Transparency vs. Anonymity? Anonymity Is Undervalued

On yesterday's edition of Room 3026 Live [ http://bit.ly/ocZpfK ], this infographic, "Transparency vs. Anonymity" [ http://mashable.com/2011/08/04/transparency-infographic/ ] prompted robust discussion: I like. If I get time, maybe I'll refactor it to make new wallpaper for my desktop.

The more I think about this topic, the more I lean toward the Anonymity side of this argument. Why? Because I do not have the courage of my convictions? No, of course, I do.  Is it because I'm of a generation that values privacy (as a Constitutional right) inasmuch as some of my personal bidness is (by definition) not necessarily everybody's business? Perhaps, but there's more to it than that.

I believe Anonymity is at least as valuable as Transparency because I think it unwise to assume everyone who might read or hear my words will respond in a responsible or rational way. The courage of my convictions does not obligate me to face the wrath of some nut job who might disagree with my opinions enough to do me harm. For anyone who reads (or hears) headlines, I think that's a rational, reasoned approach. You?

Dissent is so very American, but not all Americans understand that. We Dissenters were right when our corporate media served as an echo chamber for our government's allegations of WMDs and claims of Saddam Husein's connection to Al Queda. And today, we Dissenters are right about Scott Walker running amok with his foul, multi-billionaire-backed, Middle Class-crushing, anti-collective bargaining political shenanigans in Wisconsin. The phrase "job-killing tax increases" is a lie. So is "Obama's failed Economic Stimulus..."

Even though they are demonstrable abject lies, saying so can be unpopular. In some cases, taking such an unpopular stance may entail sustaining unjustly negative repercussions... and perhaps, even dangerous consequences. Anonymity serves as an "opt-out" function... It give us the choice as to whether or not to keep ourselves open to those unjust negative repercussions. Anonymity helps us all speak truth to power. It helps us cast light upon dark lies and powerful liars.

In the movies, whistle-blowers end up becoming heroes. Such is seldom the case in real life. If you see power being abused, only anonymity will protect you, so you can report power abuses, without becoming another victim thereof. A well-placed anonymous lie can do a lot of damage. I am intimately aware of that. But even though Anonymity can be abused, I prefer to live in a world with it than without it.




Here's the replay of the show episode, mentioned above:

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