China moves toward 'real name system' for blogs

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Pig Wars, Blind Pigs, Flying Pigs: In the pacific northwest there was a dispute over an Englishman owned pig which was shot by an American who was frustrated at the animal eating his crop. The incident was in the San Juan Islands which at that time were claimed by both England and the United States and it sparked what is known as the pig wars. A German was mediating the dispute and an American military camp and an English one were established on San Juan island in case actual war broke out. But all of this posturing was also boring because the German was slow in his deliberation. So boring in fact that Robert Rules of Order were developed by a young Lt. Henrey M Robert.

We in the IT community are writing similar rules of order. If you know what a Blind Pig is then you might be from the east coast or the Pacific Northwest, where there is a beer by that name. During prohibition on the east coast you would pay to see the blind pig. Once inside you would get a free beer. It was illegal to sell beer but you could still brew and drink it.

Rather than coming up with Blind Pig mechanisms for posting anonymously, which undoubtedly will involve some kind of law firm, lets instead take Henry Robert's track.

Even today in the Revised Rules of Order, the notion of anonymous posting is preserved. When a motion is made, it must be seconded but then there is a secret ballot. It is well known that what one might say in front of a group is not what one might actually want and the secret ballot is the mechanism that cuts through the Bravo Sierra.

The notion of a write in candidate is similar. Robert observed election commitees develop two sets of candidates both about the same in platform and then pretend that those voting had choice. In his rules of order only one slate can be presented from an election committee and you can never override the ability of a write in. The mechanism of write in allows anyone the ability to create a slate or write in the same person for all positions. If that write in person wins he gets to take which ever slot is attractive most to him or her.

With the above it is possible to see a pig fly. We in the US benefit from anonomous posting until it becomes harrassment or worse. At that time it is necessary to have the poster identify by real name, or stop the bad behavior. No one need have the right to stop posting that offends them when the poster's real name is known. There are already a sluggo of laws and mechanisms that can be put into action if the real name is known. If the poster continues missbehaving anonomously and is caught; they go to jail for two years - same as if the misbehaving were via telephone.

So let fly. Let the pigs fly. Anonymous posting is not the problem. The problem is legals fear an age where the common man does not just read but also writes as a legal without fear for his job, his friends jobs, his family, his life. A lot of folks prefer not to be labled R or D or whatever. These folks currently are not speaking. Secret ballot, Anonoumous Posting are the same meal deal. The US is becoming more China daily.

IT is full of politics. Lets not pretend otherwise but rather get on with it. Let Fly

Frank L. Mighetto CCP.; Posted by: mighetto Posted on: 10/23/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use