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Any opinions?

I am considering turning off anonymous comments. The "debate," if you can call it such, continues to rage over at 'why do you hate America so much?,' and I'm torn. On the one hand, I think that people should be able to express themselves anonymously with no fear of reprisal, and on the other, I sometimes wonder about the people leaving various comments. I mean, some people don't even leave a fake handle. Anybody care one way or the other?

Comments

I stopped posting there a while ago. Ideas are completely polarised in the comments, and even people who seem capable of reasoned argument from time to time degenerate into "my ignorant American friend" or "you stupid Frenchie" on a regular basis. At first I was envious of your obviously heavy traffic, but I wouldn't want those kinds of comments on my weblog.

Your comment raises a whole new question though, to what extent do people voice views in such aggressive ways here precisely *because* they don't have to stand by them in the real world? Perhaps we see the darker side of people, where they don't have to temper their language or consider other people's points of view, because they don't care or know about the people they're exchanging insults with.

One thing is clear - the discussion hasn't moved one inch since the first post. Not a single person has moved a fraction in their opinions, and the tone of each message is either insulting or condescending - everyone thinks they know better, and views are so far apart that they're irreconciliable.

Best of luck in managing the continued mudslinging, sorry it had to happen on your territory.