Bloggers, beware?

Last evening in mild irritation I counseled bloggers and commenters that to use their real names would give credence to their thoughts. The reason I couldn’t resist piping off about it was the fact that what they were saying was valuable, but because they refused to put their identities behind their words, that value was diminished.

From that comment, I received three responses, each one thoughtfully written and gentle. Among their thoughts:

“Not everyone will go unharmed when expressing his or her opinions...”

“My guess is that I want to say more than most of my neighbors want me to...”

“Some folks don't want 'the few' head-cases here to know where they live. It only takes one person with 'their bubble a little off-center' to ruin somebody's day.”

“The mentality of some of these folks that post to The Advocate's message board scares me.”

The fact is, however, I’ve been out front with a lot of opinions that really really really bothered - and still bother - a lot of people, most of them power brokers - and so far I’ve yet to have one of them hurt me. None that I know about has even tried.

On the up side, the fact that I am unafraid of them (because I keep it as honest as I can and they know it) helps establish me as someone who is real and who is fully connected to the problems I mention as a writer.

I doubt there are many, if any, “head-cases.” I think those who seem so are like mental elementary-school-level bullies whose bluff is where it all ends. I suspect many are merely folks stretching their imaginary and insignificant private worlds to the point where they think nasty keyboarding is some kind of victory over an establishment they can otherwise neither address nor influence. I suspect many of them are youngsters hating on adults.

But just in case - ever since the days of editing a newspaper - I stay prepared for self-defense, not a bad thing whether you’re a public writer or not.

As for the bloggers and commenters whose anonymity is the shield that allows them to speak, well, it’s better than not speaking at all. Public employees at all levels would do well to listen to their thoughts, to use them as a gauge of public opinion. Casting their opinions aside as less than authentic because they refuse to come out of the shadows - for whatever reason - is foolish and self-defeating.

I yearn for the day when other bloggers and commenters will put down their fear, put on their gloves, and step out in the street with me. That will be the day when politicians, public employees, and those who buy their power will begin to listen to the common man. Otherwise, maybe not.