Real names vs pseudonyms online
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With an account, you can revise, criticize, and comment on ideas.@dennis-hackethal* Please share your reasoning for your request that Veritula users use their true names.
When people use their true names, I expect higher quality contributions, less rudeness, fewer trolls, that kind of thing. More accountability generally means higher quality.
When a trusted member vouches for someone new, they’ll probably meet those expectations.
Another reason I want people to use their true names is that I want Veritula to be a place for serious intellectuals, not yet another social network where people just screw around. Part of being a serious intellectual is public advocacy of one’s ideas and public updates on changed positions.
See #4071: if a trusted member vouches for them, I can infer they’re not here to screw around.
But that doesn’t address the part about public advocacy of one’s ideas and public updates on changed positions in the sense that you put your own name behind your ideas.
What if someone uses a well-established pseudonym/online identity? That can still carry a lot of weight.
There are ways. For example, they could use an established account to reach out.
Would it be any harder than verifying someone’s name? It’s not like I check people’s ID.
People could use Veritula to establish that intellectual presence and put their name (real or not) behind their ideas.
Some people work in professions where sharing certain opinions puts them at risk of being fired.
Also, there are people living under repressive regimes.
Some reputational concerns are legitimate, and Veritula should accommodate them to promote free speech.