Usually the people who call the loudest for real names to be used would never dream of saying anything politically incorrect or contrary to the opinions of the corporate gatekeepers in the mass media. They simply want to silence people with different views, especially if they can put up evidence that they might be correct.

You already have the tools to deal with those who abuse anonymity. Delete the comments. You can also suspend the posters and ban them if they are especially egregious or are repeat offenders.

Yuyutsu,

No, I meant prosecution - as in, illegal activity. I can't be bullied online so the persecution suggestion is redundant. Again, no discussion is so important that I can't walk away from it.

I think we the contributors should have a conversation about the privacy part and with nothing but respect Grahams reason for it.
First as a union official I waved the hat around for some very solid reasons, including the wife of a man not a unionist.
I do so now, it always will be true, the battlers give the most.
It is my view we should task our selves with giving enough so the ones unable to do not feel pressured.
I have just sent my first monthly gift in , not a fortune, but it will help.
I am considering a gift in my will.
But what about the dills?
Many would rather we find ways to control them, not us all.
How about letting us know every time one has to be talked to.
I will not take offense if I get the bottom smacked now and again.
We should consider deeply, if a lunatic hurt or killed one of us because we are named?
I remind some of far worse intrusion suffered by a woman who unwisely gave her e mail out.
Hit the kick girls and boys if you can and maybe one or two will give that little bit extra for those who can not.
News paper every day? $30.

StG,

Sorry, I believe that the source of my confusion was that you mentioned legality in the same breath with morality.

You did not mention morality again in your last post, only legality, which indeed clarifies why you wrote "prosecution" and not "persecution".

Despite being perfectly moral you can still be persecuted by the government for things you do on line (and off line) which are not to their liking. This may take the form of prosecution or perhaps of other forms of harassment.

Despite using my real name I am circumspect about how much further information I dole out. I have only been unwillingly contacted by OLOers on three occassions, one was seeking support on an issue, the second was to berate me and the third was to threaten me.

I am prepared to accept this as a price of having my moniker up on the net and knowing access was free with this site pretty tight financially I was no mood to take the matter any further.

I feel a subscription service to OLO is justified but would counsel against making payment a complete prerequisite to posting. Perhaps limiting the non-contributors to one post per day may result in the 'fringe dwellers' being more thoughtful about their contributions.

I would also counsel making the fee commensurate with the extra work per person that will surely result. If I am paying for a service then I am going to be more likely to request and expect actions be taken on threatening behavior for instance.

…I realise this is not a confessional thread, but to clarify a personal imperative, mine is towards anonymity. I have no bones with any Government authority, so hold no fear of exposure. But to maintain peace and harmony amongst friends, family and acquaintances, anonymity becomes the imperative: On religious and racial grounds! I have close family connections with Lebanese Muslims, and also close family connections with Jews.

…On the Jewish side, they have removed their child from a school in a capital city in Australia, for fear of terrorist attacks on the school by radical Muslim elements. On the Lebanese side, raising the subject of Jews is painful to them, (and to anyone insensitive enough to raise the subject). I also post from life experience, from a painful background I wish to keep to myself. Anonymity is the imperative for me personally, and will pay the dollars for the “Privilege”.