On Apr 9, 3:23 pm, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:
One of the chief recommendations, pay attention to this
Mr. Nomen Anonyma Borked Orwell Connor, is banning anonymous
posts.

If I begin with the assumption that Mssrs O'Reilly and Wales aren't
stupid, I have to believe that they know full well they are unlikely
to have a significant impact on internet manners any more than Miss
Manners has in meatspace. Sociopaths for whom attention is sought
through boorish behavior will not be swayed by some so-called code.
No, I have to believe the ultimate effect will be to provide a basis
for labelling "bad" manners more so than preventing them.

Here on Usenet, and ROFF in particular, I feel comfortable in the
generalization that most of us recognize the cowardice revealed by
chronic anonymity. No code can or will suddenly impart these assholes
with the social skills, self-awareness, or intelligence to see
themselves for whom they are nor for how their sophomoric wit and
charm appears to those who participate here as friends and comrades.
I don't care how vulgar, asinine, or downright rude anyone gets here.
If they sign their name stand behind their words, I will hold them in
higher regard than some anonymous whiner without the balls to swim in
the deep end.

Sure, with the openness of this forum to every screwball in the world,
a certain reasonable caution is warranted; and I and several others
here have probably stepped way beyond a safe line in terms of
revealing personal information; but with that risk comes reciprocal
trust and the possibility of friendship. Those who can not or will
not trust will never have friends here. Too bad for them; there are a
lot of guys here worth the risk, and a lot of friends awaiting a
simple introduction.

Joe F.