T'internet should not be anonymous

[deliakate]

For safety, the regulation of fraud and crime, not to mention bullying and harassment - I think everyone should be issued with one email address only. It should be impossible to have multiple online personas - you should be forced to be yourself everywhere.

I read so much about the evils of the internet (OK, have just spent a few days with Torygraph reading in-laws), but I do think there is an horrific, murky world on here that is having harmful effects 'irl'.

Arguments against - "but the internet helps so many people talk about problems and get support". Possibly it does. My own experience is that some of the most hurtful and serious problems are disbelieved by about 50% of respondents, rising to 80% by about the third page or so. And a lot of the advice can be completely misguided and frankly wrong when it comes. Plus, there already exist many organisations that people in real need can contact with trained volunteers/staff there to help or just listen.

I think this might be the way the net is headed - I hope so because our police force simply can't keep up with the workload and the crime is very real, and I think, outweighs the benefit of having a bit of a laugh without anyone knowing its you (frankly, who cares its you anyway?).

YABU, obviously.

Tell us your name, if you disagree.

I am sure my employer would be delighted to have all my personal correspondance on family matters/health/genealogy/tropical fishkeeping/my children's education cluttering up my inbox

This is well worth reading if you genuinely think that everyone should be forced to go by their real identity online.

I passionately believe that the internet is far more a force for good than evil and a large part of that is due to people being able to be anonymous online. To give an example that is particularly relevant on a parenting website - why should a mother who suffered PND and got support from online forums when on maternity leave, then run the risk of every new employer, business contact, acquaintance etc knowing about those dark times for the rest of her life.

What about the teacher recently diagnosed with HIV - I'm sure they'd be thrilled that every 14 year old who randomly googles their name can find that out?

The 16 year old girl scared she's at risk of forced marriage - do you think she'll be signing up to a support site in her real name?

Oh and everything that Niceguy and others have said as well...

A couple of other points having pondered this some more... Anyone who thinks that paedophiles and their networks will disappear if no-one can be anonymous online massively underestimates how criminals work. All that will happen is that black markets will spring up on 'underground' forums etc which will sell you new identities to use.

Then when the police come knocking on Deliakate's door because she's been sharing images, they won't have the case wrapped up by lunchtime, instead Deliakate will go through days of hell trying to convince them that it wasn't her and that her email address got compromised. Even if she manages to do that it will be by the police falling back on good old computer forensics etc which they'll have to use to find out who was using her identity.

Also people still don't seem to grasp that what you do online is forever; as and when my DS is old enough to really 'use' the internet, email, blogging, social networking etc I will be positively encouraging him to have an 'anonymous' gmail address and a 'fake' identity - for no other reason than that he'll doubtless post dumb crap online and embarrassing shit that he won't want coming up when he's applying for first jobs, colleges etc.

Can you imagine the referee for a job you go for now being the tearaway kid you hung around with in the first few years of high school, or perhaps some guys who were in the 6th form when you were in the 5th year and all they really know about is that back then you'd snog and fumble anyone for a swig of 20:20 and a puff on a B&H? That's what will follow today's kids around for the next 20 years (substituting whatever manky stuff they drink now instead of 20:20 etc)...And that's without adding in the extra fun of flickr, tumblr and digital cameras/cameraphones which we didn't have...

what a hellish thought acekicker.

And perhaps, OP, you'd like to get the toothpaste back in the tube?

or find a needle in a universe haystack?

Surely if you are bullied on line you just stop going on facebook/site you 're beibng bullied on? I mean, if you are bullied in real life then you would keep away from the bullies so why not do so on the internet. Just give your real friends your email address.