I'MMA LET YOU FINISH
first again?
A good post. It reflects most of my views on anonymity and the reason why I post under a penname. There is no attempt to distort or hide anything, and I view Echidne as every bit as much me as the other handle I use. But I get quite a lot of hate mail as Echidne and I really don't want to give anyone a chance to send that to my mom, too, which knowing my other handle might cause.
More than one was able to figure it out.
What a fucking jackass. Maybe someone needs to tell this guy about the Federalist Papers, and educate this ignorant fuck that Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison routinely published anonymously.
dwight,
well, more figured it out because I let more details slip in private correspondence (trusting them). I was only aware of one who figured it out just from the blog, though there could've been more.
Sully's presumably "sensitive" to outing, after having been outed as the hypocritical barebacking piece of shit that he is back in the day.
But there's no reason to suspect he's any les likely to attack you tank Tobey or any of the other trolls.
The funniest part about this is that as a result this guy's name in google search results for it will probably be pinned to this incident. You don't want to piss off an entire community of bloggers..
The Federalist Papers example is great; obviously everyone writes with a point of view and brings his/her own prejudices to the table. But anomymity allows one to look at the point being made without bringing personalities into the discussion.
At the rate things are going, in the not--too-distant future, there will be no anonymity because there will be no privacy.
What happens when Visa and American Express are hacked, and everyone's SS # is for sale to the highest bidder? Or has this already happened?
Can one be overly paranoid about the future?
Could Blogs Take Down a Paper?
They seem to be getting more common with the Everyday People Out There.
http://www.robinsloan.com/epic/
This is soooo high school. Maybe kindergarden. Wwaaaaaahhhhhhh - he was mean to me, I'm gonna get him.
Wanker indeed.
What happens when Visa and American Express are hacked, and everyone's SS # is for sale to the highest bidder? Or has this already happened?
you won't know til you get the bill...
didja hear about the 40 million Mastercard holders who just got outed by a hacker?
.
Atrios, thanks for writing about this.
By far my favorite "who is Atrios" rumor was that he was Bob Schrum. When she read that, my wife started laughing hysterically remarking that not even on the worse day of his life was Atrios as politically tone deaf as Bob Schrum.
This is exactly why I proudly and loudly am not anonymous, actually. Bring 'em on.
Can one be overly paranoid about the future?
---
i don't think so-but keep the paranoia separate from your mental health.
This is exactly why I proudly and loudly am not anonymous, actually. Bring 'em on.
It just never really occurred to me that anyone would actually care. So far, I'm right, at least as far as right-wing psychopaths go. And possibly overall.
Anonymity
well it's nice while you have it...
i have been 'named' at least twice here, but have reverted to my nym both times...which conceit i shall maintain as long as possible...
.
Speaking of being out and all, my persecution complex has been kicking in lately. Between Incog calling me a homophobe and trolls calling me unfunny, telling me to give my snark a break, saying my blogging and photographs suck and stuff like that, I'm beginning to think either I'm as threatening as Howard Dean (good), or I need to double my dose of Prozac (not good, and a bit pricey).
This isn't anonymity so much as consistent pseudonymity. The Federalist authors took their cues from the authors of the Spectator in England, who 'signed' their pieces with a single letter. That way you could distinguish between Addison and Steele's positions without needing to know who they are.
You don't have to have read Foucault to understand his argument on authorship: the author's name is a function that allows statements to be considered under group ownership. 'Atrios' is as identifiable as 'Junius'.
(This is also one reason why I really don't like people sticking addresses and home phone numbers in comments threads. And why name-stealers subvert discussion so much.)
Sally the business owner can to some degree separate herself from Sally the parent and Sally the activist.
And with women, it extends to names. My wife uses her original surname in a professional capacity. Cherie Booth the QC is Cherie Blair the PM's wife. Etc.
It just never really occurred to me that anyone would actually care. So far, I'm right, at least as far as right-wing psychopaths go.
I care. If it would help, I could start stalking you.
NTodd
Aw-the price of anonymous fame sucks.
oops-yur not anonymous. sorry.
Aw-the price of anonymous fame sucks.
But I'm not anonymous!
I care. If it would help, I could start stalking you.
You already know where I live. Where's the challenge?
oops-yur not anonymous. sorry.
Heh.
You already know where I live. Where's the challenge?
Ah, but see, that's the fun. I'd have to be wicked creative to stalk you, and that would make the game much more interesting.
Ah, but see, that's the fun. I'd have to be wicked creative to stalk you, and that would make the game much more interesting.
I'm so oblivious, I probably wouldn't even notice I was getting stalked. You could just *tell* me you were stalking me and save yourself the planefare.
Some of us never outed you because They didn't offer us enough money. 
Eli - I am stalking you.
I never used a pseudonym because I couldn't find one I really liked. It takes some creativity to be anonymous 
Eli - I am stalking you.
D'oh!
*looking around nervously*
Hasn't Jeb Bush asked his investigators to look into just when you weren't Sidney Blumenthal and why, for years, you covered up not being Sidney Blumenthal? I seem to remember some time stamp discrepencies. Why haven't we heard from Mrs. Atrios lately? What are you covering up?
I never used a pseudonym because I couldn't find one I really liked. It takes some creativity to be anonymous
Same here. I had enough trouble just coming up with a name for my blog that wasn't just "Eli's Blog". I still have second thoughts about my choice.
I am pretty sure that with my new invisibility shield that I can now say what I really want, without fear of reprisal.
WooooooooHooooooo!
.
That was my problem - I jumped into commenting without thinking about whether or not I should come up with an online persona.
I went with my own name, and at times I wish I hadn't. Nothing I can do now but keep on going.
Tena,
How was the gardening?
I tracked down that Rall post you were talking about a couple flights down.
IIRC, your comment was appended with yer name and that you were a blogger, while everyone else was anon.
Yep, a Jackass indeed, and rather full of love for himself.
.
It just never really occurred to me that anyone would actually care. So far, I'm right, at least as far as right-wing psychopaths go.
I live in the reddest of red states.
So I will remain undercover. You just never fucking know. At the moment I work for a state entity- but if I returned to private industry it could be a real issue.
It now appears SKB has shut down his blog/ISP.
What a wonderful post, Dr. Black. You are my hero in more ways than I can relate.
Conley has a point, look at it another way- I mean it is SO unfair to the Joker that Batman is anonymity.
SKB is one really cool poster. He sets a straight position and lets you know how he feels, is not an inflamatory type of blogger either.
The saintly posts he provides show a profound content mirrored with critical appeal. The haters try and make contempt an item, with language that is bleached with sunspots.
The sunshine patriots revel in such. Their exposure to personal sacrifice consists(at best) of an 8 to 5 schedule. The trust fund or bonus baby bloggers are in for a rude awakening quite soon.
The coming bubble is too big and will soon burst. Those pathetically shortsighted Bush backers with refridgerator magnet flags and bumper stickers will see their collective worth flushed down the drain.
An economic collapse awaits, the housing bubble and predatory lending meet wage reduction and a shrinking work force.
A draft and mideast was number three await, plus a war in South America.
Afghan/Iraq war shares one common boundary- Iran's borders.
Venezuela is a covert target and Negroponte is being given covert authority with no restraints courtesy the final 9-11 commission hearing recommendations.
Even the Democrat whores are cowing to this proposal and they are a dishonor to the Consitution in so doing.
Benedict Arnold , flagbearer, reset the goalposts on purpose. Beware these sunshine soldiers.
Embigulator - Yeah I know - Thersites blogged it at Metacomments at the time.
This is what I mean - I have no idea how many comments I've posted in the last 2, 2 1/2 years, and it galls me that just one gets jerked out of a thread and used like that.
Just so you readers of First-Draft know: I would never pull a comment out and publish it without checking with the person first. If it was funny or really good and should be published (IMO) I'll ask first.
I don't believe in pulling comments like that. I think it's grossly unfair.
Fuck Ted Rall and Fuck Ether and Fuck Michele Maglagulag.
In general I think anyone who uses their real name on the Internets is asking for trouble. But mainly, I thought my eventual handle was just too cool not to use.
But anyone outs me, dey gets the scythe!
Fuck Ted Rall and Fuck Ether and Fuck Michele Maglagulag.
Here Here.
.
Agreed, Tena. Ted Rall's on my shitlist after what he did to you.
Anyone got some spare peeance? I just ran out.
.
I wonder if I can get out of going to the firetrap club in Printer's Alley if I explain (quite truthfully) that the prick of a cop that wrote my last ticket neglected to return my driver's license?
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Jeffraham - he prick of a cop that wrote my last ticket neglected to return my driver's license?
Are you kidding? Did you get it back?
Charlotte - thank you. I'm not asking that everyone get mad at Rall - I just am not prepared to forgive the son of a bitch. Whenever his name comes up, it pisses me off all over again.
Execellent post!
I really have to agree with you, especially concerning the 3 letter boys, at which point being anonymous becomes a moot point as they finger you to the odd ball press and the next thing you know some qbeamed boozed up alien is quoting you,(inaccurately I might add,) on the morning faux news, the quote of course not having been netted, but spoken verbally to a local red neck.( BTW Brian, It was move the capital to Nebraska man, not Kansas.) Sheesh.
I like keeping my old nic because I think it is important to allow the same people that I used to bludgeon politically to see that an old yippy can grow and learn and change in so many ways, and yet remain so opposed to them and their political philosophy. I suppose I am as surprised as they are that I found my religion, and discovered that their hypocricy really was more than skin deep, and in fact for the more public and vocal of my faith, that with many of them it goes all the way to the bone.
Anonymously un-employably yours, Patracide.
I have lots of spare handles if anyone is interested:
Olive the Omnivorous Ovary
The Garden Gnome
Brawny Bob for Christ
Lexie Lexapro
St. Vagina
From the man who insinuates, misinterprets, mischaracterizes, and flat out lies about the positions of others on a daily basis.
Thanks for 2004 moron.
Atrios, Thank you for outing those twho have a little bit of power. Start from the ground up. Hit from the top down. Then maybe we'll see some change, and maybe someone will get off their asses and stop the selfish thing.
Don't forget to help Operation Yellow Elephant at Jesus General. E-mail everybody with a blog, and the blog gets mentioned tomorrow.
Conley: If I wanted to manipulate you, I'd threaten to run a cover story on bank software designers and the blogs they create, complete with names, photographs, personal credit histories,
Wow. What a JERK.
Who is that masked man?
A wonderful example of why Atrios is unrivaled -- the simple narrative, uncluttered. His one or two word introductions to stories say more than paragraphs.
T
Geez, this just makes me sick. All this just because some of SKB's commenters made snarky comments about a really dumb article in Conley's paper.
SKB's worried that his business will suffer, since most of his clients are conservative, but I don't think it will.
Andrew Sullivan once said it wasn't fair that I was anonymous because it meant he couldn't go after me personally.
No, he said your very personal attacks cloaked in anonymity made you a hypocrite.
I intend to remain anonymous for as long as possible, even though I'm a complete nobody with no career or reputation to speak of, because (a) I have a unique name and (2) I once got a nasty phone call after a LTTE I wrote got published, and I didn't enjoy it.
(tinhat on)
Let's not forget that the 101st Fighting Keyboarders are not the only ones paying attention... somewhere in Washington (or wherever the Department of Homeland Insecurity's super-snoopers hang out) someone might be reading this stuff. And taking notes.
(tinhat off)
Speaking of anonymity, I've never been able to figure out why, in a moment of supreme un-creativity, I chose to make my dailykos user name my real initials.
Wow, Mr. Conley is over on SKB wanking vigorously in the comments section even as we speak. I almost feel sorry for him. Somebody needs to gently persuade him to step away from the computer.
Leo Strauss wanks.
What a Great Thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Weeeeee!
That Poor Overworked Magic Lantern!
Will They Be Able To See with That Lighting? I can walk my Farm in the Dark of New Moon.
Could Conley possibly be more thin-skinned than that other pseudo-famous alt-weekly owner, Bruce Brugmann of the SF Bay Guardian?
Nah.
The right can dish it out but they sure can't take it!
Atrios:
Thanks for giving this issue wider coverage.
Alt-weeklies provide a valuable alternative to mainstream media, such as the Knoxville News-Sentinel, but this sort of thing indicates to me that the journalism is so yellow that the dogs wouldn't use it in the kennel even if it came hot off the press.
If I were in Knoxville, I might be inclined to grab an armload next time they dropped in my favorite haunt.
From the man who insinuates, misinterprets, mischaracterizes, and flat out lies about the positions of others on a daily basis.
Thanks for 2004 moron.
Cog
I've figured out who Cog is.
Daniel Okrent, worthless sack of pigshit.
FWIW:
for a while I maintained 4 distinct avatars on Slate's Fray...til they 86'd me, one and all...some of the flying monkeys used to try to guess which of my nyms was me posting a la carte, so tos p eak...nobody ever got 'em all aligned properly...fun whilst it lasted...
I post using my real name.
What.
-
This is like an old Western. Conley is trying to take over Knoxville and SKB stood up to him. Conley also owns a construction firm that keeps getting the downtown contracts. So far 8 million dollars and counting.
Conley made a tactical error when he blackmailed SKB. This is not over. It has just begun.
If you have the time here is the rest of the story; you can see what Conley is really about.
http://www.southknoxbubba.net/
sk...005_04.php#4203
http://www.southknoxbubba.net/
sk...005_04.php#4131
http://www.southknoxbubba.net/
sk...005_01.php#3884
Sometimes, your real name is as good as a pseudonym.
Actually, you guys are all off base here. Conley's got a right to be pissed. Look at this SKB hatchet job from a couple months ago:
...This week's Metro Pulse is the annual "Best of Knoxville" issue with the results from their poll. We are honored that South Knox Bubba was voted "best local website/blog". Our humble thanks to all you kind readers who voted for SKB. (Memo to Diebold: the check's in the mail.)... The results are a pretty good indication that Metro Pulse readers have discerning tastes in everything from wine lists to strip clubs. Be sure to check out the staff's picks, too.
What a fucking prick! How did Conley keep his cool this long!?!
Um -- and what was the matter with that post from SKB? Either this is A) an effort at sarcasm I'm not quite getting (fie on me) or B) ridiculous.
I've been an avid reader of SKB for a couple of years now -- in fact I came to Atrios and dKos through him -- and I'm completely amazed at how this spun out. I read the article and it struck me as moderately cute -- that was about it.
Sending multiple threats of retaliation/blackmail to stifle mild, legitimate criticism?
I'm sorry, I thought Karl Rove was plying his Evil Shit in DC, not publishing a two-bit rag in Knoxville. Must be his nitwit coprophagic cousin.
Note to a certain despicable wannabe-blackmailer nitwit-thug coprophagic rag publisher in Knoxville: I'll bet these e-mails are going to follow your reputation around for a damn long time. Good.
Certainly at some point anonymity is unsustainable
I think exposure has to go pretty far before anonymity slips away. When the NY Times interviewed me and sent a high powered photographer for my picture and the story ran on the front page of the tech section... well... for all intents and purposes, I am still anonymous.
BTW, from perusing the comments at SKB, sounds like what's really sticking in Conley's craw is SKB's dislike over the past few months of certain real estate dealings Conley's had his hand in down Knoxville way.
Which, of course, are now going to be pored over by a whole slew of "citizen journalists" with a grudge.
This prick is gonna regret he ever sent those idiotic emails.
Sorry, didn't see WIll Kane's post...
BTW, Gilliard's on Conley's ass now... not good.
"Andrew Sullivan once said it wasn't fair that I was anonymous because it meant he couldn't go after me personally."
Sully would fucking say that, wouldn't he?
What a fucking jackass. Maybe someone needs to tell this guy about the Federalist Papers, and educate this ignorant fuck that Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison routinely published anonymously.
Stinky
The Founders were on our side. paine wrote the most for individualrights, and was also against the insitution os slavery.
dwight,
well, more figured it out because I let more details slip in private correspondence (trusting them). I was only aware of one who figured it out just from the blog, though there could've been more.
Atrios |
Well remaining anon made you atrios-international man of mystery!
it was so fun trying to play angel's advocate and find out the anywho about you.
Folks, I've been there with The Ben Burch Experience. Unfortunately, this sort of "outing" can only be used for the purposes of intimidation, as it was with me. Unfortunately, there are those that simply encourage it, or really don't give a shit, depending on which side the bread is buttered on. Still, I'm willing to take my lumps for fighting back. Some people may dismiss this as a pissing match, but it's deadly serious business.
Sully admits he is about personal attacks as a method of debate.
And in other news- shit stinks.
Oh yes, and I'm fully aware that this scumbag was praised on Eschaton in the past.
Rev. Mykeru
How dare you defame the artistry of gummo in comparison to that lame stalker!
He'd never have the privilige of siwmming with twin albino lesbians in a rainstorm wearing rabbit ears whilst a tornado teras up Ohio.
You don't thinkt he gummo candybar twins(teasin' 'em with the money!)are part of the copingate scam do ya?
This is the article that started everything. Just a poorly written bit about two 23 year old girls getting high and drunk in Nashville. Can you make DUI funny? Well they tried. Then people wrote their opinions on the piece and Brian Conley decided to blackmail and threaten SKB. Bad move. Now it is High Noon for Brian Conley.
http://www.metropulse.com/articl..._24/
gamut.shtml
Here is the comment from Molly Kincaid who was one of the two writers of the above piece in Metro Pulse that started the entire meltdown. Molly has asked for input from people on this article. Have at it. Email address mkincaid@metropulse.com
Re: Big adventure in the big city
--------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Im not defending anything here nor do i really feel the need to, but I just want to say that some of you need to chill out and get a sense of humor. we werent on some grand journalistic mission, we were just on a road trip. It wasnt supposed to be on the cover, but shit happens. if you dont want to read about it, dont. the only part I regret is refferring to Kevin as "not taking the term designated driver too seriously." the guy had two beers, I was just trying to be funny. I guess it wasnt funny, but thats the breaks.
we are both young writers, and certainly have room for improvement. I would welcome serious criticism (mkincaid@metropulse.com), especially if it wasnt tinged with this bizzarre malicious tone that some of you revel in, but the personal insults are just uncalled for---I mean does it really make you sleep better at night knowing that you called us "dolts" and "overpriveleged" and "shitty writers." Everyone has a right to their own opinion, but has it ever occurred to ya'll that we're real people?
by the way, we werent trying to be "gonzo" but I guess if you write about drinking and pot people are gonna assume that. anyway, whoever posted "HST would never be threatened by a salad bowl" ---now that was funny.
Molly Kincaid
The link to the article that started it all did not post. As insurance I put it in the URL. You won't believe it.
http://www.metropulse.com/articl..._24/
gamut.shtml
Over 40 years ago, when I was in college (I guess that dates me) I and some friends started the 60's equivalent of a Blog--a mimeographed newsletter. With the connivance of the head of the History Department and their mimeo machine (oops--I guess I've outed him if someone wants to track me down) we anonymously turned out 6 or 8 issues and distributed them throughout the campus. We never were outed, but finally decided to out ourselves after about a year. It was fund to sit around the Student Union and speculate as to who the publishers were.
After we outed ourselves, it wasn't quite the same, although it may also have been that I was a senior and trying to graduate, one of our key editors left school, etc.
Remembering that thoughtlessly stupid remarks will have my name affixed to them for eternity makes me take the editing task more seriously. Thus, I prefer not to remain anonymous: it keeps me honest.
But to each, their own. Anonymity has its virtues.
Hmm... One thing is that you invest in a moniker once you've been posting in it a while. People know you under it. You go other places on the net and people you haven't talked to in years contact you. You build up respect among others. If you change your name, this all goes away. This goes equally if you're using a far out pseodonym or your real name, as long as it is reasonably unique. The net brings home more than ever that it's a small world after all.
Addendum: Of course, one thing is that people start tending to use different names in different realms. I go by "TheDeadlyShoe" in the gaming world and "Sandals" in blogging.
What amused me was that it all started apparently over one commenter saying the writing in the newspaper was crappy.
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