The Price of Anonymity on the web society

Below is my comment on the article of "The Price of Anonymity" , TIME dated on July 30, 2007.


Generally speaking, anonymity is the norm of the Internet society these days except when you are required or willing to disclose your true name and other personal data to the net shops where you buy something or to the authorities where you pay tax for example. It gives us freedom of speech without having any fear of being attacked by others.

In your article on the price of Anonymity, I was very impressed that Whole Foods CEO John Mackey taught us how influential your anonymous postings on the internet could be used to let people believe your way of thinking if you could keep it going so long. However, he also taught us a future risk of being humiliated or even sued by others in case of an unexpected disclosure of your identity. Be careful of your high social status whenever you use your handle name with fun on the web!