What if Anonymous Comments were Illegal?

An interesting bill was filed this week in Kentucky. From this article:

The bill would require anyone who contributes to a website to register their real name, address and e-mail address with that site.

Disqus has the concept of verified and unverified commenters. What is important is that the right incentives are put in place for people to verify their identities when they participate. The incentives should be either enhanced functionality or convenience. However, I am against forcing people (by law) to register themselves before they can interact. All we will see is a dramatic drop in people participating in online conversations.

If we align registration with the right benefits, many would be happy to post with a verified identity. While this bill obviously has no legs, it makes for interesting thought. The problem with unaccountable trolling and harassment undeniably exists. We just need a better solution.

View Comments

Daniel on March 10th 2008 in disqus

  • what happened to privacy in America?
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  • what happened to privacy in America?
    http://www.orangecountycriminallawlawyer.com/
  • what happened to privacy in America?
    http://www.orangecountycriminallawlawyer.com/
  • what happened to privacy in America?
    http://www.orangecountycriminallawlawyer.com/
  • wallace530
    great post sir..
    thanks for sharing. really helped a lot here.
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  • I think it's a bad idea. That said, it would cut down on those "YER SOOO GAYYY" comments.
  • I think it's a bad idea. That said, it would cut down on those "YER SOOO GAYYY" comments.
  • roock
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  • Romero
    Great info thank you. I'm tired of wordpress and want to migrate over to Disqus, I want to install it over at my web hosting community over at http://v-hosting.co.uk. any help with install would be gratefully accepted
  • i think the most important thing is preventing spam, and commenter is not necessarily need to use their real name as long as they are not a spammer
  • I think it will reduce the number of people posting with using anonymous ..
  • i think the most important thing is preventing spam, and commenter is not necessarily need to use their real name as long as they are not a spammer
  • i think the most important thing is preventing spam, and commenter is not necessarily need to use their real name as long as they are not a spammer
  • I think it will reduce the number of people posting with using anonymous ..
  • I think it will reduce the number of people posting with using anonymous ..
  • Not only having to verify your identity can stop people from leaving valuable comment, it is also very easy to fake your actual identity.
  • Not only having to verify your identity can stop people from leaving valuable comment, it is also very easy to fake your actual identity.
  • Not only having to verify your identity can stop people from leaving valuable comment, it is also very easy to fake your actual identity.
  • "Open concept" is still the way to go.
  • "Open concept" is still the way to go.
  • I would say some form of checks and balances is necessary but let's not overdo it less it diminishes participation. Some people like to shout but still want to remain anonymous.
  • I would say some form of checks and balances is necessary but let's not overdo it less it diminishes participation. Some people like to shout but still want to remain anonymous.
  • Fully agreed. What is important the person must have a limit to what he or she can comment. Well, you still have a moderator to check that. You can't stop people from airing their thoughts otherwise it would be undemocratic, right?
  • Hmm interesting piece of article . I agree with what you guys say !
  • Hmm interesting piece of article . I agree with what you guys say !
  • sometimes when they are abusing the site
  • I don't agree with that bill. Why should everyone be using their real information online, some may be skeptical about this and quit online interaction. Interaction should be open and easy.
  • I don't agree with that bill. Why should everyone be using their real information online, some may be skeptical about this and quit online interaction. Interaction should be open and easy.
  • this is right, bye bye illegal commenter
  • illegal, maybe sooner it will be
  • What if Anonymous Comments were Illegal?

    How will anonymous comments be illegal???
  • Some people area very reluctant to post anything on the internet that could possibly identify or be linked to them. Forcinig peole to register would diminish participation and maybe eliminate the "two sides to every story" theory. I do think anonymous commentary tends to have less credibility.
  • Some people area very reluctant to post anything on the internet that could possibly identify or be linked to them. Forcinig peole to register would diminish participation and maybe eliminate the "two sides to every story" theory. I do think anonymous commentary tends to have less credibility.
  • Some people area very reluctant to post anything on the internet that could possibly identify or be linked to them. Forcinig peole to register would diminish participation and maybe eliminate the "two sides to every story" theory. I do think anonymous commentary tends to have less credibility.
  • BLOGGING BITCH!
    NO ANONOYMITY? POLITICIANS FIRST!
  • BLOGGING BITCH!
    NO ANONOYMITY? POLITICIANS FIRST!
  • I totally agree, unverified is a perfectly reasonable option in this day and age. It's like the Jim Gaffigan question of "Why do I need a "Super Saver" card to buy a bag of Doritos". As an option it's nice, as a forced decision it's makes you not want to go back.
  • Way out of their element? Maybe, but if you ever lived in China you'd know this is possible, and do-able. The facist state will demand this. The underground www will always be free, but if you think you'll log into an open system in 100 years you're kidding yourself.
  • Some really good points but still, the idea is ridiculous. First of all, there's no way they could enforce that. Everyone will just start hosting their websites in neighboring states if they want to stay locally hosted. Second, it would kill the internet. Who says website owners are trustworthy enough to give all your private information too? This will never pass.

    An interesting thought experiment for sure though and definitely shows the versatility of Disqus in weird situations.
  • I couldn't agree more. More than anything, this sounds like one of those bills drafted by people way out of their element.
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