Should Anonymity be allowed on the board?

[barrysloate]

I don't even know what a TPS report is...I'll just say I was busy putting paper clips on piles of papers, and removing staples with my handy staple remover. After all, isn't that what most people do in an office anyway?

[wonkaticket]

People who post on here, folks who post pickups of 4-5 figure cards and pics of their kids and loved ones..please put your full name and contact info next to your post....So I can google you later...perhaps I'll stop by your home or business for coffee sometime.....

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

"...do we really need the guy with bad teeth getting a hold of someones business number and calling us up because you butt heads with someone."

Or, do we really need to belittle and poke fun of everything and everyone, or could we pick ourselves up by our seats and try a more professional approach (note the "we" )?! John, while I applaud most of your recent actions, I do think it fair that, for you to go on record with certain statements should also require your full name to be added to each post. Anonymity and accusation make strange bedfellows, even if your opinion is the one I side with! Your point is quite valid, but so is mine.

[GoldenAge50s]

I think there at least be a first name and last initial available, if not on the post at least in the Profile.

As Barry says, quite often I have no idea who I may be replying to, so I click on Profile & find nothing there either, so I don't bother replying at all.

It seems to me having at least a first name gives a bit of credibility to any post--even if it's a bogus name!

[wonkaticket]

Jodi my full name is known by most and Leon has all of my contact information and if I ever cross the line into bad land I'm sure Leon will use my info correctly. In fact Leon and I talk from time to time as well.

Do I need you to know my entire info heck no...no offense I don't know you from Adam. And I don’t need to know all of yours either Jodi.

"Anonymity and accusation make strange bedfellows, even if your opinion is the one I side with! Your point is quite valid, but so is mine."

Don’t accuse anyone of anything Jodi, posted an email where Kevin admitted in his own words to shady stuff, called out a bogus sign and helped bring to justice a counterfeiter in Chan. No accusations just facts you draw the conclusion.

This forum is not anonymous Leon has our information there is no real reason for everyone who pops on here to know all about everyone it serves no purpose.

More bad can come from full open disclosure than the system that's already in place.

Nothing against the guy with the bad choppers but I don't think he needs my phone number and full name, or as some folks have said to know about their business outside of the hobby. We have seen many times before on this board when people have personal information on you they get personal.

Lichtman is accused of getting killers off, Leon is a drug dealer, Jim Crandall has a huge loss with Lehman it's just not cool.

So if you’re offended by the teeth joke just imagine the personal attacks that follow when forum members get to know you a little better Jodi….

P.S. I think I'll be going on record soon with Jim and I in the upcoming Old Cardboard mag on the Chan case...my full name will be in there is that on record enough for you? Also when I worked with the FBI on Chan pretty sure I was on record they also did the standard background check so I think I'm plenty on record at this point.

[cfc1909]

Very good reasons are posted for anonymity and I think they have changed my mind. Leon has the info and that should be good enough. Leon just has to make sure the info is good. example-Scott Bob

JR cfc1909

[Leon]

Again we see eye to eye......I want to solicit more opinions but the ones that are "for" allowing anonymity are strong enough, in my mind, to not change the current rules. As I tell folks over and over....our rules are time tested. Almost every single time we review a rule it comes out that it is a good rule, even if not the absolute most popular. I am still open but am leaning towards letting the rule on anonymity be the way it is....I still think this thread is very valuable in letting folks have the other points of view. As I told someone this morning, via email, the best thing I got out of college was understanding that, even though I can't imagine how something I feel so strongly about could be different, intelligent people/friends might have other views AND they might actually make more sense than my own!! best regards

[Leon]

In your last scenario I would divulge those names to the one being accused of something or ragged on. If those names and numbers turned out to be false then I would ban that person(s). ...... This is a tough call....but my last response sums up my feelings at this moment. regards

[makersmarkambassador]

I voted no, but I can see why this is a touchy subject. I put my full name in all of my posts. Always have and I always will. I voted no because I do not have a problem putting my full name in posts. I think being anonymous is fine, but once a subject becomes heated or other issues arise, then posters need to be identified.

[Mr. Mitt]

Originally Posted by cfc1909

Very good reasons are posted for anonymity and I think they have changed my mind. Leon has the info and that should be good enough. Leon just has to make sure the info is good. example-Scott Bob

JR cfc1909

Holy $#*%!!!! I flipped Jim... the whole system is going to fall ! ! !

Similarly, I agree that at least a first name should posted along with a username so people know how to address each other, so I've added my first name to my profile.

It's a tough question to answer, not everyone is going to be happy with everything. Debate and the free exchange of opinions is a good thing, though.


Jerry

[Jacklitsch]

While I may have an idle curiosity about who three25hits is, with his snarky posts, or dstudeba, whatever that is, or Wonkaticket, now there's a handle for you, it really doesn't matter to me whether someone is anonymous or not.

Me, I'm not so important that I have people out there searching me on google so I have no problem with people knowing who I am.

[Mark]

"This forum is not anonymous Leon has our information there is no real reason for everyone who pops on here to know all about everyone it serves no purpose. "

This is true enough, John. And, as others have said, I, too, prefer that those who know me professionally remain unaware of m interest in baseball cards et alia.

In my view, the best policy is to keep things steady as she goes.

[wonkaticket]

Mark we have a meeting with the "Bob's" in 20 are you coming?

[wonkaticket]

Yeah but Jodi there are no real places for anyone to hide. Leon has done a good job to get folks info for the very reasons you outlined.

He just keeps that info to himself until it is needed etc. You want all the info on the table and I see no need.

The fact is if anyone really wanted to fiind out about any of us one could easily do so. But I see no reason to make it so easy as to anyone passing thru can say ahhh Jim Thompson just bought himself a 100k set I wonder if it's the same Jim Thompson who lives at 100 Evergreen Terrace etc. it must be the phone number matches.

Hey let's google earth him wow nice house....see where this is going.

Most of the time it's harmless but what about the one time it isn't?

Or the day when someone gets heated and says hey Jodi don't you have burgers too flip at Burger King vs. posting on here (not saying you work at Burger king and if you do hook me up!)

But trust me if folks know it will go there sooner or later...

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

"No accusations just facts you draw the conclusion."

Accusation, fact; although they ARE words with different meanings, semantics come into play in this instance. Either way, you are bringing the actions of others to light in a public forum. As stated, I think that's fine if it serves an honorable purpose. People do have a right to know the identities of those who make bold statements. Is there any middle ground where most would be happy? I'm certainly open to suggestion at this point, whereas I was not originally.

I find that anonymity is detrimental to the degree of seriousness in which a public forum is to be considered. For instance, let's say a well-known dealer/auctioneer posts something using his real name. Three people using aliases decide to post scathing/snarky/accusatory replies. Is this fair to all involved? Regardless, it's immature and dampens the air for the rest of us.

I was only using a couple of your cases as examples because I was quoting something you wrote and said instances are of recent memory.

[Mark]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

I don't even know what a TPS report is...I'll just say I was busy putting paper clips on piles of papers, and removing staples with my handy staple remover. After all, isn't that what most people do in an office anyway?

Barry
There are new cover sheets on the TPS reports. Didn't you get the memo?
M