You know what's going to be law? Having to post your real name on public forums.

[Grogo]

I think this will become a law one day, and sooner than later. I think it's time people have the shit they type in forums be associated with their real names. Free speech is there, it is just that you are accountable now. Thoughts?

[Azadina]

Thoughts?

No thanks.

[the game]

we should also have access to people's blood types and whether or not they're organ donors too.

[Edge-]

No thanks, I enjoy not mixing my hobbies and professional life.

[Blueobelisk]

What you want != "What's going to be law"

People are already accountable. If a position of authority really wants you they can trace your IP Address. Normal people don't need that kind of information.

[Darsithis]

I really doubt it. Also, free speech doesn't exist on private boards and membership forums, and a real name requirement probably wouldn't stop a lot of trolls anyway, they'd just up their game.

[Medusa Cascade]

Good luck enforcing that.

[Dug]

People already treat Facebook like this so there will be a crowd for people that don't care who sees what they have to say. Personally I'll never use a forum that doesn't let me be anonymous.

[Clone]

People already do it on Facebook.

[TrumpIsPresident]

We cant even manage to verify the legal status of voters.

How could this possibly work?

Besides the government already knows who we all are and they're adding us to the appropriate lists based off what we say.

[Medusa Cascade]

We cant even manage to verify the legal status of voters.

How could this possibly work?

Besides the government already knows who we all are and they're adding us to the appropriate lists based off what we say.

Wonder how many lists I'm on

[Darsithis]

Free speech still exists, you can just end up being censored or banned from the forums. Just because you're online doesn't mean your first amendment rights disappear...

Freedom of Speech means the right to speak out against your government without fear of being arrested or killed. It doesn't mean you can say whatever you want, whenever you want, wherever you want and it doesn't mean you're immune to the consequences of what you say.

[Maischou]

I tend to think that might be the end result, yes. The amount of hostility and toxicity we are observing on the modern web would very likely be highly reduced by the accountability of acting under your real name, and not a pseudonym.

That being said, it's a sad development. The beauty of the net and your anonymity is that you can leave parts of yourself behind, parts that you'd rather not bring into a particular context. It means that a mother of five, a lawyer and a burger flipper can discuss anything, from social policy to whether Han shot first or not, without prejudiced biases based solely on their identity. Losing that is almost as bad as allowing toxic behaviour to run rampant.


It's a very hard problem to solve. Actually, I don't think it can be solved at all. :-/

[Kapadons]

We cant even manage to verify the legal status of voters.

How could this possibly work?

Besides the government already knows who we all are and they're adding us to the appropriate lists based off what we say.

Think we are on the "alt-right wing nutjobs" list yet ?

[Edge-]

I really doubt it. Also, free speech doesn't exist on private boards and membership forums, and a real name requirement probably wouldn't stop a lot of trolls anyway, they'd just up their game.

Comments sections on sites like Buzzfeed that use peoples Facebook accounts being a prime example of this : P

Free speech still exists, you can just end up being censored or banned from the forums. Just because you're online doesn't mean your first amendment rights disappear...

Actually, for the most part, it does.

[May90]

I agree, it probably will be a thing...

...when North Korea gets public Internet access.

[rayden54]

Free speech still exists, you can just end up being censored or banned from the forums. Just because you're online doesn't mean your first amendment rights disappear...

The first amendment prohibits the federal government from infringing on free speech. It doesn't apply to private forums.

[Tradewind]

It's a ridiculous expectation. Too many crazies on the internet.

[The One Percent]

Sure it is, grandpa.

[PC2]

Free speech still exists, you can just end up being censored or banned from the forums. Just because you're online doesn't mean your first amendment rights disappear...

Some people want an echo chamber.