How do we feel about anons?

Anon (a-non/noun): A person who blogs anonymously be it through a character, another name or, just as "anonymous."

I've had this question a good bit lately. And I think the more that people start joining this rockin' convo, the more anons we'll see. A lot of authors write under a pseudonym or alias and that seems OK. And we vote privately and that seems to be able to ensure no bias.

But when we blog as anons it seems to be different...

My view? I don't really mind anons so long as the person is blogging that way in order to blog their authentic views. Sometimes one needs to blog anonymously in order to be able to blog at all (because of employer rules). Heck I'm still amazed that the army let Sgt. Joshua Salmons blog as long as they did (he's since changed blogs, I'll figure out the new one soon). And then sometimes someone blogs as an anon because they're scared (maybe they need my lion?).

I will say that I'm not OK with one assuming another name in order to hurt others. Scratch that, I'm actually not OK with others hurting others when they use their real names. That said, disagreements and constructive debates are necessary and can be very advancing. Now, I don't think one can get as close to their audience sans showing themselves. But I think anons can still advance the convo.

Then again, maybe truth and honesty aren't the same. Dunno, I'm still figuring my way through this question that's been asked of me a lot.

Oh, and being a creative gal, I do think if people are going to blog as anons there should at least be some creativity to it--like, be it animal, mineral or vegetable, choose a name other than "anon"! So, whaddya think? And of course, please answer anonymously.

(Just kidding.)

PS: Lewis has a post exploring this over here that's worth the read. And Lewis just won my heart by posting the first "All Heart Award" (Lewis has a groovy new book on "Leading with your heart" coming out soon enough and I innocently suggested he start an award series to honor marketers who set hearty examples...and he did it. Yippie!).

Comments

[Lewis Green]

CK,

Thank you for all you do. The world is a better place with you in it. Now, here's my take:

Although blogging is different in many ways from writing professionally for a publication, I have always believed that we should write under our own names. I recognize that some may feel they cannot. Maybe they should stick to reading instead of venturing into writing. If one does take a pseudonym, I believe they should identify themselves in their "About Me" page.

This is but my opinion and it comes out of my upbringing and my work as a writer and an editor in print media. I want to know who is saying what. I want to be able to check on their references, especially if they are stating professional opinions. I want to know they are credible. A pseudonym prevents me from knowing anything about them, and that's akin to taking a ride with a stranger. Not a smart thing to do.

[CK]

@Lew: I hear you loud and clear. I don't think we can get as close to our audiences sans letting ourselves be known. But, on the other hand, I didn't know that Mindblob was Luc until the last few months...and he's one of my dearest friends. Oddly, I just got so use to calling him "my alien friend" that one day he told me his name--and then all of us. He had a picture montage and that was awesome but his sincerity came through before he posted the pic...and long before he revealed his name. He blogged anon (as a character) for company reasons and because he wasn't ready.

And when we had the momma tree ceremony he decided to come over and was OK revealing at that time. Though I will say that he's so darn worth getting to know that I'm glad he's more open.

So see how it's a hard one for me to answer?

[Pierre Santeaux]

Writing anonym can be playful and mysterious. But when utilized to inflict spite, it reflects back on the momentary suffering of the individual. In this case, a wave of negative energy is released to give security and providence back to Ego although conditionally accepted only under behind a cover of anonym. A subtle sense of hurt will remains though...cast aside, shunned or repressed.
Such a tree of mind can only bear sour apples.

[Lewis Green]

CK,

You got me. I read Luc long before I knew him as anything other than Mindblog. Okay. I'm a hypocrite. On the other hand, Luc's post are seldom opionion pieces are professional analysis. He writes about life, and that is not such a problem, I think, to justify a pseudonymn. We know a human is behind mindblog, and that is enough credibility to write about life.

[CK]

@Lew: Yeah, it's people like Luc that really made me think about it...and I'm unsure as to whether many "anons" might just be scared--or need time. You and I are used to blogging (and I think we're just "open books" by nature)...some people (that are not mean) are, I think, afraid. Or they can't reveal their names for employment reasons.

There just seems to be..and I'm coming to this on many angles...a lot of gray shades. Because like my name friends, I did so connect with my "alien friend" (whom I now have to remember to call Luc!).

@Pierre: Hello there, your comment is so very poetic ;-). Thank you. Can't wait to check-out your blog.

[Lewis Green]

Pierre is very cool! I hear you CK, there are grays.

[mindblob]

Dear CK,

Well first of all thank you for what you say about me in the above comments (thanks Lewis also). I agree with you about being anon for mean reasons. That's not good. Truth always gets back to you anyway. We all know that (or at least should). Then, let me extend a little more about my original "intentions as an anon blogger".

My first blog read was David Armano's Logic+Emotion. I was both touched and hit by the title of his blog and its content. I thought it was great to share to the wild professional points of views AND "a little more that just about that". I was touched and felt connected when David said he hesitated to believe in blogging and thought the only way was to give it a try. That acted like a hand pushing me "go!".

When I started to blog under the name "mindblob" I KNEW anons were maybe not so welcome in the community. But I wanted to see how "open to ideas... wherever they come from... whoever could be behind" the community was. I knew I was taking a risk to see that my blog would remain without comments or that my comments on other blogs wouldn't find an ear. But I wanted to try. This, because I always believed in "human's good nature and heart" and wanted to see if internet was a way to finally link us all through genuine good intentions. See, I like the outcast. Would people care if I were a well known author, a student, living in India or an alien from another planet?

So, I just wrote and posted with both conviction and my real voice and opinions. And on the way to here... I "met" David Armano, Ann Handley, Gavin Heaton, Lewis Green, Drew McLellan, Toby Bloomberg and naturally... wonder-YOU CK... and so many more people sharing in on that rare frequency (at the time, I must admit, I thought it was "rare"..., well, "rare to meet"). So no, I was not scared. Just curious and open to witness the true "spirit of blogging".

I knew there would be a time I would stop being the alien from another planet (although yes, I'll always be one, don't worry!). In just one year of blogging I became less alien and more human thanks to all the people I met and who proved my intuition was right. YOU and the (human) values you believe in and and fight for are making me and US ALL more human everyday.

Now, I think this is a FIRST step. The next step is making this world a better place... linking good values with good practices. And YOU (CK) are already leading that way and working on it. Know that I also believe that this is THE right direction and that I'm on it with you.

Last short 2 words I just can't miss :
THANK YOU!
: )

PS : Woops! I just hope this comment is not too long (again!)

[CK]

@Mindblob/Alien Friend/Luc:

"But I wanted to see how "open to ideas... wherever they come from... whoever could be behind" the community was. Would people care if I were a well known author, a student, living in India or an alien from another planet?"

I base it on what the person contributes and how much life/work I'm afforded seeing through their eyes/vantage point. I surely wouldn't want too many anons; I like to know of the person...but I really think it depends on how much/what they contribute (or share).

Ah, aligning values with best practices (or value with values). Little steps there. It just seems to me that we can push more co's to start including these mindsets in things they naturally do. Call me crazy but I think marketers are so very powerful--they can create good or junk. They can create messages that manipulate or ones that make better. Profit can be made by aligning principles...after all, marketers are known for being creative and crafty. I'm very open to ideas and will do what I can with my little voice/little blog.

[gianandrea facchini]

The beauty of this conversation, as well as for the story of anons, is that it stress the cultural differences between a European approach and an American approach.
Some anons masked themselves behind poetic nicks. Their image comes from a process and not from a need to hide for whatsoever reason.
Do we really need to see each other our face or just try to figure out who we are from our words?
I do not feel the urgence to know details at once but to discover them along the path of the conversation.

[Tangerine Toad]

CK et al: Go over to Adscam, George Parker's hilarious and insightful blog on the advertising business. http://adscam.typepad.com/my_weblog/

It's probably the premier blog for ad creatives like myself. And it was definitely my introduction to blogging (okay, after Adfreak, Adweek's blog-like object- (http://adweek.blogs.com/adfreak/)

No one on Adscam uses a real name. Why? Because the nature of Parker's blog is to take pot shots at bad ad campaigns, and to call out names. It's a community of sorts, but no one ever talks about it being a community - in fact that sort of talk would be scorned and laughed at. "Tangerine Toad" was the name I used when I started posting on there and I kept it when I started The Toad Stool because it seemed like a good idea at the time. I had no idea where my blog was going, what it was going to be about. And as someone who makes a living being an employee, I was in no position to piss off various industry pooh-bahs.

CK's community is made up mostly of indepenedent marketing consultants who blog about big ideas and trends in marketing. It's in your interests to have your names on your blogs because that's how you get business. Now getting business may not have been the original inspriration for your blogs but it helps. Especially when your blogs are thoughtful and well-written.

Bottom Line: Different styles work in different communities. The level of conversation and politeness varies as well. Parker's anons rarely get out of control: there's an unwritten line that, if crossed, brings the wrath of the community down on the offender. But the anonymity his blog allows leads to a much more interesting, much richer and much more honest conversation. If you were so inclined, you might say the conversation was authentic and that the anonymity added value.

If you were so inclined ;)

[CK]

@Toad: I'll definitely check it out. Yeah, I mentioned in the post above that anonymity can ensure authenticity. I'm interested in experiencing other communities and, while I'm not in advertising, perhaps I'll figure out an alias and enjoy that blog in the authentically anonymous format it is intended. Cuz it sounds like a great blog.

Thanks for giving readers some perspective. I've (fortunately!) had good experience with anons...actually, great experiences with anons so far. Hey, you disagree with me at least 50% of the time and I learn much through the process, and Mindblob (now Luc) became a great friend and he was anon until recently.

So there you go.