Anonymity can be a very controversial topic. People like Farhad Manjoo, Lindy West, and Taylor Armerding discuss the negative aspects of being anonymous online in their articles. For instance, in "Web Trolls Winning as Incivility Increases," Manjoo states, "trolls will be difficult to contain because they really reflect base human society in all its ugliness. Trolls find a way" (Manjoo 19). He is saying that no matter how much we try to get rid of the trolls online, they will never go away; moreover, they are a reflection of how society really feels. In "What Happened When I Confronted My Cruelest Troll," West also points out that "trolling is recreational abuse-usually anonymous- intended to waste the subject's time or get a rise out of them or frustrate or frighten them into silence" (West 9). Both of these writers talk about trolls that are harassing individuals online referencing that anonymity is bad.
On the other hand, I believe that anonymity can be very beneficial to most people. For example, by being able to remain anonymous, an individual can talk to another person online about a topic that they might not feel safe to discuss with anyone they know. In the case of suicide or self harm, the person can contact someone on a suicide hotline and keep their identity hidden. This will allow the person to open up, talk about their feelings, and hopefully find a positive solution. This anonymity can also be beneficial for women who are being abused by their husbands, boyfriends, or a child being abused by an elder. These people can seek help and find answers that can help them out of a bad situation. Gabriella Coleman, who wrote "Anonymity Online Serves Us All," says that anonymity online can be helpful. It can allow people to write about their opinions without the pressure of knowing that others could potentially judge them. She writes, "…anonymity can empower those who seek consolation and justice to speak out against assailants enabled by the same processes" (Coleman 4). Anonymity breaks down the walls. Topics that are hard to discuss in person, or face to face, can be easier to talk about when people are allowed to open up without revealing who they are. We live in a society where the image of having a perfect life, without problems, is just a façade.
Hi Ashley, I completely agree that anonymity is beneficial. It is not easy discussing touchy subjects with your identity out there for everyone to see. It is true that it would allow people to open up more. In a way, I feel that without anonymity, the public would be silenced. Too many people would be afraid to state their true opinions on important subjects and topics. I also like how you mentioned that we live in a society of having a perfect life. On all of these social media websites, we see what the user wants us to see. If the user wants us to think that they have a perfect life, that is what they will try to portray. Through anonymity, we are able to see what is behind the scenes and how they truly feel.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that anonymity is beneficial in many different ways. Especially how you mentioned suicide and abuse because many people can be ashamed or afraid to admit either of those things to somebody that they know. Suicide and abuse are both very sensitive subjects and it is very difficult for many people to be able to open up even to people that they may be very close to. Just like how you mentioned suicide hotlines is a great way for people to have someone to listen to them without the fear of being judged or looked at differently by the people they see everyday. Therefore, by them being able to communicate anonymously online can be that source of outlet that they needed. Although, it is unfortunate that people abuse the power of being anonymous, I don't believe that it out weighs the positives that come with it. There is always going to be those bad people everywhere, so there isn't much avoiding it. As long as people take the proper precautions of using social media, there would be less bullying and harassment.
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