, TIn response to one of the questions from Task 1 - 'Is withholding one’s identity ethically wrong? Should we always use our full name?'.
I think that it is perfectly acceptable for someone to be a member of an online forum/community and not share their personal details such as their real full name. I would most definately say that this is not ethically wrong. I can understand why people might suggest that this is ethically wrong, but I would have to disagree with them. I think people might feel it is wrong because they will be under the impression that everyone should always know who they are talking too, but I think that everyone should also be able to protect themselves from being flamed, fraudery, etc.
I think that sometimes people join forums etc to live the life they want to live, or to forget about things that perhaps other people in society know them for, etc, they want to be themselves/or someone else, but they probably dont want someone else who is perhaps from next door who is online doing the same thing recognizing them.
Of course I understand that my argument could be argued with in reference to peadeophiles and the like, but they are creating a whole different identity! Obviously I do not agree with identitys that are produced in order to carry out crimes. I also dont agree with identitys that are created and result in hurting other people, i.e a married person pretending they are single and a fellow online person falls in love with them then finds out or something like that!
Personally on a forum I'd never give my real name or my full name as I wouldnt want to be recognised, or have people know my details. I also dont put in my home address to things if they ask for it unless I am buying things online!
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Hi Megan! I am in agreement with you - I don’t think it is ethically or morally wrong to withhold your identity online. Especially considering the dangers in contemporary society such as paedophilia and fraudery as you mentioned.
Your post made me think back to Turkles reading - in relation to changing your identity online. It could be argued that a virtual community is a safe place for one to 'play' about with or 'experiment' with ones identity.
Thinking back to psychology A-level, it was suggested that dreams are a safe way to express desires which it may be morally wrong to carry out. Perhaps some people consider 'identity play' to provide this safe environment to unleash their desires? This is quite a controversial issue when you consider people using MUDs and chat rooms to carry out virtual rape etc.
Does anyone else have an opinion on this?
I agree Amie that the internet can provide for some people the space to experiment with their identity.
I was shocked to read about the concept of virtual rape, and found it quite hard to grasp. Recently I have been thinking its possible to build real relationships online etc, and the internet can be a form of RL in ways - but then when concepts like virtual rape come along, I have to admit I do think how can that ever amount to the RL experience of rape? I just cannot think it can.
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