Ryan Jerz :: Reno Blogger

Fun, conversations, and occasional journalism from Reno, Nevada


Misc: I just want to know you're real

I’ve come to a realization about myself. I’m a walking (or typing, as it may be) contradiction. With as much time as I devote to the online world, and as much time as I devote to all matters of the distribution of information through online means, I can not fully embrace the way the online world operates.

I know I’m fixated on this one subject, but I think that’s only because I do operate as an evangelist in the circles I run and this topic comes up again and again and again. It’s anonymity1. I know it’s like beating a dead horse with me and this topic, but like I said, it keeps coming up every time I try to spell out the virtues of reading blogs and participating in them to my friends or people I come across in a business setting.

If I talk to someone about blogs, it’s usually because they ask me or the topic is very relevant to the setting. The people asking me have either read this one or one of the many others that cover the area (side note: local is totally the way to go; everyone reads the local stuff) (also, I’ve moved to semicolons instead of the dashes, if it’s the right move, so correct me if it’s not). They appreciate the information but too many of them don’t participate at all. Why? Because, at least this is what they tell me, they don’t trust the stuff they’re reading entirely because anyone can say anything with impunity. That’s somewhat of a contradiction in itself, but it’s what they say. So even if the people talking to me are contradicting themselves (which is totally a viable option; we all do it) what it says to me is that bloggers are working hard to do what they do, but overall the trust factor isn’t there and that hurts everyone — not just bloggers.

Anonymity isn’t the entire focus here, though. I really want to get into how I can’t be at peace with talking to people strictly through impersonal anonymous communication. I’ve recently begun exchanging emails with someone about my neighborhood. I have no idea who this person is but this person claims to want to “work together” to do some things around the part of town in which we both live. I have no problem doing the things, if time doesn’t become a factor, but I can’t bring myself to do anything in collaboration with someone who I’ve never met or whose name I don’t even know. It’s a huge problem for me. By all accounts, this person wants to do a lot of things that I want to do, but I can’t even bring myself to trust the motives this person may or may not have. It’s entirely possible I’m being manipulated by someone out to pick a bone with a neighbor, the city, or me. Without any accountability, this person can hit and run and I don’t want to be a part of that.

So, can a person like me who spends way too much time online and telling friends how great online life is be at peace with himself when I don’t fully embrace the way things seem to “be” online? Like I’ve said before, I want this to work and it can’t work without the conversation. The conversation can’t be viable unless a large cross-section of people are taking part. And, it seems, a large cross-section isn’t possible until either the population comes to accept anonymity or the anonymous ones realize they’re not helping it happen. I just want to know who everyone is and maybe sit down to discuss things over a beer once in a while.

1 I am in no way calling anyone out. I am, however, pointing out that in order to make this whole experiment work, everyone should be on this basic page. If we can’t be, then why waste all the time?


tags: 89509, anonymity, blogging, blogs, community, conversation, neighborhood, nevada, reno
posted by Ryan Jerz on 05/14/2007

Comments

wolfy, May 14, 11:37 PM #:

Perhaps a lot of people feel that blogs are an esoteric club to which they do not belong and therefore don’t feel comfortable participating. Also There are people who, in a public personal setting, won’t open their mouths even though they have something important to say. I think the uneasiness about participating is also (or wholly) a result of online shyness…

I suggest you offer to meet your penpal @ a coffeeshop/bar. Unless he/she asks you to play Misty for him/her. Then it would be a bad idea.

-M

Ryan Jerz, May 15, 01:28 AM #:

Wolfy, no dice. I just asked for a name and it’s not happening. I think you’re right about the reason people don’t participate, partly. I’ve tried with the people I know to make them participate but it still isn’t happening. And some of these people are people that should be commenting because they have interesting things to say.

Mostly, I think I might just be lamenting what could be in the world of blogging. Maybe it will eventually lead to this type of thing. I hope it does. My vision is a world where people talk in more depth than in person. Let’s face it, most conversations in person aren’t all that deep. At least to me. I discuss far better when I can think about what I’m going to say and we can all do that online. The difference is that everyone should still be accountable for their speech and actions just like they are in person. That’s what I want to see.

wolfy, May 15, 02:19 AM #:

That’s strange.

I was thinking about another thing: People have a vague idea that they aren’t as anonymous as they may think. We all know that musicdownloaders and kiddiepornographers can be found by tracing email and no one knows how it works. With these blogs the administrators can see the email and the IP address of the commenters. Even if people don’t comment, we can see their IP address. So people may think we know if they’re wearing underwear or not.

But that will change as people become more familiar with the medium. People didn’t trust Television at first and now look… Wait, bad example.

-M(ike Henderson)

Kat, May 15, 11:40 AM #:

Good article. I first started writing anonymously just to remember things when I lose my memory. What good will that do when I forget my password. Soon after blogging and leaving comments I realized things are not anonymous, since we do give our emails through comments and most of us have our photos on our blogs or flickr.
I like the fact that there are some that remain anonymous but enjoy the ones that are an open book. That’s usually honesty in my book and they have a lot to say!
Kat(rina)

sugafree9, May 18, 12:31 PM #:

Whoa. I go away for a week or so, and you post like five times. What the dilly?

Anyway, I like the quasi-anonymity I have. But I’m sure that I don’t do the best job of keeping my identity secure. I know that nobody really cares who I am, but I don’t want these postings to pop-up when someone is doing a search about me.

I figure that anonymity is cool unless you’re attacking someone. Then it makes it tougher to find them if they really anger you.

David LaPlante, May 22, 11:16 PM #:

Seems to me that blogging in the ‘real’ keeps your ego in check and your reality rooted. You’re going to think twice about starting fights you can’t finish.

There is a place for anonymity tho’. Especially in societies and cultures where you may be killed or jailed for being ‘real’. Like China. Bloggers go to jail in China.

Commenting is closed for this article.