Posting non-anonymously
anonymous
February 27 2010, 20:39:32 UTC
This is something I've been wondering about for a time, and I think it's a matter that should be handled with care because it can and has hurt people's feelings. Let's avoid that please - be polite if you want to express your annoyance.
That said, here's the topic: When is it bad form to post non-anon? When's it annoying, when's it a bad idea?
I think anonymity is a really valuable thing, because in a sense it enforces the democracy of the internet. Everyone's equal, and the content of your posts is paramount, not your fandom "seniority" or who you're friends with, or any other distracting, irrelevant things like that.
There's also the fact that people can become annoyed by repeated identifiers such as names or icons or habits of writing, and being able to attach these consistently to a particular identity allows people to develop personal dislikes very quickly. Whereas if you don't like an anon's fic, it's just another anon - unless there's something very distinct about their writing, chances are you're not going to notice them again the next time they post. Which is a good thing right? because it's best to come to each new fic with a fresh perspective.
I'm not bringing these points up to be disparaging to people who do post non-anon, just to present the relevant concerns. So to look at it from the other side, here's a good reason to post non-anon: people just want to know each other and to be friends! I know there have been lots of times when I've been reading something I loved and desperately wanted to know more about the person behind the writing. And I have, in some cases, come to know the authors and become friends with them, and that's one outcome of the kinkmeme that's been extremely valuable to me. And, short of putting fic-production on hold to turn the whole thing into a social forum, who's to say that's not what the kinkmeme is for, any less than inventing worlds or writing porn? (In fact, I'm convinced the social element works to generate MORE fic, not less)
Another factor is, even if people start out posting anon, we can come to recognize them by their styles or their universes or their choice of subject matter. In those cases, depending on how recognizable the tells are, there may not even be any point in posting anonymously.
And then there's anon-failing. Yes it's possible someone could do it on purpose and lie about, no there is no point in denying people the benefit of the doubt. No good can come of that, IMO, it only brings cattiness.
Re: Posting non-anonymously
anonymous
February 27 2010, 21:11:28 UTC
I've never given it much thought, really. In my early years on the internet I was a reg at a forum that eventually became hyper-concerned with the identities of the posters (after a while, there wasn't even a discernible 'clique' of popular posters, it was just a scream-filled abattoir of retarded children all vying for attention). It completely killed the fun for me and I left for the anon-dominated *chans.
I love anonymous, but I'm not bothered when people on the KM de-anon. I tend to not remember their name or icon anyway, unless they're de-anoning because they've posted a series I'm reading and want it to be easy to find. On 4chon, people often get flack for trying to carve out an identity. While it fits with the culture there, I see no reason to give shit to anyone here about revealing who they are and building a persona based around their postings. (I'm too forgetful of names to bother really keeping track of who anybody is, though, haha). I, too, sometimes get curious about poster's identities and sometimes want to chat with someone or be their friend, but I think that keeping an anon majority and a namefriend minority is a low-maintainence way to keep a healthy community (the majority and minority can be reversed, sure, but I think that type of community needs more TLC and people consciously remembering to be excellent to each other). So, for the health of the KM, I just settle with the idea that I probably won't get to become BFFs with most of the authors, and that my own contributions probably won't be looked at as a whole (which I personally don't mind at all, but I can see where some people would want that, and I don't blame them), and just enjoy us as a mass movement masquerade ball, or somethin'.
Re: Posting non-anonymously
anonymous
February 27 2010, 21:21:29 UTC
"Another factor is, even if people start out posting anon, we can come to recognize them by their styles or their universes or their choice of subject matter. In those cases, depending on how recognizable the tells are, there may not even be any point in posting anonymously."
Very true. A certain author comes to mind with this; her style is so distinctive that after anon-failing the first time, remaining anonymous on her other stories would have been pointless. This isn't a bad thing, it's just true in some cases.
However, I don't know how I feel about anons de-anoning for everything they do, particularly if their...I guess I'll say, if their authorial voice isn't strong enough for a reader to automatically attach everything they write to them.
There's also the fact that people can become annoyed by repeated identifiers such as names or icons or habits of writing, and being able to attach these consistently to a particular identity allows people to develop personal dislikes very quickly.
I don't dislike any anons personally, but there are some authors I'll avoid because their styles don't appeal to me. One of those authors does happen to belong to the frequently de-anoned set, and I'll agree with what you say a little later in that paragraph: I'd be far more likely to read their fills and approach them with fresh eyes if I didn't know in advance they'd written it.
On the flip side, one thing I've noticed about de-anoning on the meme is that it gives anons a built in audience for their, since people who do like a particular anon's work will seek it out in the future. And, as you said, it's nice to make friends with others on the meme.
Re: Posting non-anonymously
anonymous
February 27 2010, 22:01:14 UTC
I have such mixed feeling about the anonymity of the meme. I love the idea of anon writing and posting- there's something really unique and appealing about not knowing, and maybe never knowing, who wrote something. On the other hand, I like guessing at authors. I have guesses for authors for most of the long epics, and I have a mental shortlist of oneshots that I'd love to know the authors of. It does make me happy to see someone claim a fic I love, if just so have a more concrete place to direct my love. :)
In the end I think I prefer people stay anon on the meme itself and claim it when crossposting to comms or their journals. Best of both worlds, or as close as I can get.
Re: Posting non-anonymously
anonymous
February 27 2010, 22:48:16 UTC
I don't mind if people post de-anon as a rule; generally everyone is unassuming about it and post exactly the same as if they had been anon. They're usually only posting de-anoned because their style is so distinctive or they've already been called out/anon failed.
It's when someone de-anons with great fanfare, with an I want everyone to know this was by me! vibe--it's a bit eh. It's absolutely the author's right, I know, and it's only happened a couple times, but I remember being a bit taken aback because it seemed so graceless in the environment we'd cultivated. I figure the here's a gift for YOU! part is for the meme and the this was by ME! part is for journals and crossposting.
On a more positive note, I like anon fic because I like playing the guess the author game. I think I can peg 3 or 4 authors by their first paragraph now. It's part of the excitement of new fic, for me.
Re: Posting non-anonymously
anonymous
February 27 2010, 22:57:03 UTC
I personally would prefer it if everyone stayed anon, just because it does create a more level playing field where every new story starts without any prejudices or expectations. We are lucky that those who post non-anon are nice people and not domineering BNFs who are likely to sway opinion too much one way or the other.
On the topic of anon-failing, yeah, it happens. But I have to admit it bugs me a little when someone anon-fails and then goes "oops! oh well!" I swear I understand that it's usually an accident, but I've anon-failed and then deleted and reposted for the sake of staying anon. If someone doesn't do that, it can give me the feeling that they wanted to be found out, and in my opinion, "claiming" a story is what fic communities are for. In fact, I think it's fun to see the stories I've read in the meme pop up in watchdom or watchmen_slash or any other comm, and be like "Oh, so that's who wrote it!"
*shrug* tl;dr is it doesn't bother me too much one way or the other, but if I had it my way everyone would stay anon.
Re: Posting non-anonymously
anonymous
February 27 2010, 23:00:44 UTC
Anon fail folks can delete their own posts on the meme? MIND BLOWN FOREVER.
Seriously though, I've looked for that option before and never seen it. I always thought there'd be a delete button on the submitted comment, but no dice. Unless I'm blind.
Re: Posting non-anonymously
anonymous
February 27 2010, 23:13:22 UTC
Yep. :) If you're viewing your own (non-anon) comment in the regular style of the journal, the links along the bottom of the comment should go something like:
Link | Reply | Parent | Thread | Delete | Track This
Re: Posting non-anonymously
anonymous
February 28 2010, 00:26:39 UTC
I prefer anon, myself. I know there are authors who are easily recognizable, which makes anon-ing on their part a mere courtesy, but I still like that format overall.
I do know that there are still cliques, and groups of people who are obviously friends who participate in conversations that spill in and out of the KM, but there's still a ton of room for other people to come in and play as well. Anon posting frees people from the worry that they're not "popular" enough to be talking.
Also, anonymity grants a lot of freedom. I can honestly say that "Facets" would not have been written had I done it under an actual name, and I dare say that's true of several other stories out there as well. xD
And yeah, I know that there are people out there who want to be found out, and there are others who will be found out regardless. It's still more fun letting everyone have a mask, IMO. :)
Re: Posting non-anonymously
anonymous
February 28 2010, 04:12:36 UTC
Haha, the only reason I write on the meme so much is because I can do it anonymously. I've written several things on here that I'm not sure I'll ever own up to! ...Which doesn't mean they weren't great fun to write. ;)
Re: Posting non-anonymously
anonymous
February 28 2010, 03:56:53 UTC
But I have to admit it bugs me a little when someone anon-fails and then goes "oops! oh well!" I swear I understand that it's usually an accident, but I've anon-failed and then deleted and reposted for the sake of staying anon. If someone doesn't do that, it can give me the feeling that they wanted to be found out,
I have once anon-failed and then tried to pretend to still be anon simply because a) maybe if I don't draw attention to it, people might not notice b) did not remember/realise that you can delete deanoned posts. a) mainly because when someone's accidentally deanoned and then gone, 'oops,' that's when I notice there's a name up there ;)
Plus, deleting posts doesn't work when someone's got their LJ notices going to their email--that emailed copy doesn't get deleted. stampede to email now.
Since realising you can delete them, I have been deleting my deanons. Sometimes it's difficult, though, because LJ seems inconsistent these days in demanding captchas. I've posted anon posts without being asked for a captcha, and then have been surprised into deanoning because the captcha screen appears after I click 'post comment' and then something screwy happens at that point. And also, commenting on fics from my phone: anon doesn't seem to work well with phones.
All of those times, I would have preferred to remain anon and at the most claimed a fic through watchdom or whatever. So, yes, please give the benefit of a doubt when de-anon happens!
Back to question--fully support the majority being anon, although I don't mind the regulars who are deanoned. I respect their writing and their styles and fic themes are so recognisable, it's probably not worth their being anon. AND it's damn frustrating not to be able to correct a typo or missing emphases because the post is anon...
see see? captcha request came up, after I haven't had to do it previously. Weird. "mellowed so"
Re: Posting non-anonymously
anonymous
July 13 2010, 14:26:58 UTC
I love being Anon, imma a 4chan regular (/an/non!).
The problem is though, only when I sign in do I get my comments emailed to me, so in some prompts not likely to be filled in for a long time, I sign in.
That said, here's the topic: When is it bad form to post non-anon? When's it annoying, when's it a bad idea?
I think anonymity is a really valuable thing, because in a sense it enforces the democracy of the internet. Everyone's equal, and the content of your posts is paramount, not your fandom "seniority" or who you're friends with, or any other distracting, irrelevant things like that.
There's also the fact that people can become annoyed by repeated identifiers such as names or icons or habits of writing, and being able to attach these consistently to a particular identity allows people to develop personal dislikes very quickly. Whereas if you don't like an anon's fic, it's just another anon - unless there's something very distinct about their writing, chances are you're not going to notice them again the next time they post. Which is a good thing right? because it's best to come to each new fic with a fresh perspective.
I'm not bringing these points up to be disparaging to people who do post non-anon, just to present the relevant concerns. So to look at it from the other side, here's a good reason to post non-anon: people just want to know each other and to be friends! I know there have been lots of times when I've been reading something I loved and desperately wanted to know more about the person behind the writing. And I have, in some cases, come to know the authors and become friends with them, and that's one outcome of the kinkmeme that's been extremely valuable to me. And, short of putting fic-production on hold to turn the whole thing into a social forum, who's to say that's not what the kinkmeme is for, any less than inventing worlds or writing porn? (In fact, I'm convinced the social element works to generate MORE fic, not less)
Another factor is, even if people start out posting anon, we can come to recognize them by their styles or their universes or their choice of subject matter. In those cases, depending on how recognizable the tells are, there may not even be any point in posting anonymously.
And then there's anon-failing. Yes it's possible someone could do it on purpose and lie about, no there is no point in denying people the benefit of the doubt. No good can come of that, IMO, it only brings cattiness.
Reply
I love anonymous, but I'm not bothered when people on the KM de-anon. I tend to not remember their name or icon anyway, unless they're de-anoning because they've posted a series I'm reading and want it to be easy to find. On 4chon, people often get flack for trying to carve out an identity. While it fits with the culture there, I see no reason to give shit to anyone here about revealing who they are and building a persona based around their postings. (I'm too forgetful of names to bother really keeping track of who anybody is, though, haha). I, too, sometimes get curious about poster's identities and sometimes want to chat with someone or be their friend, but I think that keeping an anon majority and a namefriend minority is a low-maintainence way to keep a healthy community (the majority and minority can be reversed, sure, but I think that type of community needs more TLC and people consciously remembering to be excellent to each other). So, for the health of the KM, I just settle with the idea that I probably won't get to become BFFs with most of the authors, and that my own contributions probably won't be looked at as a whole (which I personally don't mind at all, but I can see where some people would want that, and I don't blame them), and just enjoy us as a mass movement masquerade ball, or somethin'.
Reply
Very true. A certain author comes to mind with this; her style is so distinctive that after anon-failing the first time, remaining anonymous on her other stories would have been pointless. This isn't a bad thing, it's just true in some cases.
However, I don't know how I feel about anons de-anoning for everything they do, particularly if their...I guess I'll say, if their authorial voice isn't strong enough for a reader to automatically attach everything they write to them.
There's also the fact that people can become annoyed by repeated identifiers such as names or icons or habits of writing, and being able to attach these consistently to a particular identity allows people to develop personal dislikes very quickly.
I don't dislike any anons personally, but there are some authors I'll avoid because their styles don't appeal to me. One of those authors does happen to belong to the frequently de-anoned set, and I'll agree with what you say a little later in that paragraph: I'd be far more likely to read their fills and approach them with fresh eyes if I didn't know in advance they'd written it.
On the flip side, one thing I've noticed about de-anoning on the meme is that it gives anons a built in audience for their, since people who do like a particular anon's work will seek it out in the future. And, as you said, it's nice to make friends with others on the meme.
Reply
In the end I think I prefer people stay anon on the meme itself and claim it when crossposting to comms or their journals. Best of both worlds, or as close as I can get.
Reply
It's when someone de-anons with great fanfare, with an I want everyone to know this was by me! vibe--it's a bit eh. It's absolutely the author's right, I know, and it's only happened a couple times, but I remember being a bit taken aback because it seemed so graceless in the environment we'd cultivated. I figure the here's a gift for YOU! part is for the meme and the this was by ME! part is for journals and crossposting.
On a more positive note, I like anon fic because I like playing the guess the author game. I think I can peg 3 or 4 authors by their first paragraph now. It's part of the excitement of new fic, for me.
Reply
On the topic of anon-failing, yeah, it happens. But I have to admit it bugs me a little when someone anon-fails and then goes "oops! oh well!" I swear I understand that it's usually an accident, but I've anon-failed and then deleted and reposted for the sake of staying anon. If someone doesn't do that, it can give me the feeling that they wanted to be found out, and in my opinion, "claiming" a story is what fic communities are for. In fact, I think it's fun to see the stories I've read in the meme pop up in watchdom or watchmen_slash or any other comm, and be like "Oh, so that's who wrote it!"
*shrug* tl;dr is it doesn't bother me too much one way or the other, but if I had it my way everyone would stay anon.
Reply
Seriously though, I've looked for that option before and never seen it. I always thought there'd be a delete button on the submitted comment, but no dice. Unless I'm blind.
Reply
Link | Reply | Parent | Thread | Delete | Track This
I hope that helps. :)
Reply
Reply
I do know that there are still cliques, and groups of people who are obviously friends who participate in conversations that spill in and out of the KM, but there's still a ton of room for other people to come in and play as well. Anon posting frees people from the worry that they're not "popular" enough to be talking.
Also, anonymity grants a lot of freedom. I can honestly say that "Facets" would not have been written had I done it under an actual name, and I dare say that's true of several other stories out there as well. xD
And yeah, I know that there are people out there who want to be found out, and there are others who will be found out regardless. It's still more fun letting everyone have a mask, IMO. :)
Reply
Reply
I have once anon-failed and then tried to pretend to still be anon simply because a) maybe if I don't draw attention to it, people might not notice b) did not remember/realise that you can delete deanoned posts. a) mainly because when someone's accidentally deanoned and then gone, 'oops,' that's when I notice there's a name up there ;)
Plus, deleting posts doesn't work when someone's got their LJ notices going to their email--that emailed copy doesn't get deleted. stampede to email now.
Since realising you can delete them, I have been deleting my deanons. Sometimes it's difficult, though, because LJ seems inconsistent these days in demanding captchas. I've posted anon posts without being asked for a captcha, and then have been surprised into deanoning because the captcha screen appears after I click 'post comment' and then something screwy happens at that point. And also, commenting on fics from my phone: anon doesn't seem to work well with phones.
All of those times, I would have preferred to remain anon and at the most claimed a fic through watchdom or whatever. So, yes, please give the benefit of a doubt when de-anon happens!
Back to question--fully support the majority being anon, although I don't mind the regulars who are deanoned. I respect their writing and their styles and fic themes are so recognisable, it's probably not worth their being anon. AND it's damn frustrating not to be able to correct a typo or missing emphases because the post is anon...
see see? captcha request came up, after I haven't had to do it previously. Weird. "mellowed so"
Reply
The problem is though, only when I sign in do I get my comments emailed to me, so in some prompts not likely to be filled in for a long time, I sign in.
Reply
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