The Issue of Anonymity

I welcome all, Anonymous or not.

Indeed, I am incognito on this blog. Teodoro Callate? Not my name. That's not news. Some have asked why I zapped my old blog and started a new one without my name. So I'll say a few words about that.

I'd rather have my name posted. I'd rather have my own identity, because I think the posts are more substantive that way. If I say something offensive, I think it's fair that you know who I am so you can call me on my shit. Critical discussion is encouraged, and constructive discourse is more important in 2005 than ever, because I think it's disappearing. My name should be a part of good, constructive discourse.

But because my supervisor Googled me and found my previous blog, he rightly pointed out that this type of personal medium can unnecessarily complicate my profession, which is therapy (I'm in training at a hospital). He was cooler than cool about it. We discussed the issue and I made the decision myself. I kinda knew the issue was there but I selectively ignored it because I was having fun. So now I want to continue to have fun, but I have to be less Googlable. At least where I can control that type of thing.

So we've got a new blog and I'm Teodoro Callate, and then I invited a ton of people, and now there are anonymous posters everywhere. Please don't go away. The blog that the Hombres want to host should be an interactive one. Even if things get heated, that's better than boring. And debate is interesting and worthwhile. The ID post is a great example...I learned stuff about that topic that I didn't know before. Yay for us!

But I really want to encourage all anonymous posters to use a name or a handle or some sort of identification. Otherwise, all anonymous comments fall into the same category of "who's that?". Some bloggers don't allow anonymous posting, and I don't forsee the Hombres doing that: we want to talk with you. And I can't really ask you to use your name (though I'd like that) simply because I, myself, am not using my name.

I'd use my name if I could, and most readers know who I am. And I'm happy to share my identity if there is a way that would keep this blog from coming up in a search for my own bad self. So use your name if you can. If not, then I encourage you to come up with a handle so that we can differentiate one anonymous voice from another.