Anonymity and privacy on the Internet, or the return to small-town life

[sfllaw]

My friend, Janina, recently pondered who you are on the Internet.

Back in the old days, when you could actually write down the names of all the people on the Internet, people simply used their real names, in abbreviated form: ken, gls, dmr, rms, etc. After all, wasn’t the whole point of a world-wide telecommunications network to put people in

Comments

[thewronghands]

Well said. I agree, discomfort and all. I miss relative anonymity, but sadly, there's not much to be done about it.

[sfllaw]

Aw… relative anonymity isn’t that good anyway. For one thing, it makes people lonely, even when they’re surrounded by other people.

[valacosa]

That is a fantastic essay, and full of truth.

[dcoombs]

Amen, I'm afraid.

[sfllaw]

Afraid?

[dcoombs]

Afraid so.

[sfllaw]

I’m afraid that that’s terribly silly of you.

How to be anonymous on the Internet

[anonymous]

To really be anonymous you need to do more than use a wrong name.
You can still be identified, this is mainly an issue for bloggers saying stuff their government does not want to hear.

I'm also a blogger and I recently downloaded Cloakfish (from http://www.cloakfish.com). I can now post anonymous when I want, it hides my IP by using several proxies in one row and encrypts the text I send.

Just thought this might fit here.
nice blog

Re: How to be anonymous on the Internet

[sfllaw]

Technology is absolutely not the answer here. I didn’t even discuss it because it’s not even close to the solution.

[sdt]

You reminded me of an oldie, but a goodie:

http://www.ibiblio.org/Dave/Dr-Fun/df9601/df960124.jpg

[sfllaw]

Yes, ha ha!

Oh man, do I have some embarrassing Usenet postings myself.