Letters to the Editor
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OT comments
The thing that I find most disturbing about the comments to Broadsheet articles is the anonymous posters.
Most of the posts that seem to me to be misogynistic are made anonymously. Why is that? Why do these posters, who obviously feel quite strongly about what they have to say, not want us to know who they are?
Since Salon now requires posters to register, we know these are people who care enough to go through the registry process. They have to create a handle. They have to purposefully check the box that says Publish Anonymously. Why are they making that choice?
The reason that seems most likely to me is that they realize that these comments are outrageous in some way, and don't want that outrageousness to be connected to their other comments on other topics. They realize that they are expressing some form of bigotry or intolerance, and don't want that associated with their handles. Perhaps they see the way other misogynistic ranters have turned themselves into laughingstocks who are largely ignored, and don't want that result for themselves.
There may be other reasons. There may be reasons that don't imply an unwillingness take responsibility for their opinions. I don't know. But that is the reason that first occurs to me.
Really, in a semi-closed system like this, if you want even the opportunity to be taken seriously, you should attribute your posts.