Poll: For a 24-48 hour period, everyone's real identity is shown next to anything they do online.

[Qwurty2.0]

I've often read and seen extreme viewpoints and behaviors on the internet, where anyone can say anything with absolutely no consequences.

The internet is completely separate from peoples' real lives, and as a result, they can say absolutely anything to anyone. People can claim that we should kill an entire gender/race/nation, mock tragic event, stereotype an entire group of people, make death threats to someone for simply liking a different brand or show, etc, etc... You get the idea (that was just the bad stuff, there is plenty of good on the internet too).

So I got to thinking one day: what would be the consequences if the anonymity of the internet simply disappeared for a day or two, and everyone's fake info was magically changed to their real information. Your username changed to your full name, your date of birth corrected, your location changed to your exact address, your "about yourself" boxes replaced with brief descriptions of your actual ideas and beliefs. It would only show if the site used that data (if you can't declare your birth date on the site, you can't find that info on that page).

This is not just for new content created that day, everything on the internet would show your info. Raging feminazi posts, misogynist rants, death threats, hate, insults, greifing, what your favorite flavor of pie is, your favorite animal, (it's not just the bad stuff that changes).

Spoiler: My reaction.

I think it would be a massive clusterfuck that would cause more harm than not. People would be harassed, threatened, and possibly attacked/harmed for things they said as a "joke" or from when they were younger/stupider/whatever. Seeing everyone's address, phone number, etc., would make it easy for people to get targeted during and after the 24-48 period. Businesses and employees/CEO's would crash. You get the idea.

So Escapist, what do you think would happen if internet anonymity was removed for 24-48 hours?

(Edit: my poll options probably could have been better. >.>)

 

[Vault101]

it wouldn't affect me too mcuh...I don't care if people thought I was a "Raging feminazi"

I'd be more concered for teenagers, particually the ones with "fringe" interests getitng outed (like furries and such)

 

[Frezzato]

If that also covers Amazon purchases then I'm screwed. Couldn't care less about online activity like videos and sites, but Amazon?

Kukri Machete - check
Dozier Design Ka-Bar Folder - check
Ka-Bar USMC Partially Serrated Fighting Knife - check
Daria Box Set - check

.

Call the cops.

 

[Ten Foot Bunny]

Doesn't matter to me. In fact, I use a picture of myself as an avatar because, if I'm going to talk shit or argue my opinion with someone, I want the person I'm speaking to to know me as more than a faceless entity. Plus, it keeps me honest and fair. Some people think I do it out of narcissism, but that's far from the case.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

My picture is readily available in my profile page for anybody who wants to print it and throw darts at it, right next to my birthday and the FB page that displays my full name. And I don't really frequent many other forums. So there.

 

[Frission]

If this came to pass I would probably go on a Luddite rampage. I would probably lock myself in my home and hide under the mattress while mumbling about the satellites and them knowing everything. EVERYTHING.
I'm just paranoid that way.

I also have a rather antiquated belief about personal privacy, so I would rather have a stranglehold on my personal information and I sorta happen to be a huge jackass when I'm not accountable online, so that's that.

 

[renegade7]

I don't really do a whole lot on the internet these days. My real name is already attached to Facebook (well, it's not my real name, but everyone I'm friends with knows who it is) and Coursera, and those are the only places besides here that I do any appreciable amount of posting.

Unless it extends to online games. I play EVE and the EU corp I'm infiltrating would probably not react well to finding out that I'm an American and not the Brit I've somehow convinced them I am XD. Of course, that's probably an argument FOR removing that privacy, not against but then again it's just a game and you consent to being robbed, spied on, manipulated, exploded, and generally screwed with whenever you jump out of high security (there's even an "Are you sure"? warning box that specifically says that you will no longer be safe when you leave hisec). It's part of the game: in an FPS you shoot your friend's head off, in EVE you spend 3 months infiltrating his alliance and stealing his capital ships.

But I digress. In general I wouldn't like my real name attached to any games I play online. Obviously we're all mature, backstabbing adults in EVE, but some people take it a little TOO far and let those conflicts come into real life.

Sometimes it's simply a philosophical matter, that privacy should be respected (it is after all in the Bill of Rights). Or you might not want the people you know to find out about your involvement in, say, a subculture (anime or furry fandom for instance) or online support group. Finally, it's just a matter of safety. There is some information you just shouldn't give to strangers, and your name is one very risky thing to be giving out. With just your name and not much more than what's included in your online footprint it's very easy to work back and find out everything about you: whether it's the marketing data collection system at Google or someone who wants to DDoS you to keep you from logging into an online game.

 

[HoFT013]

You'd all just see that I torrent a shit-ton of comics.

 

[Madame_Lawliet]

Considering I have quite a lot of friends and family whom I am not out to yet, and I still live in a world that by and large still hasn't grown up in regards to trans* people, I don't think I want the whole world to know my gender identity just yet (the only reason I'm comfortable talking about/expressing it here is because I KNOW that nobody I know uses the Escapist or knows this screen name).

Other then that you'd just see some loser who likes Panty and Stocking a whole lot, which is pretty much what I let on anyway.

 

[Keoul]

I get the feeling millions would lose their jobs and millions more will file for divorce.
I could imagine a lot of hackers farming this information as well so a lot of identity theft is gunna happen, so much that the government won't be able to do anything about it due to the overwhelming amount.

So yeah, probs another financial crisis coming on.

 

[Nepukadnezzar]

I think it would be MOTHER OF GOD

I would never get a job ...
Look, this guy looked up a Mental Sickness ... why does it interest him? ... He must be sick ...
Certainly not gonna hire HIM!!

And do not even speak about the Fansites he is visiting .... Escapist? ... He must not have a life....
Certainly not gonna hire HIM!!

This is what will be the gist of it ...

Horrifying ... I would only use the internet if I can have some privacy (e.g. they do not know for SURE it is me, they can just assume ... not that this is not enough for some people ... *cough* advertising *cough*)

Even if it is just for a day ... the internet doesn't forget a thing
MOTHER OF GOD

 

[Dandark]

People would be able to see every site someone else has ever visited? Just think of the porn.....

I think **** would hit the fan and it would be a disaster.

 

[Boris Goodenough]

Why? Unless you're looking up something wrong like child porn or bestiality.

Everyone watches porn.

Everyone.

What about violent porn (some of which is fake) that is illegal in the UK?
What about those who think all porn is rape?
etc. etc.
Also beastiality is legal where I live, as long as you don't hurt the animal.

 

[Boris Goodenough]

I gave child porn and bestiality as examples... You don't need to point out more to me, I know what they are. I'm just not going to make a large list.

And instead of being annoying picky with my comment, be honest with yourself. Do you actually associate with people who claim that all porn is rape? Do you actually think bestiality is right even though it's not illegal?

EDIT: and before you reply, those are rhetorical.

I was not even mediocre at making my point, sorry.
Do you think people who who are against niche sexual desires are against naming and shaming + various assorted unpleasentries?

Right? We, the human race, ultimately exist because of beastility.
What I do know is that not all animals see it as abuse and enjoy, the extent however I do now know.
And before you get any strange ideas, no, I am not into animals other than Homo sapiens sapiens.

captcha: piping hot
...

 

[Ferisar]

What about violent porn (some of which is fake) that is illegal in the UK?
What about those who think all porn is rape?
etc. etc.
Also beastiality is legal where I live, as long as you don't hurt the animal.

I gave child porn and bestiality as examples... You don't need to point out more to me, I know what they are. I'm just not going to make a large list.

And instead of being annoying picky with my comment, be honest with yourself. Do you actually associate with people who claim that all porn is rape? Do you actually think bestiality is right even though it's not illegal?

EDIT: and before you reply, those are rhetorical.

Uh, that's kind of the point of the thread: you've no idea who you associate with if you drag the internet into it. Furries, "Animal Lovers", fringe fetishists, masochists, "fan fic" readers, et cetera et cetera. It's the reality we live in. Unless you have a handle on your friends/colleagues' internet access, you'll never know what they're into (unless you're also in a permanent TMI-based friendship, )

EDIT:
If the internet was conceived with the notion of a real-life repository and extension, than no, I think it wouldn't be a a spiteful and angry place where people get hurt physically because of it. Phonebooks exist. However, given the precedent set by the last two or three decades, the internet HAS become a place of cynicism and inward disdain for most people, or at least enough people that it would be quite unfortunate for others' information to become available to everyone else. End of the day, as a collective, we're pretty fucking stupid. I suppose if this event did actually happen, we'd be a bit fucked for a short while. Honestly though? If it lasted too long I doubt that it would continue. A new baseline would be established, and people would stop being anarchic.

As far as me personally, most would probably find that I dabble in very little stuff that's "out there", and the status quo would likely remain completely the same. I mean, the reality is that the majority of the "out there" for everyone will be some type of pornography (at least that's what I'm going to guess, who the fuck actually knows).

 

[Scarim Coral]

I will be fine for the most part since the only place I comment the most on is on here unless someone is willing to dig in my 20k post for some of my offensive remarks.
Granted there is one review on Amazon that I will delete if this ever happened.

 

[Boris Goodenough]

I will be fine for the most part since the only place I comment the most on is on here unless someone is willing to dig in my 20k post for some of my offensive remarks.
Granted there is one review on Amazon that I will delete if this ever happened.

That one of how good the dragon dildo is?