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Esther Dyson Grudgingly Defends Internet Anonymity
An anonymous reader writes "In an interview, Esther Dyson, chairman of EDventure Holdings, describes anonymity on the Internet as similar to abortion: a bad practice that people should still have rights to. Calling anonymity one of the greatest disappointments of the Internet's evolution, Dyson said: 'I'm pro choice, but I think abortion is an unfortunate thing. I think the same thing about anonymity: Everybody should have the right to it, but it's not something one wants to encourage.'"
I don't see how less people is a bad thing when our planet is so overpopulated already that we're seriously looking at running out of important resources within the next decade. Which does not even begin to mention that unwanted children are probably not going to turn out to be upstanding citizens.
I, personally, am proud to be pro-abortion. Babies may be cute, but some day they'll grow up.
Great Intellect...
Anonymity obviously isn't needed. Look at the examole from the article:
Dyson wasn't acting anonymously when she made the inflammatory comparison between anonymity and abortion - and only an asshole would do that.
I can be equally effective w/o being churlish: "Esther Dyson's opinions are a bad practice that she still has rights to." There, see - I didn't compare her opinions to abortion.
Contrast it with this: "Esther Dyson expressing an opinion is similar to an abortion: a bad practice that she should still have rights to." Big difference!
Your first point is wrong. Not just a little wrong. A lot wrong. But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you are repeating someone else's bullshit.
Your second point, if not already wrong will be before too long.
Finally, your entire premise was false. The original poster was "distorting" no facts. In fact, he said that the same logic that could justify abortion of a fetus could be used to justify the murder of an infant. His argument, unlike yours, was made up of arguable points.
I'm afraid all of this means that I'll be revoking your internet posting privileges. Please unplug your router so that the serviceman can pick it up when he stops by your house this evening.
I guess some people prefer euphemisms to morality. Whatever, I suppose civilized behavior ain't for everyone.
Few are the IT veterans who don't know Esther Dyson
There's got to be a joke about anonymity in here somewhere, but has anyone else never heard of Esther Dyson before this article?
Maybe I'm not an Internet Veteran? I think I know what Usenet is, doesn't that get me in the club?
[17] Leary, T., White, C., Wood, P. R., Bhabha, W. D., and Wirth, N. Lambda calculus considered harmful. In Proceedings