Toledo Blade Visitor Agreement – no anonymous comments

While they could be censoring comments critical of themselves, there's also the high likelihood that they're censoring trolling, swearing, fighting, etc. Reading the arguments that typically go on at the bottom of every Blade article, I can't really say I'm surprised by this. There are 4 or 5 names that you can always expect to be at the bottom of any article bickering back and forth.

A real name policy? Thanks, but no thanks. The personal data implications and security concerns here are way too much to deal with now, especially with a media entity. I don't trust them to get the news right, and I sure won't trust them with my real name and contact info. I will not be using their site anymore.

Who signs up with a real name anyway on any online board. Just make up a first and last name.

Yet they (The Blah) rarely identify the authors of their whacko opinions.

JRB has used his yellow journalism and poison ink to destroy way too many people over the years. That publication would be the absolute last one on Earth I'd trust with my identity.

I find that the Toledo Blade commenters can be some of the most idiotic and vitriolic on the Web. Of the participants on sites I visit with any regularity only CNN and Yahoo! commenters regularly sink below the level of the worst Blade commenters, and the vileness of the some of the opinions expressed make me largely avoid reading the stupidity.

As far as their policy: I think it is misguided, but they are probably trying to clean the place up with as little staff expense as possible, and I doubt that their motivations are political in nature. However, there is an institutional arrogance at the Toledo Blade that is probably evident in this Draconian policy. The net result will probably be to chase away some sane voices and egg on the semi-literate keyboard commandos.

"The Toledo Free Press is almost as bad. They require approval of all comments. I was lucky to get 1 in 4 of my comments approved. I guess I disagreed with the authors too much."

I also had a problem with a comment I had posted with the Toledo Free Press on a light hearted column on a public event showing a photo of a public person (who is also a businessman who was promoting his business) who has a very sketchy past. I was very polite, didn't use bad words, etc., and said I would not do business with that person because of his past. It was promptly removed. I contacted the editor, Miller, saying it was not right to allow this person to promote himself by attending the event and getting his photo taken for the column, then not allowing the public to comment about him. Miller agreed with me and my comment was put back up. I think the person who monitors the board may have liked the person I had criticized or maybe just refused to allow posts critical of the column. In any event, Miller overruled the censorship and let my post stand.

As for The Blade, I don't think it's good policy to make people give their real names, since anonymity is what draws many to message boards for a variety of reasons. Some fear they could be fired from their jobs for taking positions that are opposite their bosses, etc. Others just don't trust an organization to keep their names confidential. Courts have ruled in the past that an organization must give up the identity of people who post on messageboards to employers. Gives me the creeps. And when you have John Robinson Block at the helm, there is no way I would trust The Blade with my name.

These are all good comments. I, also, would never trust the local rag with any personal identifiers. It has done too many hatchet jobs on people. Don't piss off JRB or he'll steam roll over you and run you out of town.

Any presumption of anonymous posting anywhere on the web is a false delusion. The publication in question has on staff technical employees capable of uncovering any IP and the owner's name. Likewise our government can track any keystroke back thru time. Whatever you post, keep in mind your cheap shot posted has a direct -> to you.

"Any presumption of anonymous posting anywhere on the web is a false delusion."

Anon message :

"Do not let the enemy identify you online and take away your Anonymity. Anonymity is a freedom. A freedom of which we uphold. A freedom for which we fight for. A freedom we must express. Here you will find tools and software to keep that freedom. We have listed the download sites here. We encourage you to use these tools whenever you are online. Do not let the enemies of the internet take away this freedom. Use these tools and remain anonymous online."

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What's worse is when a paper requires you to use your Facebook account to comment. The Detroit Free Press recently implemented that policy, and the Monroe Evening News has required it for some time now.

I have a pseudonym that I use to register on sites that require a "real name" to register. Have a special e-mail address for it too. It is easy enough to get around the Blade's policy.

Uh... Ryan?

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• https://www.torproject.org/about/overview.html.en
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One project:

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Getting started with the TOR Browser Bundle:

They don't need any high-faluting laws to censor us, we do it to ourselves.