Anonymity on the forum

[stumpstalker]

Mr. Bojangles:

My experience with website Forums where anonymity is preserved is that the discourse eventually takes on the character of a public rest-room wall, and does so irrespective of how strict the published Forum rules might be.

This applies to some websites where the subject is dear to me, the participants are knowledgeable and helpful on technical matters, but there is little chance of a sustained adult discussion on a controversial topic, or of fostering camaraderie – an objective of a Members’ forum.

There is too little accountability where there is anonymity.