Odds and Ends 007

More risk of Last-Wordism here, of course, but I would argue that one of the more regrettable aspects of internet discussions are ruthless endings. Bam -- new thread starts, discussion should not carry over, I say. But that doesn't mean that some reflection on what's been said earlier isn't in order. So here's some gasbaggery. And for the foreseeable future in EW anyway, all I have to say on the topic of identity and internet posts.

As is often the case with too-fast moving post exchanges, I think three issues got snarled together here: 1. Using real names for posts 2. Moderating posts 3. The public and private sphere.

After mulling a bit, I believe the first two easily fold into the third. Should underscore that I never claimed internet nicknames were a problem for EW -- I simply don't believe it's good for long-term internet discourse that they become the unchangeable norm.

I also think they would help with self-moderating and moderating in general.

Here's an interesting post on rules for commenting on blogs at the New York Times:

http://goo.gl/QctHv

and a follow-up from the chief moderator:

http://goo.gl/vnthX

Particularly instructive, I think, is this comment --

    xprintman

    Denver, Colorado

Think of it as a discussion around the dinner table. New takes on old stuff - or taking a different angle on the subject at - hand is fun, but eyes start examining the wallpaper when old grudges are dredged up or tired old stories repeated. Keep it light and remember your mom is sitting right next to you so watch your mouth.

This seems like a comforting attitude, even wise advice. But it's wrong.

Not only can family conversations be bloody trainwrecks no matter what you do, the metaphor is off. Unless access is highly restricted, internet chat is not like a private get-together. It's not even parallel to a bar or club. It's much more like a radio or TV broadcast except that every participant is on the same stage and has a mike. But it doesn't feel like a public medium. Hell, most of the time you're alone with a machine in a room. Even so, you're really standing on a street the whole world can walk down.

A public medium. That's why I feel it's more ethical for the norm to be real names -- take responsibility for your expressions. That's why I think moderation is both good and necessary. There's a lot of dulcet territory between anarchy and lockdown on commentary. There's places for everyone, but rotten apples can't just roll into wherever, whenever they want.

Everybody realizes EW is unusual because it has flourished with minimal fuss in its own sweet spot. All the more reason to think long and hard about how to encourage such a situation elsewhere. After all, there will always be a hefty bunch that gets off on, even profits from, toxic chaos.

even if they don't, they treat each other with respect

Wow, things must have changed a lot on ILX since I stopped going regularly.

The danger with (some) ILX-style handles is they contain in-jokes you have to know a decade of ILX lore to understand.

Last time I poked my head in, everybody seemed to have entire f**king sentences for a handle, and to be changing those all the time on top of that. How the hell did that get started?

Wouldn't really work for us, as the only one we'd feel comfortable wielding the banhammer is Xgau

1) makes posting and reading an absolute breeze (one single web page per thread, with no continuation pages -- sounds clunky, but in practice it's really make or break)

2) allows participants to flag posts they think are unfit for the board (unlike our thumbs, the flags are only visible to moderators)

3) allows moderators to impose temporary or permanent bans on users -- "temporary" for good-faith users who get overheated; "permanent" for spammers. 

I've been liking Wrecking Ball a TON.  Sound gets your attention, the songs have power.  This is the Bruce we love.

I think in an ideal world/internet, we would all be more responsible and less transient with names.  But without many more Milos, it's a long shot.  I like the optimism though, and I guess I'm doing my part although my picture is CLEARLY Andy Van Slyke!! 

Wait a minute...you mean we're arguing about this subject because you're bored?  ****, man -- I have most of these records in my hard drive.  I'll send them to you.