Anonymity breeds contempt...and worse

[Scamp]

RALEIGH, N.C. — Kim Mulkey said Internet reports that she’s already signed a 10-year, $10 million deal to stay at Baylor are “nothing more than gossip.”

“It just amazes me all the stuff that people put out there,” said Mulkey, who’s been rumored to be a possible candidate for coaching openings at Texas, LSU and Florida. “I hope I live to see the day that somebody sues and wins big money, and maybe then there will be major control over things where people can’t just hide behind a screen name and write whatever they want to write. There is no accountability, and it’s not healthy.” ...

http://www.wacotrib.com/hp/content/sports/college/2007/03/18/3182007wactourneynotebook.htmlI've thought some of the Internet gossip elsewhere about Kim Mulkey's career plans is bad form.

Then I read a bunch of morning-after posts--on other boards--by some fans of teams that lost in the NCAA tournament. The hostility...no, that's not strong enough a word...the hatred of opposing coaches and players is sickening.

After a while, I found a couple of ways to cope. First, stop reading those fan boards. Second, imagine that Rene Portland posted the most objectionable comments. That works! After all, "people ... just hide behind a screen name..." Scamp, aka Carol Anne Sundahl

[YCN]

I've thought some of the Internet gossip elsewhere about Kim Mulkey's career plans is bad form.

Then I read a bunch of morning-after posts--on other boards--by some fans of teams that lost in the NCAA tournament. The hostility...no, that's not strong enough a word...the hatred of opposing coaches and players is sickening.

After a while, I found a couple of ways to cope. First, stop reading those fan boards. Second, imagine that Rene Portland posted the most objectionable comments. That works! After all, "people ... just hide behind a screen name..." Scamp, aka Carol Anne Sundahl

I have strong suspicions that a Stanford fan is in trojan horse disguise on this board right now. I'm not anonymous on this board, several people here know my real name. But because I don't feel comfortable advertising my real name on the internet (my own personal choice) I choose not to specifically identify myself here. My phone number and address are in fact public property, but I don't trust every person on this planet to be entirely sane.

[LadyBuff]

I'm with you YCN. I found out there was a loon on this forum and if my real name was known, that person could have found me in the phone book and shown up at my door.

[Scamp]

I didn't express myself very well in my post. What I was trying to say is this (and it's not about HoopScoop!):

People who post hateful things about student-athletes might do less of that if their own names had to be attached to their posts. :p

Like the personal attacks in the last few days questioning players' gender (yes!), sexuality, use of performance-enhancing drugs, etc.

[brolewis]

Scamp,

I agree with you about the challenges posed by anonymous postings. Here is the story of an internet blogger that has received death threats and now has cancelled some speaking engagements due to fear:

http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2007/03/as_i_type_this_.html

[Bball Girl]

Here is the story of an internet blogger that has received death threats and now has cancelled some speaking engagements due to fear:

Wow I read Passionate Users regularly - I'm a bit behind these days, so hadn't seen this post. How horrifying.

[swok34]

This entire thread is the very reason some of us are so adament about RULES here at Hoopscoop and the reason we are adament about keeping name-calling out of our posts when discussing coaches, teams, players and other posters.

It's easy to be like the "other" guys.

[Scamp]

A favorite website of mine, Word Spy, features "anti-fan" today. Apropos during March Madness.

anti-fan n. A person who passionately dislikes a celebrity or other well-known person or entity. —adj. http://www.wordspy.com/

[Scamp]

Salon's new letters registration policy

Today Salon is rolling out some long-promised improvements to our letters to the editor system.

Starting Wednesday afternoon, readers will be asked to register before they submit a letter or comment to Salon. You'll be asked to provide an authentic e-mail address and to choose a permanent screen name.

Premium members who have been writing letters will notice very little change. You'll be asked whether you want to keep your existing screen name or choose a new one, and then you'll proceed into the system. For letter writers who aren't Premium members, this will be the first time we've asked you to provide an e-mail address and choose a fixed screen name. As a result, you'll be able to collect and display all your Salon letters and comments, a benefit until now available only to Premium members. A link to the page where your letters and comments are collected will appear with your screen name when you submit something new. Once you register, you will still have the option of sending letters anonymously.

We think this change will improve our letters system, and it's something many users have requested. Recently we've seen an uptick in complaints about people "borrowing" the screen name of other frequent letter writers; that won't happen anymore. We also think requiring an e-mail address and a fixed screen name will cut down on drive-by insults, off-topic postings and strictly ad hominem attacks. We won't sell or otherwise distribute the e-mail addresses we collect from you, but they will make it possible for us to contact a letter writer if questions arise, or even to encourage a letter writer to develop an idea and submit a longer piece to Salon.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/walsh/Perhaps a new era of Internet accountability is beginning. :)