Anonymous complainers
Submitted by Jeanne Bonds on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 12:42am
I was told this evening that anonymous people from here, I presume, complained to Laura Leslie (why her I have no idea) that I post as "others" on this site. I am me on this site and unafraid to use my name and say what I think as I know many others do. I know many others who post as themselves. And I know a few who use other names. I do not agree with the latter because I do not think you hide behind anonymity to lob bombs at people.
I have complained on here (because if you are going to complain, use your name and put it out there) about anonymous comments that come very close to slander here and at a minimum are character assassination which has nothing to do with "blue" or "nc"
So if people really did complain and if those people are "real" then take note, I post as me and only me. Same on Twitter and Facebook (I am known for having lengthy controversial discussions on Facebook)and Talking About Politics and am unafraid to state my opinion. I appreciate the folks who email me and continue the conversation. But if you are an anonymous complainer, deal with it and if you want to accuse me of something, call me, not Laura Leslie. I thought about not posting here any more but decided, forget that, I will post using my name wherever and whenever I want and will not be deterred by nameless cowards who will stoop to any level to disrupt discussion for their own personal gain.
And, I will continue to send threads to friends who also post using their real names.
A lot of anonymous-ness around. Anonymous operatives talking to the press, anonymous parodies on Twitter. Too bad people are afraid to be themselves but I suspect that is because it is easier to demean, undermine, lie, slander as an anonymous one as opposed to being yourself.
Very true.
James, I finally found something you wrote that I agree with. I see people posting with fake names or anonomously as having a character flaw or defect. Are they afraid of people they know seeing who they really are? I think so.
Pitiful, Jeanne
By that I mean your complaint about the use of online pseudonyms.
If you can't deal with anonymous operatives working against you, then you shouldn't be involved politics. I would think you would understand that after running for office or being a lobbyist or just knowing that the US was founded on the use of pseudonyms (see: The Federalist Papers).
Frank, it was not James that wrote this post, but a person that uses the online handle "Jeanne Bonds" who seems to be an actual person named Jeanne Bonds who lives in NC, but I haven't confirmed that because it doesn't matter to the discussion.
If the arguments are sound, they will stand up no matter the author's names.
Anonymous or not
A few points.
I've received no complaints or concerns about Jeanne - and it's hard to understand why anyone would be complaining to Laura Leslie either. It just goes to show how petty and incestuous party politics can be.
Beyond that, as I've said publicly, I welcome Jeanne's many posts about Faison. I am on the record saying I believe a gubernatorial primary would be just fine with me given the presence of Amendment One on the ballot in May(be).
Regarding anonymity, I echo usernamehere's observations. While I don't much like the anonymous attacks I see from time to time, I believe most people discount them. More to the point, it is the quality of thinking and ideas that matters most to me. That said, there are several people that post here who choose to remain anonymous for reasons ranging from job security to family issues to fear of retribution and more. I don't hold that against them in any way and I don't expect anyone to live his or life in a fishbowl the way I do. I am lucky to be a self-employed crotchety old man who doesn't give a damn what most people think about me.
Do good. Be nice. Have fun.
Thanks James; Glad we agree Frank
Dear UseNameHere:
I can deal with operatives working against me so perhaps you should re-read what I posted because that is not the issue at all. The issue is anonymous complainers contacting a non-administrator of this site to complain about me not being me or thinking I am not me on this site.
Childish and silly. People in the cover of anonymity make up lies as is the case here. And, sorry but I don't like liars. Being an operative does not mean you have to be a liar, at least in my world. And neither does being a politician or lobbyist. I have functioned quite well without lying, thank you, and your "argument" I should be able to understand that is absurd. This issue is about anonymous people lying.
I am an actual person - email me and then I can call you if like - we could even face time or skype and I can hold up my id. Or come on over and pinch me. Others on here have called and even met me. Whether you think I am real or not, matters not at all because obviously you like to be "anonymous" to argue about nothing at all. Confirm away if it helps you sleep at night.
"If the arguments are sound, they will stand up no matter the author's names." I do agree with this but your argument for the sake of arguing is lame.
BTW, if someone was posting as me and was not me or if I see someone do that, it is called identity fraud and at that point, I would contact the FBI and local DA.
Jeanne, sorry that I mixed you and James up.
I do indeed agree with you with regards to anonomous posters and posters who use fake names. I feel that people will say things in an anonomous posting that they would not say face to face.
With regards to politics, I'm sure that we disagree. I support Pat McCrory.
I reckon, I still don't agree with James yet though. Maybe some day.
No problem
I don't mind being mixed up with James!
I don't mind disagreeing - I will be respectful, honest, direct. All I mind is out right lying and argument just to have an argument.
Anonymity
I don't mean to disregard your discussion, James, about people who may have a security issue, family issue, job issue. I value the thinking and discussion here and can take the heat on any issue but it is the matter of anonymous accusations and anonymous attacks that are without truth or merit to which I object. I would rather know who is attacking, lying and otherwise. I also realize it is difficult to administer all of that but I do recommend some people be warned and banned for their "over the line" attacks.
Meanwhile, if there is an attack or "complaint" that crosses the line or an impersonator, then I will contact the internet fraud unit and DA because that is the action that resolves such issues.
Really, Jeanne?
Threatening to (try to) have charges filed against commenters here if they "cross the line"?
I think you might need to take a step back and consider how that sounds. I understand your frustration, and I know you're fighting battles on several fronts. But as an administrator here, I have to consider the welfare of everybody in this community, and threats like the one you just made have a chilling effect on a lot more people than you may have intended.
I think you miss the point
The issue is someone complained that I posted something "as not me" and I did not so if someone is pretending to be me, I have an issue with that and that is stealing my identity Steven. Of course, I still do not know how a complaint goes to a non-admin of this site and is valid.
Obviously you can't
Obviously, you can't.
So get out of the game.
one more time
please read and think before typing. what i cannot take is an impersonator.
Why do you feel a need to comment?
What I do or don't do is of no consequence to you so start your own thread
Jeanne, like I said . . .
. . . over time you get a sense of where a given contributor is coming from and just how beneficial his or her give-and-take is likely to be. Ignore the dyspeptics out there. If you can't ignore 'em, send them a mental "hope you get better soon" card.
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke
Thanks for the advice Brunette
Can and will do ... I see it happening already.
Because you broadly denounced
... anonymity/pseudonyms/handles online -- not simply "impersonation" as you now call it as you walk back from your initial post in your multiple replies.
As persondem noted below, you railed against more than just "impersonation" in your initial post. S/he quotes a portion of your initial post, I'll quote another:
What you said is of consequence in this very forum where I value the ability of even unregistered users to drop in and comment anonymously.
So, I'll comment as much as I damn well please in this thread where you took a shot at something I value about this site.
Jeanne . . .
You're new to this kind of forum and what passes for give-and-take here. Don't be drawn into conversing with snarlers. "Snarlers" are another word for dyspeptics, whose sense of self is weirdly reinforced by hissing, spitting and pouncing on any opportunity to accuse, abuse and make various "AHA!" remarks (that actually work to damage the credibility they've convinced themselves they are establishing). They're like kitty cats who arch their backs to appear more threatening than they are, but unlike cats, they lack appeal.
Ignore them, and you miss absolutely nothing of value on this blog.
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke
Good description and imagery.
Very succintly described! There are several posters who fit that description here.
I agree
Appreciate the advice and I see them now ... will do the mental note as Brunette suggests.
If your (or Faison's) ideas were really worth something
you'd defend them on their merits. This ole "attack the messanger" ploy doesn't really work when readers, like most of those at BlueNC, actually think. If I can shoot holes in Faison's notions them you better believe republicans will have a field day with them. And all the whining you do about "anonymous" attackers won't help you then either.
This is the internet. I have nearly a five year record on this and other political blogs as Persondem. It is my Nom de Net. As I have stated before, if you, or anyone, really cared to find out who I am, all it would take would be a few minutes, a couple of mouse clicks and a little bit of thinking. Oh dear, there I go bringing thinking into the conversation again. Can't have any of that now can we?
I do not want Faison to be governor. I will shoot holes in any and all of his lightweight policy proposals. If you don't like it, tell him to put some substance into his ideas. Until then, game on.
Environmental Defense Fund
Cell phones will be to the 21st century what tobacco was to the 20th.
Let's say it one more time
I am not worrying about who you are or figuring it out. The issue I posted about is simple - a complaint went to a non-admin of this site that a posting was made with an anonymous name and thought to be me. I post as me and only me and do not want an impersonator. I did not start a thread about issues and merits, when I do, we can discuss them. This is about admin. matters. You can shoot holes at anything I post as long as you don't attempt to post under another name and pretend to be me.
If that was all it was really about then why include ...
... this complete sentence:
I get the specifics about impersonating you. Believe me, I have no desire to impersonate anyone. When you generalize, though, you broaden your target. That coupled with your attack concerning anonymity directed against me on another thread prompted my response above.
Environmental Defense Fund
Cell phones will be to the 21st century what tobacco was to the 20th.
Speaking of pseudonyms . . .
I have no problem with them (obviously). I do sympathize with Jeanne's frustration about the kinds of attacks that are often characterized by pseudonyms, but if a person is consistent in his or her use of a given name, readers eventually get a sense of that person's stance, personality, etc . . . thus decide whether their comments are worth reading.
As for Faison, I think he'd be a very, very independent governor. His style is not appreciated by everyone, but there's no question in my mind that he'd be far less influenced by polls than either Perdue or McCrory.
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke
I understand
that there are regulars who use names on here and I guess I could try to figure out who they are but I am not really here that much ... I am into discussing the issues but can live without the "nasties" who just are nasty to be nasty and I cannot live with impersonators.
As for Bill, he will do what he wants but I do support him and his ideas. He is independent and I like that.