That was my original point. On the Internet, we're all just bits on the screen. What difference does one name or another matter?

That's a very good point. You suppose people should be required to tag themselves with their Gender, Ethnicity, and Political Affiliations too? I mean, in addition to their Real names..??

Might be better than you think..

So I suppose you read your screen with your ass then and not your face?

Yawn. You're boring.

In fact, upon reflection, one might even be able to argue that people DO choose pen/screen names / online aliases to represent themselves precisely for the purpose of providing them a new-but-consistent handle in order to stand out, to be the person (stream of consciousness) they really want to be rather than their ordinary old selves. Why would I choose "Bratwiz", a shortened version of "Bratwizard", my handle for decades now. Its original significance is now boring ancient history, and at this point, its just a name which represents me online generally. But its not my only one, I have a few others, depending upon the venue.

One other thing to point out-- many people choose screen names because they have employers who may not always (or ever) agree with their opinions and attitudes. And we've all seen many examples of employer-retribution for posting under a more personally identifiable handle.

>> So many AC's post in a manner that you know they wouldn't if they were in a face to face with another person.

Well, I don't doubt that. But let me ask you (and anybody else)-- which is the true self, the one with the name or the one with the AC? Maybe we're all really Trolls inside. Sorta like Road-Rage on the Information Super Highway.. (Sorry, couldn't resist :-) When we talk to each other face-to-face we adopt "Public Personas" which are moderated in large part by what we expect other people want to see and hear and discuss. When people have the opportunity to distance themselves from their public persona, a different-- rawer, and likely more "real" persona takes over.

However, my original observation is that your name online doesn't really matter much. So what if you post as "Chester the Wonder Beaver" or "Arthur Smidley"-- does anybody really know who either of those monikers represent? Maybe a small handful-- and a handful who might not even interact in the same circles at that.

The one thing though that is CHILLING, IMO, is that removing the ability to elect your own pen/screen name, removes the ability to criticize without fear of reprisal. Sometimes what needs to be said is so damning or inflammatory, that the messenger gets tarred and feathered for the act of delivering the message.

One last point-- if our "Democracy" is so strong, why can't it withstand a few trolls?

I just did.

I suppose if your only method of anonymity is to post under the same moniker, you could have a point. But the vast majority of "anonymous postings" are made by people who choose their own screen names. And I'll bet-- though I obviously can't prove it empirically-- that most people tend to choose similar names after awhile. They may have more than one or a few, but probably not a different name for every single post.

Frankly I don't care what you do with your spade. If you're NOT racist, then the remark means nothing more than "telling it like it is". If, on the other hand, you happen to be a MORONIC, RACIST DOUCHE-BAG, like you apparently are, I guess it means something else to you.

So again, EAT SHIT you RACIST FUCKWAD.

If they's IN, vote their skanky asses OUT.

Moreover, real names are the same as fake names. You're just a bunch of bits on the screen anyway. Who cares if you're Jack Smith or Jack Mehoff? What the fuck difference does it really make?

It'll be hilarious when tax time rolls around...

Uh, you remember those drives you smashed to bits even though we told you not to...

Never put down to Slashdot anything you ever seriously hope to be explained.

>> "those of us who were part of passing this legislation certainly would not have expected it to be used in a case of this kind"

Those of you who were part of passing this legislation were morons and fools who, most unfortunately, will most likely never receive the drubbing you soundly deserve.

Eat shit you racist mother fucker.