- Anonymity:
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~A condition in which an individual's true identity is unknown
~the assurance given to respondents that no one, not even the investigator will be able to identify the respondent or any data supplied by or about the respondent
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One great thing about the internet, and forums like this, is it allows people to voice their opinions, without anyone knowing who they really are.
It's important to voice our opinions, but even more important to accept that if we identify ourselves as the source ofthe opinion, we must accept that there may be repercussions.
In a small community, like Sprucedale with only 630 people, everyone knows everybody, and if they dont its quick and easy to find out who someone is.
When somebody writes a letter to the paper, even with valid concerns, if they put their name on the bottom of the letter to the editor, they allow their identity to be found online. When the same individual then starts posting similar complaints online, through cross-reference alone, its easy to figure out who they are, where they live etc...
Its important to voice our opinions, and great to have such confidence to put our names to it, but we then agree to potential harassment, scuitiny, and even the possibility of readers to retaliate.
On this forum, people generally voice their negative opinions, seldom positive.
Some people bash the Roads Dept, some the Fire Dept, some council.....and now, rest assured, some will bash "Adam and Cheryl", even if they had 'good intentions' in mind.
There's much to be said of anonymity.
Sincerely,
Anonymous
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