This might be a bit weird, and you will certainly need to set aside some time before continuing here. There’s an article from a website I like to read that concerns everyone reading this, and everyone else that uses the internet in nearly any form. It’s somewhat long, but it’s good and worth reading I think. So click on the link and then come back when you’re done.

http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/686259/The_Girl_Who_Will_Change_The_Internet.html#readmore

You done?

Good. What’d you think? I’ll some up my thoughts in a single word. “Damn.” Not as in “there goes my anonymity” but more of a “someone would actually do that.” Granted, there are some pretty horrible things that go on in the world, but this just feels so wrong.

As far as registering who you actually are online, I’m for it. Being able to say something anonymously on the internets is a big part of what currently goes on there, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good thing. In fact, that’s probably the thing I hate most about the internets. Okay, not directly that, but what happens because of that. When you let an idiot say whatever they want knowing it won’t come back to them you get subject matter that is the current state of playing a game over Xbox Live: uneducated bigot remarks. Not just that though, you get it in droves.

The same goes on message boards. Those comments just don’t have volume and only come at you with the speed of your scroll wheel. Being accountable for what you say over the internet would be a good thing in my book. I will concede that such a state of affairs could result in a what people will say is a lack of freedom or a controlled internet. There will need to be some adjustment to such things. But preventing future sexual predators from finding children or anything else similar is a step forward.

If you disagree let me make a slight comparison. If we appraoch this situation with the mentality that we’re trying to prevent future crime and you think it’s too restrictive, do you think it’s unjustly restrictive that people aren’t allowed to carry guns everywhere to prevent gun related crimes? Of course, crimes still happen. But is that not at least moving in a seemingly logical direction?

My view might also just be stemming from the fact that I’ve never really lied in this sense. There was one time in high school that I tracked Wong down in a chat room and made him think I was someone else, but that’s really it. Also, as far as I am aware the internet handle “Kryscen” is a name I made up and haven’t come across. I don’t care if people know that Kryscen is Neal Whitlock.

So what do you think? Agree/Disagree with the points made in the article. Agree/Disagree with me. What’s going on in all your anonymous heads?