Anonymous posting vs. Logged-In posting

[S]

Annonymous posting vs. Logged-In posting

Do some of you tend to trust a post by someone who has logged in more than a post done anonymously? I sometimes find myself questioning some topics when they are started by someone promoting the benefits of a product or topics replied to without a name. There are several instances where if I see a recognizable name from the forum then I will put more trust into it. thoughts?

The topic on Juice Plus for instance...how are we to know if it's not just some company rep. spamming the board trying to make a sale? None of the replies have a name so it could all be the same person.

And I understand that for some personal questions/comments anonymity is essential.

 

[anonymous]

RE:Annonymous posting vs. Logged-In posting

I am one that posts at this time as "anonymous" and I will give you my reasoning. I have recently found this site (newbie) and am in need of support. I do not have a comfort level right now - partly because I have seen how many posters get "bashed" by others for asking what others may see as "a stupid post". Right now I cannot deal with that - I am hurt by a cruel disease and I don't need to be bashed by others for asking "stupid" questions.

 

[anonymous]

RE:Annonymous posting vs. Logged-In posting

Who is "S"

 

[S]

RE:Annonymous posting vs. Logged-In posting

the first letter of my name, which is all that needs to be known--along with my age, sex, and the fact that i have cf <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[CFHockeyMom]

I don't mind if people are posting anonymously if they put their name in the post. And of course, we all forget to log in once in a while. But it does seem that a lot of anonymous posters are promoting a product or just coming on to flame people.

There have been plenty of times where I've posted something only to be flamed by an anonymous poster. Yes, I know that just putting your name at the bottom of an anonymous post is still fairly anonymous and for that matter so is having a username but after time, you come to know the name and trust their information and value their opinion. If the poster is completely anonymous to you, you may not have that trust.

 

[stevehof]

I have been lurking on the Internet since the beginning of time and I have been involved with many different message boards. There are far more anonymous posts on this board than any other I have ever seen. In fact, most forums and boards will not let you post anonymously, you have to login with a nickname. There are problems associated with following and truly understanding the content of a threaded message with so many anon posts. Who said what? Please, login with nickname at least. People who participate anonymously so they can stay hidden while they flame or take out their anger on others, now that is a whole other very sad issue. Thankfully, I have not personally seen any of that kind of behavior on this forum during the few weeks that I have been participating.

 

[anonymous]

S - I post annonymously because I don't quite yet want to open up to everyone here (as myself), but want to post what I am feeling....I feel you are doing the same by posting only as S...pretty much the same, I think....please don't take it the wrong way, but this is just my thought <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[cfmomma]

I signed up as a member over a year ago, but I am extremely forgetful and forgot my password. I asked to get my password sent to me about 40 times--they never sent it!!! I finally had to get a new email and now it works. I will be anonymous no more! I do find myself trusting logged in posters much more, and respect their opinions more. I also can understand the desire to be unknown in certain situations.

 

[tommy]

<blockquote>Quote<br><hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>Anonymous</b></i>Who is "S"<hr></blockquote>i believe it is steven no?

 

[S]

<blockquote>Quote<br><hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>Anonymous</b></i><br>I feel you are doing the same by posting only as S...pretty much the same, I think....please don't take it the wrong way, but this is just my thought <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"><hr></blockquote>

But even if I just give my name as "S" you can still track and learn about my views and get a feeling for who I am by referencing past posts I have made.

 

[S]

<blockquote>Quote
<hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>tommy</b></i>
<blockquote>Quote
<hr><i>i believe it is steven no?<hr></blockquote>

hmm, could be...
<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

 

[luke]

If I remember correctly when "s" joined the formum he put a posting with his name and picture and some info, lets see...."s" is from cali-likes to surf, has been to Europe, tried to get a "dream" vacation through good morning america and PFT's are mid 50's. I may not be right on the money but at least I think I know a little about him, either way much more than I know about "anonymous". My point is most of us can tell you things about most active posters in this forum, that is where the support comes from. We actually know or at least percieve we know who posts what. So power to the logged on poster!


Luke

 

[EmilysMom]

I have to follow this similar train of thought *toot toot*
I will tend to read the thoughts of logged on posters quicker than anonymous posters. So many times, it seems like anonymous posters come on to cause trouble only and then go away. Logged on posters are here to try to support each other and don't mind being identified to each other and sharing their opinions or discussing a particular topic. I know there are always differing opinions (Remember, I'm Emily's mom....LOL), but that is supposed to be what makes the world go round and gives everyone food for thought.
I will be honest and tell everyone that I posted once as anonymous for a particular reason that I identified in the post but every other time, I sign in. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

 

[Bubbalove]

You know what would be a good idea- if the people that run the forum could see the IP address of the users (what computer they are posting from), then you would know if the people signed as anonymous (promoting products) are the same people..

 

[HollyCatheryn]

I concur. It is not as if by logging in you have to give away your full name, SSN and home address. I have chosen to be quite open about my identity, but not everyone has to do this. All that is necessary is a nickname and a password. If you notice, many users that have logged in do not show any sort of profile or perhaps a very limited one. I think there is a tendency to use the anonymous status to say things that a regular user might not say under their logg-in name. You can be really ugly if you don't have to own up to having said it. That is pretty low. I do think there are exceptions as with the recent post asking about abortions. I understand wanting to be anonymous to keep from being bashed by people with hateful, condemning things to say. But I think that those instances are rare and are truly the exception. If you are asking about Tx, PFTs, nutrition, reactions or whatnot, what harm is there in using a nickname?If you log in as Pooky, we all know that this isn't your name. Of it you do like the original poster in this thread and use a single letter or number it could represent a million things and gives away nothing identifying except that we can start to get a feel for you and it helps to (as S said) keep track of the flow of a thread. We have pushed for doing away with the anonymous posting as an option but the moderators of the board do not feel that this is the best way of doing things. That's my $.02

 

[Emily65Roses]

As for trusting people who log in, I do that as well. But there are a few people who post under "Anonymous" that I trust. Julie is the most obvious one. She rarely signs in, but regardless, she always *ALWAYS* signs her name, even if not logged in. It's easier to keep track of certain people, their thoughts, and whether or not their thoughts are worth taking into consideration if I have some name to attach to them. Not even their real name, a letter like S, a nickname like Pooky... Anything as long as I can attach it to a certain person and their posts, will make me more likely to trust that person.

 

[JohnnaMarie]

I think that i tend to trust people that use their log in names when they comment on stuff. I know we sometimes forget to log in ...but i try to remember to do it. The people that dont log in and are ranting and raving are a pain tho.

 

[tessa55454]

I have to agree with Emily and a few others. After a while you really get a sense of someone's character. I find it more creditable, and sometimes when an anonymonous poster makes a comment, I hardly acknowledge what they have to say. That is not to be mean, but I have no idea who they are or anything. It's like the anon posters are manic-depressive, black, white, male and female. My mind can't differientiate from the anon posters. How am I to know who they are. Is it Bob, catherine, Muhammad, Buba, or mama Jean. I don't know...

People that log-in under anon but sign there name, no problem. After a while you really get a sense that let's say something controversial was posted, you know certain individuals are going to say something and it's kind of fun to see what they have to say.

I do understand that it's hard to speak out without getting bumped around a bit sometimes, and while signing your name to a certain post, you are owning up to your thoughts. I think the courage will grow in those certain individuals. Sometimes I am like..."I am going to get slapped for my mouth on that one." Then I just kind of smile, and think well good..people are passionated about what they have to say. You do have to be willing to put yourself out there and see what happens, kind of part of the fun.

but, all-in-all, it's not like you are in a street brawl and Buba is going to knock your jaw onto the other side of your face. Usually you can learn something from others. Plus, after people get out what they want to say, they calm down and energy becomes tranquil again. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Tessa 27 w/cf

 

[Princess76]

I agree that with a name ...any name, makes it easier for us to "connect" with each other. I feel like I "know" many on here cause of their names. Anonymous, I just pass by their comments and then go back if I have time or feel like it. Posts of ppl I "know" I tend to always read.