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6 comments

[–] phoxy 1 points (+1|-0) Edited

As much as I dislike negativity, hate, and nonconstructive participation, it is important to me that people are allowed to say those things. And I think anonymity is very important on the internet; the proposals for real names and "internet licenses" are worrying. Anonymity brings out people's worst, yes, but it's useful to gauge societal undercurrents that would never be discussed in polite company. I once heard grafitti described the same way: as an unfiltered view into the issues plaguing a city and worrying its citizens. Suppressing the symptom prevents treating the cause.

I do wonder what the future of social media really will be. It is a very interesting human experiment. People or companies who make a joke or do something even slightly controversial can be hammered with negativity and attacks by thousands of users.

There's an interesting psychological effect here which confounds things: for some segment of the population, a company doing controversial things is attractive, and caving to social pressure from a few (thousands out of millions) very unattractive. Just like how spineless or insecure people are unattractive.

[–] jobes [OP] 1 points (+1|-0)

it is important to me that people are allowed to say those things

That is the single most important thing, and of course the reason I don't use many websites (FB, Google, Twitter, Reddit, etc.). Anonymity is really equally as important, and both uncensored and unmonitored discussions are pretty much a thing of the past.