Your point about anonymous votes and anonymous comments is particularly good.

http://etbe.coker.com.au/2008/09/13/not-all-opinions-are-equal/

That said, there are benefits to giving information about yourself, the above URL has my thoughts on the issue of how to consider comments by anonymous people. But that’s relative, just posting a name is usually enough to allow the reader to give a little more weight to a comment. Also if someone consistently uses a pseudonym they can gain a reputation for it and be regarded accordingly.

While I understand what you are saying I have to disagree somehow as it is vital to be allowed to post anonymously (this is what the law is about and wants to prevent).

For to be clear I need to tell you where I am coming from and what I know. I was born in West Germany (then) in 55 … cold war, Mauer (the wall) going up, Germany being “overseen” by 3 countries, 69, Cuba and many many more things and left Germany before the wall came tumbling down to live here in Melbourne.

I, too, had friends on the “wrong” side of the iron curtain and for a short time lived in Berlin (which was what MOST people do not understand surrounded by a wall!!!!!).

I was a trucker while I was doing my studies in Germany driving throughout Europe and because of my knowledge of other language (and probably IQ) I was frequently used to do some of the more tricky jobs … including trucking into the eastern parts of Europe.

So I can say that I have a fair amount of background ;-)

Australia is going a very wrong way in so many ways, be it the environment, internet censorship, woman in business (my boss is a woman) and many other things.

Now let me speak about freedom to post anonymously. Look at a walk against censorship, walk about the environment. You are anonymous, just one person in the mass of 1000′s of people but you count in a broad way.

Think about Google and the means of searching. Imagine you look for a new job. You are the employee someone is looking for, you have all the specs, in fact you are the spec. They decide to take you but make one last search on the net … now imagine you complained about something just 2 weeks ago where the HR person doesnt agree with (but has nothing to do with the company) … and you do not get the job (and I can tell you this happens ALL the time … sadly).

Or some THUG doesn’t agree with what you said and “polishes you up a bit” because your name was all over a posting …..

Now look at me. I have a rather senior position in a small company … I would be VERY hard for me not being able to post anonymously in “some” cases …

You vote anonymously, why shouldn’t you be allowed to do the same when complaining against a government that thinks censorship is fine (this is what the internet filter is).

Last but not least (albeit however silly this may sound) the little steps this current government is taking might just be the first step in something more …

Jobst