Anonymous Advice

[Joe]

I was watching the news the other day when those guys in the freshwater bass boat went into the drink off Westerly because they forgot the plug and thought to myself, "I bet one of those guys doles out fishing advice someplace on the net under a fake name."

One of the founding tenets of internet culture is that it should be a diverse and democratic system - a medium where you do not need credentials to participate. In principle that's a good thing. But for a while, I've had serious reservations about the rise of message boards as a primary source, and the quality of, and the motivation behind, the answers to the various questions that are put forth.

Why do we need anonymity? What if there was a message board where you had to use your real name to participate?

[jim sylvester]

well stated joe,

thats why I use my real name

Also, when you meet guys from the site, and you introduce yourself, they dion't have to say what your site name is.

Makes one more thing less complicated

[likwid]

freshwater bass boat -> ocean
butter knife -> gun fight

[NIB]

Makes No difference to Me.
I do think alot of the BS an Flaming would be easily cut in half.
lots of the folks here like urself are well know public people.
many here know me also I have put my name up here before.
Here I'll do it again.Tony G. I would have used it as my original handle but it was taken.Whats in a Name.I know more about some folks here An I could not tell ya there name.There are people who's names I know i would like to forget..

[spence]

Originally Posted by NIB

Here I'll do it again.Tony G.

Tony, could you provide your last name and address so I know where to go to find the plug you promised for the charity display



I use my name as well. While I'll say some wacky things at times I'm not afraid of defending my statements...or admitting error.

-spence

[RIJIMMY]

I dont post my name because I spend too much time out here while I am at work!

[Sea Dangles]

Sometimes even the best laid plans can go wrong.I think regardless of whether we use our name or not on the site there would still be flames.Lots of people aren't hiding behind a pseudonym but rather the monitor.I've had people ask me why I'm so opinionated on the site but not in person.Well,when I see someone at a show or fishing the conversation doesn't go much beyond"what's up" or some other small talk.On the other hand issues are brought up on the board that invoke passion and debate.Kinda makes the world go around.

[JFigliuolo]

I have been using internet groups since way back when usenet was cool... well not exactly cool, but you get the idea. Always used my real name. Good tennets to follow are not to say anything online you wouldn't say to someons face. I don't necessarily mind the anonymity, except when people hide behind there screen name.

[Joe]

I think the login could be made secure. It would be a way to distinguish the site from the others, and it would lend a credibility that is lacking.

[Joe]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

Sometimes even the best laid plans can go wrong.

No they don't.
The best laid plans always achieve their objectives.

[spence]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

Well,when I see someone at a show or fishing the conversation doesn't go much beyond"what's up" or some other small talk.

Perhaps people just don't find you that interesting in person?

-spence

[ScottC]

This is a great point, we have serious problems on the Car forum I sponsor. There are too many people who have never turned a wrench, but just regurgitate information that they read somehwere, and quite a few times end up giveing bad advice that ends up blowing up peoples cars!. I will have to say that this place, as far as boating knowlege is great compared to what I am used to seeing elsewhere.

[tynan19]

Tynan is my sons name. Mine is Casey for those who don't know.

[LeCounts1099]

That silly bass-boat party story has nothing to do with this Board/ community! Beyond being smarter than that!... I for one would much rather fish from shore, than go out on a small/ uncomfortable/ inappropriate Ocean boat regardless! (& I bet most here agree!)

Your other point though Joe is a great one, but is a Thread/ topic of it's own! (i.e., credibility on the 'Net). Steve K. here -- but there was another here already when I recently found this place! (But my handle does bring back fond memories!-- if you were there too you know! )

Really am from Manhattan-- but those who know me, know I fish more than work!

[JohnR]

The moral of this story - don't always believe what you read on the Internet. Use the Internet (and this board) to look things up, inspire your thought process, and to meet other people.

The "annonymity" of the Internet is much like anything else when large members of public congregate. If you are taking the train to work and here annonymous in the next ailse taking about the next big stock or something, do you believe them? Do you research it? Or do you blindly go out and drop 10K on that hot stock tip?

The best exchange of ideas and knowledge is still between persons, face to face. The internet and in my opinion how this site works, allows people to meet and develop relationships about FISHING...

And like most things in life, you get out of it what you put in...

[Back Beach]

What John said. Don't believe what you read online unless you know the author, don't take anything too seriously As far as screen names, Back Beach in my real first and last name. My parents are Rocky and Sandy.

[ThrowingTimber]

Vic M was taken by a nerd who kept askin questions about which rod and reel for what...

Didnt want to get mistaken for him.

Everyone usually just calls me Vic tho.

[bloocrab]

Compared to most, the internet was/is new to me...I actually got a job in the PC/POS world 2 weeks after buying my first PC, boy were they stupid or what??..LOL.... I was and still am weary about putting personal facts on the net, I always feel someone's going to charge a million chalupas on my CC. .. I think I became a member on this site a week after buying the damn thing...again, with fear of fraud...I created bloocrab, I have an infatuation with them (Callinectes sapidus)...sometimes we even share the bed, of course I rubber/band their claws...but once the foreplay lost me some fores KIN...so I've learned and adapted.
If I like you,,,,you can call me Gilly. If you don't know if I like you, don't call me anything, I don't comment on what I don't know about or haven't tried. ... but like John said, take it all with a grain of salt.

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

What John said. Don't believe what you read online unless you know the author, don't take anything too seriously As far as screen names, Back Beach in my real first and last name. My parents are Rocky and Sandy.

And I suppose your mothers maiden name was roads?

[RIROCKHOUND]

RIROCKHOUND = I'm a geologist..
the ironic thing is I do almost no work with actual hard rock geology.... I'm a sand and dirt kind of guy....

[spence]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

the ironic thing is I do almost no work with actual hard rock geology.... I'm a sand and dirt kind of guy....

Actually, now that I know...I can tell

-spence

[TSPS]

my real name is scooby I'm a 4year old Lab , my owner likes to fish but can't use a computer to save his life.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by spence

Actually, now that I know...I can tell

-spence

What the hell are you talking about Iowa boy?...

Besides, no one listens to spence, Iowa hasnt been oceanfront for 65Million years......

Accountability is what you make of it, I offer advice up, take it or leave it.... you tend to figure out who has 'water cred' and who doesnt....

[Swimmer]

Mine referrs to falling out of the god damn boat and having to swim for it.

[janiejones]

My name's not actually Janie Jones, but I am known as Janie to one or two of my friends.

[Roger]

For most topics it doesn't make any difference, but when its a controversial subject or someone's being critical, it's tough for me to take someone seriously that hides behind a fake name.

On another board that I post on, we have to sign with our name. Not necessarily a full name, but something more than a handle. Controversial topics are always much more civilized.

[Sea Dangles]

Suprisigly NIB makes a good point.The entire relevance of using your "real" name doesn't and shouldn't mean squat.Credibility is something that is earned not given to a person who chose to sign a certain way.NIB's word is gospel and I think it stands for New In Box.

[NIB]

SD agree's with me?
Where's the Cool Aid.?

[Joe]

What about the rest of the iceberg of people who are not contributing?
What is behind their reluctance?

[Labrador1]

Hi - my name is Joe Lyons and I'm from P-Town. Sorry Joe - just a little joke. Some years ago I started on a site as Labrador 1. I did so because all the other names I saw were like that - and at the time I trained Labs so I figured that would be a good name. Most people know my plugs under my actual name (R.M. Smith) but I've kept the Lab1 name for sentimental reasons - or possibly because I'm too busy or lazy to figure out how to change it! I'm all for less anonimity on these sites - but I'm guessing the whole screen name thing is pretty well established.