In Support of Online Pseudonymity

Photograph by jdurham.

The “Federalist Papers” were written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in 1787 and 1788 — but it wasn’t until Hamilton’s death in 1804 when their real names were divulged.

Until that time, the articles were published under the pseudonym, Publius.

Imagine if that name was prohibited and that authors were mandated to use their own names.

Would the papers have still been written? I wonder.

Yet that is precisely what Mary Eaton proposes in her request to the Daily News that commentators use real names.

I disagree.

She’s upset with the vitriol and flaming contained within comments when people attribute themselves to pseudonyms, such as Sched and Greener_Pastures.

Would people be so nasty and sometimes just downright vicious if they had to put their real (verified) name and maybe a real photo, so people would know what they look like?

Would the folks who make those less than civil remarks, make them to the people’s face, in front of other folks, let’s say on the street, in front of witnesses?

Would comments be more civil if Disqus was abandoned in favor of Facebook commenting? Maybe.

But should anonymity or pseudonymity be abolished in the name of civility? Should free expression be abolished in the name of civility? I say no and I’m inclined to believe Hamilton, Madison, and Jay would agree.

The fact is everyone has a right to say what they want. You have the right to write a comment below or anywhere else on the internet that empowers your voice. You have the right to say it — but you don’t necessarily have the right of an audience. Be aware of your rights.

Let’s remember the First Amendment and let’s allow Sched, Greener_Pastures, and the WayFaringMan to continue commenting on Daily News articles. They’re allowed to comment below, too, as long as this blog’s comment policy is followed.

Please continue to comment wherever you want and using whatever names or pseudonyms you want, even if you want to call yourself Publius.