Anonymity
Following up on a Utah Policy post, Woods Cross Citizen (a former elected official) discusses the weight that government officials should give anonymous commentors (little, if any, in his opinion). It probably ends up about that way.
Though politicians typically are skilled at talking around the questions they don't want to answer, the good ones also know how to take a strong stand and battle for their position. And, on many issues -- and many of those being very complex, politicians ultimately have to reduce their thinking and the interests of various constituencies to a simple "yes" or "no" vote. All in a very public way.
Getting into the Legislature with little previous political experience, much was new to me. One of the most amazing things -- if not the most amazing -- was the first House Republican caucus meeting I attended (still as a candidate). I was stunned at the ability of those people (who previously I'd seen as handshakes and smiles) to very succinctly and strongly make and defend their points. I still thoroughly enjoy watching these people I revere battle hard for the issues they hold dear, while respecting the process and respecting their momentary adversaries' right and duty to advocate an opposing position.
All of that being said, I think it is somewhat foreign to the mindset of political leaders that someone would expect to be taken too seriously posting anonymously. But, I understand that people have employment and other concerns that might preclude providng their name. At the end of the day, comments probably stand or fall based on their merits. But, anonymity can cut off the conversation. When I am impressed by a comment, I often will contact the person who left it, to get more details. Of course, this can't happen when the comment is left anonymously.
Post with your name. Post anonymously. Whatever floats your boat. I'm just thoroughly pleased with the tenor of comments on my site, the Senate Site , and other sites devoted to Utah politics.
Though politicians typically are skilled at talking around the questions they don't want to answer, the good ones also know how to take a strong stand and battle for their position. And, on many issues -- and many of those being very complex, politicians ultimately have to reduce their thinking and the interests of various constituencies to a simple "yes" or "no" vote. All in a very public way.
Getting into the Legislature with little previous political experience, much was new to me. One of the most amazing things -- if not the most amazing -- was the first House Republican caucus meeting I attended (still as a candidate). I was stunned at the ability of those people (who previously I'd seen as handshakes and smiles) to very succinctly and strongly make and defend their points. I still thoroughly enjoy watching these people I revere battle hard for the issues they hold dear, while respecting the process and respecting their momentary adversaries' right and duty to advocate an opposing position.
All of that being said, I think it is somewhat foreign to the mindset of political leaders that someone would expect to be taken too seriously posting anonymously. But, I understand that people have employment and other concerns that might preclude providng their name. At the end of the day, comments probably stand or fall based on their merits. But, anonymity can cut off the conversation. When I am impressed by a comment, I often will contact the person who left it, to get more details. Of course, this can't happen when the comment is left anonymously.
Post with your name. Post anonymously. Whatever floats your boat. I'm just thoroughly pleased with the tenor of comments on my site, the Senate Site , and other sites devoted to Utah politics.
posted by steve u. at 5/17/2006
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5 Comments:
Only a coward would ever post an anonymous comment.
Sweet.
Thanks for the mention, Steve. In the nine months our site has been alive we've only had to scrub a dozen or so comments - some anonymous, some not. A few were due to salty language, others because they were venomous personal attacks that added little to the policy debate. A brief reminder is all it takes for most folks to remember appropriate decorum. Several anger-management classmates actually resubmitted their insight with more thoughtful language.
Utah rocks. Good people. Bright ideas. Ethical tradition of citizen participation and responsibility.
Plato's Cave is tossing around ideas on anonymous blog comments as well.
Great site, Steve. Keep it up.
Senate Site,
We do have incredible citizens. They, of course, set the tone for political discourse. As a side bar, the tenor of comments on your site, mine, and most other Utah political sites, should once and for all clarify to out-of-state campaign gurus that they should lift the bar a little when they work on Utah campaigns. It won't, but it should.
Important to your site's success, you have a great ability of redirecting discussions toward a constructive give and take, while not stifling people's ability to let it fly. Good work!
I too am impressed with the tenor of most of the comments on the site. I tend to avoid political sites because of the stupid comments people tend to make that have no merit and are just there to stir up trouble. I'm glad that there can be some valid discussion of issues, even if I am a wookie with an Uncle Sam hat on.
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