To everyone: The Webmaster(s) know the identity of those who use fictitious names on these threads.
I wonder if those who are hiding behind one or more ficticious names and hiding their
email addresses so their true identity can't be known, realize this?
I was telling my wife about some of the communications on Silicon Investor.
She is involved with a group of hard-of-hearing (HOH) people, (a list-server,
membership only, with potential members screened to ascertain they have hearing loss
and would be appropriate for membership in the support group) on the internet.
She appreciates the openness of SI and the total freedom of speech that is enjoyed
here. The operators of the HOH support group kind of suppress freedom of speech,
if the ideas expressed are too conservative or too far away from their left-wing leanings.
But she isn't impressed (rather disappointed, actually) that, on SI, some people
are using one or more ficticious identities - said she would rather do her messaging
with people who don't hide who they are.
Well, I agree with her sentiments, but because I have met some genuine people who are not
hiding behind fake names, here on the Ask God thread, I believe it is worthwhile to continue
with Silicon Investor, for the sake of being in contact with other Christians and "real
people" here.
I wonder, again, if the operators of SI are concerned about the use of pseudonymns. I mean,
since some are registering apparantly more than once, using perhaps their real identities plus
pseudonymns, it would give a significant element of uncertainty to any potential advertisers-
how many people are they really reaching?
What is your opinion on the matter?
I'm thinking that, perhaps, if any user seems to be hiding behind a false identity and also
confirms the suspicion by not displaying an email address, then their communications should
be ignored. Why talk to someone who really doesn't exist?
Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly
are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits..." Matt 7:15-16a
The writers of scurrilous messages from people with no email addresses, when answered, just
respond with even more.... silliness. Like prank callers. Let the answer machine take the
prank calls and don't bother calling the pranksters back, is my opinion.
Perhaps, in view of the results I've had with responding to the persistent scurrilous messages,
it is an indication that Proverbs 6:4, "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou
also be like unto him." - is most appropriate, with the emphasis on the first two words. After
answering scurrilous messages a few times, as the next proverb, 6:5, advises, and no positive
results are forthcoming, it seems that only leaves the other alternative as the reasonable
course.
John |
