Since first time blogging, I discouraged anonymity and anonymous blogging. I call this attitude irresponsible - if you fear the heat dont enter the kitchen., and be a good kid. I wrote several posts on the important of clear identity for any blogger to earn credibility of whatever one writes in his or her respective blogs.
There are times when clear identity is not obligatorily required, and anonymity is forgiven and understood by the readers.
There are many instances where scientific writings/bloggings will automatically earn you credibility and honour you deserve… But a lot of examples in which writing scientifically is not enough. Readers and common sense need to know what position you stand for. Credibility more often than not is very much to do with whether there’s self-interest involve or not.
But there are times where clear identity is a must and anonymity is a waste of time:
… there’re some other topics in which clarity of identity is a must unless you’re a careless person who dont need the so-called credible ‘awards.’ What kind of topics that needs clarity of identity? (a) Religion; (b) Politics; (c) Minority/majority issue [etc]..
Even worse, anonymous blogger is a liability for bloggers as a whole as their anonymity might be used to downgrade other bloggers- with clear identity -in bad lights as it’s the case with Roy Suryo’s allegation that Indonesian bloggers are just “a bunch of liars because they are never even have the gut to use their true name.
Now, look at this article written by an apparently an Obama’s campaign volunteer. Before making his points, he starts his piece with clear identity to make his case stronger and more credible:
There has been a lot of speculation that Barack Obama might win the election due to his better “ground game” and superior campaign organization.
I had the chance to view that organization up close this month when I canvassed for him. I’m not sure I learned much about his chances, but I learned a lot about myself and about this election.
Let me make it clear: I’m pretty conservative. I grew up in the suburbs. I voted for George H.W. Bush twice, and his son once. I was disappointed when Bill Clinton won, and disappointed he couldn’t run again.
I encouraged my son to join the military. I was proud of him in Afghanistan, and happy when he came home, and angry when he was recalled because of the invasion of Iraq. I’m white, 55, I live in the South and I’m definitely going to get a bigger tax bill if Obama wins. [....]
That’s precisely the point I made here when I said:
…neutrality & objectivity is a one way ticket towards credibility. Yet, both are an impressionist in nature. Readers need to be convinced that you’re in a neutral position when writing on those topics.
How do readers know that you are in a neutral position? The answer is your identity. Generally, neutrality and objectivity very much related to self-criticism (against your own religion, community, political party, etc).
So, when someone known for his/her closeness to a political party, say PKS, and he/she criticises some of PKS’ policy, certainly his/her criticism has the merit to be heard; and obviously such kind of criticism has credibility. On the contrary, anonymity on this regard will have many interpretations: one migh think that you are from some other political party and hence it’s common practice to attack other parties.
Setuju, apalagi kalo yg disampaikan di blog adalah hal2 yg bermanfaat, jd kenapa hrs malu
I think you are right…we shoudn’t be afraid to show who we are to everyone…
Fatih, frankly, i lost count how many times you’ve raised this issue – it’s getting tiring – and i felt like i prolly need to say something.
While i respect anyone who would want to blog with or without their real identity, your comments on blogging anonymously is completely misleading and misguided.
“What kind of topics that needs clarity of identity? (a) Religion; (b) Politics; (c) Minority/majority issue [etc]..”
That is ABSOLUTELY NOT true. Those are precisely the subjects in which one would and probably should consider anonymity.
In many countries of the world – and to some degree also Indonesia – voices of opposition and minorities are seriously oppressed and prosecuted. The only way people can voice their minority opinion is by expressing them anonymously.
No ideas carry the weight of the names and faces behind it – any ideas or complaints or opinion – should be judged and measured by merit and merits alone.
To assume that a ‘respectable name’ – blogger or otherwise – is more correct simply because one attaches a name to an opinion does not make him any more correct than others.
You quoted Thomas Jefferson in your profile. Well, James Madison, who was the other Founding Father, along with Hamilton and others wrote the Federalist Papers anonymously. There were many others who wrote some of the most papers and literature in history, without their real names. Lewis Carroll wrote Alic/Through the Looking Glass under pseudonyms. I can go on with these names for many long pages.
It doesn’t matter what one choose, one may choose to do as they wish, in whatever way they choose to do so. Blogging is hardly a credible platform for anything, who never really know who’s writing what anyway? The only way to judge the validity of the opinion is by judging it on merit, and merit alone.
Frankly, i’m disappointed that you keep hammering these unnecessary doctrines – being such a famous blogger yourself, and educator – you may want to be more tolerant of others, more critical on substance and less proud of the superficiality of cloaked deniability – at which point, you degrade and patronize noone but yourself.
It is important to stand for one’s opinion and stand on principle. It is much more important that one HAVE a principle in the first place, and there’s no way to do it, if anyone is intimidated and brushed aside as liability before they were to be heard.
Obviously, you have never been part of a prosecuted minority. Or maybe you had, but then you chose not to say much.
The arrogance to lower others as liability is, well, arrogance.
#well, tree, feel free to express your opinion and release your anger. no fear of prosecution and oppression here.
my purpose of these kind of topics is to influence new bloggers (say, undecided ones) and discourage them to go anonymous as it, in my opinion, will enhance blogger comunity’s credibility.
so, it’s NOT to degrade or discredit the already ‘established’ anonymous blogger who obviously have made up their minds to go anonymous.
please read my article on the ROY SURYO’s allegation on this regard.
last but far from least, i wrote this topic and will possiblly write again in the future posts is for the bigger purpose–the indonesian bloggers as a whole– not for chiding any particular bloggers. it’s not personal. it’s an issue i’d like to address.
well, since i have been a loyal reader of your blog for a few years now, i think i pretty much get what you say – and you always say the same thing.
It is pointless. Roy Suryo speaks up OPENLY, with his name and titles and all that shit he carries around, and yet, fails to bring any credibility to his audience.
i respect your opinion and have always enjoyed reading your blog, and yet, your idea of encouragement and education for ‘new bloggers’ is to put their names and faces foremost, before putting any arguments forward.
Bloggers should stand up for their opinion – anons or not. They should admit their mistakes – anons or not. They should openly call for actions when necessary – anons or not.
You do it once, i get it. Twice, i prolly still do. You’re doing it over a few years and just keep calling anonymous bloggers liable is similar to any other elites – in this country and elsewhere – to purport that they ride the moral high horses in the back of the names of their ancestors. It’s a pretense for nothing.
I don’t understand why it matters one iota if you use your name or not.
With your names and your reputation and your influence, you could’ve done a lot more than keep chiding other bloggers and claiming that you’re better than others.
We all know you’re better than others. Now let’s move on and get on a real issue rather than going back with this ancient topic.
I have not heard you ONCE say anything about the sad pathetic things happening in all around you, except that you chide bloggers who don’t blog names. pointless.
Frankly, you’re in danger of Roy Suryoing yourself – are you now the authority on who’s ‘the most worthy’ blog because those you pick have better names?
just curious…
Here’s something i have to say about PKS – rest assured, i will have more. If you have an argument on merit, spit it out. If you want to pick on anyone being liable, then please, with sugar on top, make sure WHO it is you’re calling liable.
http://treeatwork.blogspot.com/2008/10/indonesian-political-promiscuity.html
i am not at all angry. Not at the very least, you should know that i don’t get angry very often
i am very disappointed that people like you – whatever you call yourself – choose and pursue with dedication, to “discourage them to go anonymous as it, in my opinion, will enhance blogger comunity’s credibility.”
Fatih, what you do, is you discourage people to speak up – some people need the protection of anonymity. let them say it. You should help and protect them, and not call them liability.
I get upset when there are people who think it’s their job to discourage others to keep quiet.
Yah, at least anonymous blogging is much better than blogging with made-up or “fake” identity.
Lagipula, identitas kita di internet sangat mudah di copy dan disalahgunakan. Coba lihat identity orang di friendster, kita bisa temukan wajah / foto yang dipakai di beberapa profil, sampai bingung which one is real?
Saya juga setuju mas….
Yap, i agree with it. Fake identity is an irresponsible attitude.
May be can some one who’s have his blog write comment with another id (or can use “anonymous”).
So clear, so good!
But it depends on the blogger.
We have a different perspectives, more important
don’t take an illegal, criminal, and other bad action in content or command!
Pamit rumiyin
It’s an enlightenment that forgotten by many others, this should be considered to implement, I agree.