Subject: Using Real Names has Real Consequences   
   @VIA: REALITY   
   @MSGID: <4D5C0B88.21.dove.dove-int@realitycheckbbs.org>   
   @TZ: 41e0   
      
   BBSes have always had the "real names versus handles" debate, and I don't think   
   the two sides will ever see eye to eye.   
      
   (Disclaimer: My BBS was part of NIRVANAnet(tm), a network that allowed full,   
   free and anonymous access to our systems from the first call and valued the   
   free exchange of information.)   
       
   The following article was a good read - this paragraph stood out. See the URL   
   below.   
      
     First, there is the question of whether you need to know who a speaker is in   
     order to evaluate truth. I don't think you do. Maybe once in a while.     
     Wikipedia is a monument to this because although you can find out who wrote    
     what in there if you dig really hard, most of the truth that is in there is    
     best verifiable by going and testing to cited references, not by going to who   
     wrote it and by testing their character. If who said it mattered, then they    
     might as well throw out the content after about 100 years since all of the    
     people who've contributed will be dead and there will be no one to validate    
     the content.   
      
   From   
   http://open.salon.com/blog/kent_pitman/2011/02/12/using_real_names_has_real_con   
   sequences   
      
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