I do feel stupid about my earlier quote on the other thread about driving through Canmore. Nevertheless. I did just drive through Canmore. It’s beautiful up here in the Canadian Rockies.

I suspect that there are many others who would have similar problems, so a system like jeeztheadmin’s suggestion could be best.

In any case, your website is brilliant, so keep it going no matter what.

That “LOL!” was a cheap shot. Forgive?

LOL!

If its not worth putting your name on, its not worth saying.

Also want to voice agreement with posted concerns of some becoming targeted if their real name becomes known. I’m a real nobody and can give as good as I get but, many don’t have the time or inclination. As has been noted, there could be real political and professional consequences for some.

In terms of community policing and moderation, other structures such as yahoo groups or vBulletin forums may provide better tools. However, for me, the comments to your post here are very much a part of the sharing and camaraderie surrounding and supporting your blog.

What kind of a country do we live in if government and/or university employees are afraid to express an opinion in a scientific debate? Stand behind your words and let’s shine the light on the neo-Nazis that want to control your speech. When you give in to these out-of-control authoritarians, you empower them!

An efficiently working pile of rubbish is still a pile of rubbish. Find another line of work.

If I were to use my full first and last name, then I fear that simply by googling, a person could learn more about me than I wish to share with the world. (I have no problem with submitting an email address that does not get published.)

Nathan Stone
Hendersonville, TN

At the same time, I believe that outright anonymity is a refuge of cowards. And there are so many on the web making awful comments and hiding behind pseudonyms. I would prefer a balance, or a registration scheme to posting full names. But as many have noted, it’s your blog Anthony. Your rules.

Either way, it’s a fantastic blog, clean, and well maintained and generally free from the terrible trolls, and I will continue reading.

REPLY: Making and keeping it that way is a huge amount of work. That is the issue.

I just setup an account in WordPress without creating a BLOG. I can now post without having to enter my Email account. I admit this would be a problem for some people who would be subject to reprisals but it would discourage a lot of the junk postings. Too bad you are no longer displaying avatars, I uploads a (vary bad) picture of myself.

Mike

REPLY: I’m aware of this reg process, it doesn’t do much for this situation though

As someone who moderates a very tightly controlled message board (in terms of civility, anyway) I think registration is the way to go (with the registrant asked to provide a real name to you, and encouraged to use as his or her posting handle), and a “report an inappropriate comment” button would allow some group help with the moderation. Probation periods also work well.

While I have no objections to using my real name, I can certainly understand the objections others have voiced. No one wants to be blindsided by a politically motivated boss using internet comments to determine raises, etc.

I just stumbled onto this site and want to see it continue. You do what you need to to keep it rolling.

J Frank La Due

There are many sources of nformation that I have found I can not trust.

You I trust.

Whatever you need to do.

But I’ll still let my Evil Twin sign the post.

Regards,

Steamboat Jack

You don’t need to move the blog to enforce registration. WordPress.com allows people to create accounts without needing to create a blog. Since the registration requires a real e-mail address your “problem” is solved.

Then you change your blog settings to registered only and voilà!

I would however question whether registration is really the answer. You just need a group of people you can trust to enforce sensible moderation policies. The pain you’re suffering is just the natural problems of growth in a popular blog.

The greatest problem posters I had on CA were people who published under their own names – so its not the anonymity that produces the “keyboard kourage” but something else.