Anonymity to protect someone who is helpless or who has an expectation of serious threat to their well-being is something I do agree with and help to facilitate. Anonymity to protect yourself so you can hide behind your computer and attack other people without them being able to defend themselves is not. Posting your pseudonymous identity all over the Web is not protecting your anonymity - everyone leaves a trail on the Web.

I don't choose to be anonymous because, I'm not afraid of you or of anyone else's reaction to what I have to say. If you were proud of your work, what you have to say and you were not afraid you'd not be anonymous would you?

If we were face to face I'd say the same things I say online. I'd react with my opinion of your opinion and facts that confirm or contradict the opinions you claim as fact. This is called debate. Would you dare to be sexist, agist, and racist to my face in person? How about if I was standing in front of you with my husband, friends, and neighbors next to me? Please note that my personal courage is based in my network of real-life persons and not on a mistaken belief that I can hide behind my computer and shoot and dodge.

I am a librarian - I researched the facts from reliable sources and reported them so people can make good decisions. In much the same way I just finished emailing a group of friends debunking an attack on Senator Obama that is anonymously touring the Web right now. http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/muslim.asp One of my friends was gullible enough to swallow whole tripe offered by someone 'anonymously' protecting the nation by lying and trying to damage innocent people. The facts - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punahou_School http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_obama or alternatively http://www.barackobama.com/learn/meet_barack.php

I will decline to continue this discussion because I do fear that I fed into your ego by bringing attention to you. That, I admit, was a mistake I will learn from.

Enjoy yourself really :) I tried really hard to find nude photos of myself online - oh they do exist somewhere I'm sure since I was an Art Model 25 years ago... let me know if you actually find me. It might give you a good use of your time.

Spaghetti-Monster look out for you. I've avoided work long enough today.

tyvm - no worries :)

Di

I was very pleased to see Tom Brokaw back on the television last night and there was a round of applause here after his statements to Chris Mathews. We don't even bother with CNN anymore - at least NBC has Keith Olbermann and Brian Williams, who try very hard it seems to me to be real journalists and ask the critical questions. I'd like to see our other real journalists back even if we have to drag some out of retirement and convince them to take on apprentices. Surely their are some younger journalists out there who want to be real journalists instead of 'celebrities'?

Where on earth did this bizarre idea that two states can determine presidential primary outcomes all by themselves? Two states have reported in... 48 to go yes? Also, please keep in mind we're talking about delegates acquired not elections 'won' or 'lost'. I like the MSNBC data pages - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21660914/ Gives better perspective.

In Ohio we don't vote our primaries until March 4 - I like to think my vote will still be important -- and I will be presiding judge at the polls again as well.

To the young folks out there... you will really stay home and not vote if your particular candidate is not nominated? !!!! I turned 18 the year that Reagan was elected - one month too late to vote. I resolved never ever to miss election after that. His election affected me personally and deeply - my full-ride merit based scholarship was cancelled by his cost-cutting. I'm oldest of 9 - my parents were still buying diapers when I went to UIUC in 1980. They sent me to school with all their love and unlimited collect phone calls home. In order to stay in school I had to work full-time and take on loans - live in cockroach infested little rooms (that allowed pets at least) as I could not afford to live in the University dorms. I made choices between food and tuition. I never make the mistake of believing that votes don't matter.