Should Anonymous Posts Be Allowed On Powerlifting Watch?

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Sat, 05/08/2010 - 05:59 -- admin
Yes, Anonymous Posts Should Be Allowed. This Is America for Crying Out Loud!!!
26% (471 votes)
Heck No; If You Type It, A Registered Name Should Be Attached To It
58% (1065 votes)
They Should Be Allowed, But Have To Be Approved By A Moderator
16% (303 votes)
Total votes: 1839

Comments

Submitted by phreak on
My take on this issue: - Decency is decency. Threats and personal attacks should not be allowed by anyone. And that includes "named" posters insulting anonymous posters. It's ironic that people who carry on about decency and accountability are usually the ones to vilify any anonymous poster, no matter what the content of the anonymous post is. See this very topic for some examples of such hypocrisy. - Rules are rules. Rules are fine, if they are followed by everyone. And yes, that includes YOU. Stop with the practice of allowing registered posters more latitude in their comments. Behavior is either acceptable or it isn't. Make it clear what is, and is not acceptable, and stick to it under all circumstances, and for all posters. Never play favorites. - Truth is truth. Just because a poster posts anonymously, doesn't mean he doesn't have a valid point. A lot of great politicians and writers have published under assumed names. Did that make their work any less valuable? No. Truth is truth, no matter who expresses it. It either stands on its own merit or it doesn't. But this has nothing to do with whether the poster uses a possibly genuine name or not.

Submitted by kite on
I say allow the anonymous posts unless they begin that rediculous bashing in which case I think their ip address and whatever other info can be dug up should be posted. I don't see anything wrong with posting anonymously but if you are going to be talking shit to/about someone have the balls to do it up front.

Submitted by eggsurplus on
Our country was based on anonymous posts. Ask Ben Franklin who perfected being an anonymous author in what was their online forum of the day.

Submitted by Roger Ryan on
People should be held accountable for what they say, just like they are for the actions. The analogy that they can do it and not get caught is no reason to allow it. Lets just let people rob banks then. They do it anyway. Phreak, there probably are more Roger Ryans in the world, but when I post I use my name. It's the honorable thing to do. When I give my opinion, I want people to know it's my opinion. Anonymous postings mean nothing, except the poster is to embarrassed or cowardly to stand behind their word. If someone posts using my name, trying to embarrass or harass me that's pretty cowardly too. Don't you agree? Bottom line is that anonymous posts should not be allowed. Use whatever internet tools are available to verify the registered users identity or block them.

Submitted by phreak on
[quote=Roger Ryan]People should be held accountable for what they say, just like they are for the actions. The analogy that they can do it and not get caught is no reason to allow it. Lets just let people rob banks then. They do it anyway. [/quote]Robbing banks is against the law. Having an opinion, no matter how different from yours, is not. Poor analogy. [quote]When I give my opinion, I want people to know it's my opinion.[/quote]I don't know you. I am never going to know you. I could care less what you call yourself. I care about the opinion you post, but that is it. You yourself are totally irrelevant. Nothing personal, same goes for me and everyone else online. Say something interesting, and it is interesting both with or without your name. Names are utterly irrelevant. [quote]Anonymous postings mean nothing, except the poster is to embarrassed or cowardly to stand behind their word.[/quote]Yes, everything written by Samuel Clemens is also worthless, right? Your name means nothing to me and never will. So I can discredit all your opinions based on that? [quote]If someone posts using my name, trying to embarrass or harass me that's pretty cowardly too. Don't you agree?[/quote]In real life? Maybe. But this is the internet. Not serious business. [quote]Bottom line is that anonymous posts should not be allowed. Use whatever internet tools are available to verify the registered users identity or block them. [/quote]What are you afraid of? If you don't like anonymous posts: don't read them. Just look up names of people who always agree with you and only read those comments. Don't be a communist and take away my option of reading anonymous posts because you don't agree with them.

Submitted by Travis Bell on
The anonymous posting on this website have been out of hand for a long time. Just put your name to it and move on. Getting rid of the anonymous posters on here would be the first step towards improving the quality of this website. There is nothing beneficial whatsoever about it.

Submitted by William a Neder... (not verified) on
Eric, what if every comment had their IP adress next to their name as a link. You could click it and see their posts. I know this wouldn't end the trolls, but at least it puts some of the multiple posts from the same user to rest. If this happened, I would have no problems with anonymous.

Submitted by Roger Ryan on
Phreak I don't know how to do the multi quote thing, so you got me there. But: Having an opinion other than mine is not illegal, but it should be. You don't know me and probably never will. Thankyou, I appreciate that. I'll bet you voted for Obama. Samuel Clemens??? Who is that? How much did he bench? The internet is not part of "real life"? Not real serious, but it is part of life unless you are in Lala land. What am I afraid of?? Certainly not the cowards who post without using their names.LOL If the anonymous posts weren't here, I wouldn't have to read them. I discount what they say anyway. Your turn.

Submitted by JC Carter on
[quote=Roger Ryan]Samuel Clemens??? Who is that? How much did he bench? [/quote] the funny analogy was great. But this, it is pure gold.

Submitted by phreak on
[quote=Roger Ryan]Phreak I don't know how to do the multi quote thing, so you got me there. [/quote] you add the [qu ote] [/qu ote] tags around whatever you want to quote. [quote]Having an opinion other than mine is not illegal, but it should be.[/quote]I know you are being sarcastic. Unfortunately it seems that a lot of people here (and everywhere) are serious about that. [quote]You don't know me and probably never will. Thankyou, I appreciate that. I'll bet you voted for Obama.[/quote]I think it is probably more because I live in Europe and will never move to the US if I can avoid it. So no, I didn't vote for any US president. But why try to personally attack me? Isn't that what you are railing against? If so: don't be a hypocrite. [quote]What am I afraid of?? Certainly not the cowards who post without using their names.LOL If the anonymous posts weren't here, I wouldn't have to read them. I discount what they say anyway.[/quote]I'm not proposing to take away any of your freedoms, or forcing you to read anything you don't want to read. But you are proposing to take the right of choice away from others. Actually sounds like something Obama would do.

Submitted by CA (not verified) on
If you don't post with your name, how will anybody be able to track you down and threaten you at their next meet. Just b.c. in your opionion the lifter maybe did a quarter squat, or touch-n-go bench or didn't lockout a deadlift. If you can't outlift the person in the video, you shouldn't have an opinion anyway.

Submitted by eggsurplus on
[quote]Samuel Clemens??? Who is that? [/quote] Um... Anyway, like I said above. Having a way to be anonymous has it's place. This is what helped drive our great country to independence. Having a means to be anonymous allowed "dissenters" to voice their displeasure with the British which helped move the colonies to unite and built a sense of nationalism. Ben Franklin = King of Anonymous. [quote]If you can't outlift the person in the video, you shouldn't have an opinion anyway.[/quote] Exactly. Love that stupid thinking.

Submitted by Ronald W. Jeffery (not verified) on
We all have a right to our opinion. Just because a lifter on video appears to be lifting more, doesn't make him stronger or have more rights to an opinion. AS far as anonymous comments go, it's easy to talk tough, crude and offensive this way. Just because many of us look like gorilla's doesn't mean we have to speak and act like one. For the anonomous, be proud of who you are. Don't be afraid to sign your name. Just be polite and to the point. Ronald W. Jeffery

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
If the anon is making a valid point, that's not bad but too many anon's just rip into lifts and look for an arguement. I look for people opinion when I lift in order to make me better, not start an arguement. I do agree for protection of identity on more tough subjects as AAS testing, having an opinion should bite us in the ass at work. I do agree with keeping rules for even those of us who register with our real name. We can have an opinion without trying to tear another lifter or fed down. Roger Ryan for president!

Submitted by George Okunev (not verified) on
I dont like anonymous posts. If you really have an opinion, than stand buy what you say. There will always be situations where we will not agree. But people sometimes go to far with what they say. I find that people who type under a name are more constructive on what they say. No one is afraid to say "hey I am so and so congratulations" but when it comes to sledging, all of a sudden no one remembers there own name.

Submitted by Adrian Larsen (not verified) on
Phreak listen I know no matter what I say is going to change your mind. I am ok with this I am not trying to change your mind. However, IN MY OPINION the way things are handled needs to change. You should have to create an acct and log in to leave comments. Hopefully, you can weed out the smart ass by either them not wanting to go through the hassle or by deleting there acct once you see things get out of hand. Several times I have had mine or friends of mine vids up on this website and a anon leaves a stupid comment or says something that is just simply rude. All I am asking for is that everyone that posts something just act like an adult, and dont disscourge others from powerlifting because you feel like being a smart ass.

Submitted by phreak on
[quote=Adrian Larsen]Phreak listen I know no matter what I say is going to change your mind. I am ok with this I am not trying to change your mind.[/quote]You are probably right. Unrestricted freedom of speech, even without personal accountability, is something I have always stood for. I don't have to like it (in fact I'd want to permanently shut up 95% of all posters here), but I'm with Voltaire on this one. [quote]However, IN MY OPINION the way things are handled needs to change. You should have to create an acct and log in to leave comments. Hopefully, you can weed out the smart ass by either them not wanting to go through the hassle or by deleting there acct once you see things get out of hand. Several times I have had mine or friends of mine vids up on this website and a anon leaves a stupid comment or says something that is just simply rude. All I am asking for is that everyone that posts something just act like an adult, and dont disscourge others from powerlifting because you feel like being a smart ass. [/quote]I agree that the comments could use cleaning up. I just don't think that having a registered account is the only way (or even the right way) to go about it. I see people with registered accounts here also use personal attacks, threats and flames. This site needs rules, and strict enforcement of those rules. E.g. I don't like being called names. I don't like it when some anonymous does it, I don't like it when someone with a registered account does it. The problem is not the account or lack of it, the problem is the statement itself. This site needs proper moderating and nothing else.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
i can't get over how many thin-skinned people there are here can you really not accept criticism w/o all the posturing and not-so-subtle threats of violence? i thought we were all adults here

Submitted by JK on
Anonymous pisses me off for 2 reasons. 1) I still think the anonymous posts were used to instigate comments and to increase web traffic to this site--2 million hits a month? that ssure seems like alot for a nitch sport like powerlifting. 2) I have seen forums where one individual pretends to be multiple individuals and utilizes their "freedom of speech" to antagonize other members endlessly. There are individuals who spend their entire day waiting to get into an online argument or belittle an individual because they are messed up and they get off on it. If you don't believe me, go to FOX Sports or MSN or some of the other "news" websites that allow anonymous posting. Its beyond stupid. Anonymous posting gives too much freedom to an individual with too little accountability.

Submitted by phreak on
[quote=JK]Anonymous pisses me off for 2 reasons. 1) I still think the anonymous posts were used to instigate comments and to increase web traffic to this site--2 million hits a month? that ssure seems like alot for a nitch sport like powerlifting. 2) I have seen forums where one individual pretends to be multiple individuals and utilizes their "freedom of speech" to antagonize other members endlessly. There are individuals who spend their entire day waiting to get into an online argument or belittle an individual because they are messed up and they get off on it. If you don't believe me, go to FOX Sports or MSN or some of the other "news" websites that allow anonymous posting. Its beyond stupid. Anonymous posting gives too much freedom to an individual with too little accountability. [/quote] 2 million hits does not come close to being 2 million unique IPs. I refresh this page at least 10 times per day, every weekday. So that's 200 hits from me alone every month. If every reader does the same thing, the number of individual IPs drops to only 10,000. Seems reasonable, for a site that everyone and his brother in PL keeps track of. And not just from the US, but globally.

Submitted by phreak on
One option which could make everyone happy: can we have the option to either see ALL comments (including anonymous) or only comments from registered members?

Submitted by eggsurplus on
[quote]One option which could make everyone happy: can we have the option to either see ALL comments (including anonymous) or only comments from registered members?[/quote] Easy to implement. Problem solved. phreak for president!

Submitted by zane geeting on
This shouldn't even be a question. If you can't be a man, stay away from a mans sport.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
[quote=zane geeting]This shouldn't even be a question. If you can't be a man, stay away from a mans sport. [/quote]

Submitted by phreak on
[quote=zane geeting]This shouldn't even be a question. If you can't be a man, stay away from a mans sport. [/quote] If you can't take an anonymous comment on an internet message board, then what kind of a man are you?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
Well i think registering under a screen name is the way to go. I know for a fact that comments made can be used against you by state chairs and people in power.

Submitted by zane geeting on
Phreak, are you a lifter? Do you actually compete? Honest question, because judging by the way you talk about things it would appear that you do not, at least not on any real level. I'm not saying that to disrespect you, it just seems to me that you are someone who is more concerned with being intelectual about things and has no grasp on common courtesy, respect, or integrity. I am friends with some of the top lifters in our sport and they all feel the same way I do about this topic, these are the people who's opinions matter IMO. Not those of people who are merely bystanders and observers.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
[quote=zane geeting]Phreak, are you a lifter? Do you actually compete? Honest question, because judging by the way you talk about things it would appear that you do not, at least not on any real level. I'm not saying that to disrespect you, it just seems to me that you are someone who is more concerned with being intelectual about things and has no grasp on common courtesy, respect, or integrity. I am friends with some of the top lifters in our sport and they all feel the same way I do about this topic, these are the people who's opinions matter IMO. Not those of people who are merely bystanders and observers.[/quote] You probably have opinions on how to make the sport grow also. Olympics, Unification, etc. You can't have your cake and eat it too. That would be like taking the fans out of the NFL. The fans or bystanders make it possible. Ed Coan would have never been on ESPN without an audience too watch. Powerlifting is attracting new people every year through sites like this. If you want to chit-chat with your friends use email.

Submitted by zane geeting on
[quote=Anonymous][quote=zane geeting]Phreak, are you a lifter? Do you actually compete? Honest question, because judging by the way you talk about things it would appear that you do not, at least not on any real level. I'm not saying that to disrespect you, it just seems to me that you are someone who is more concerned with being intelectual about things and has no grasp on common courtesy, respect, or integrity. I am friends with some of the top lifters in our sport and they all feel the same way I do about this topic, these are the people who's opinions matter IMO. Not those of people who are merely bystanders and observers.[/quote] You probably have opinions on how to make the sport grow also. Olympics, Unification, etc. You can't have your cake and eat it too. That would be like taking the fans out of the NFL. The fans or bystanders make it possible. Ed Coan would have never been on ESPN without an audience too watch. Powerlifting is attracting new people every year through sites like this. If you want to chit-chat with your friends use email. [/quote] So you think a bunch of anonymous posters ripping the sport is going to help it get noticed and grow? Fans are fine, they can post with their real names if they want to give opinions.

Submitted by phreak on
[quote=zane geeting]So you think a bunch of anonymous posters ripping the sport is going to help it get noticed and grow? Fans are fine, they can post with their real names if they want to give opinions. [/quote] Name one sport where the norm is that fans use their real name.

Submitted by zane geeting on
[quote=phreak][quote=zane geeting]So you think a bunch of anonymous posters ripping the sport is going to help it get noticed and grow? Fans are fine, they can post with their real names if they want to give opinions. [/quote] Name one sport where the norm is that fans use their real name.[/quote] Name one sport where the pro athletes interact with the fans like powerlifting. If you want them to be totally inaccesable, keep this garbage up.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
[quote=zane geeting][quote=phreak][quote=zane geeting]So you think a bunch of anonymous posters ripping the sport is going to help it get noticed and grow? Fans are fine, they can post with their real names if they want to give opinions. [/quote] Name one sport where the norm is that fans use their real name.[/quote] Name one sport where the pro athletes interact with the fans like powerlifting. If you want them to be totally inaccesable, keep this garbage up. [/quote] there are pro athletes who interact with fans on the internet. chad ochocinco interacts with fans all the time on twitter. several other nfl players do as well. but comparing pro football players to "pro" powerlifters is a laugh. bodybuilding is the closest parallel you can find, and there are forums where you certainly can interact with pros and no, you don't need to sign your name to any of it.

Submitted by JC Carter on
[quote=zane geeting][quote=phreak][quote=zane geeting]So you think a bunch of anonymous posters ripping the sport is going to help it get noticed and grow? Fans are fine, they can post with their real names if they want to give opinions. [/quote] Name one sport where the norm is that fans use their real name.[/quote] Name one sport where the pro athletes interact with the fans like powerlifting. If you want them to be totally inaccesable, keep this garbage up. [/quote] pro athletes?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
[quote=zane geeting] Name one sport where the pro athletes interact with the fans like powerlifting. If you want them to be totally inaccesable, keep this garbage up. [/quote] Name one pro powerlifter. Ie, one powerlifter who is actually doing powerlifting full-time, earning their living competing as a powerlifter.

Submitted by Roger Ryan on
[quote] Anonymous: Name one pro powerlifter. Ie, one powerlifter who is actually doing powerlifting full-time, earning their living competing as a powerlifter.[/quote] His name is Anonymous.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
[quote=Anonymous][quote=zane geeting] Name one sport where the pro athletes interact with the fans like powerlifting. If you want them to be totally inaccesable, keep this garbage up. [/quote] Name one pro powerlifter. Ie, one powerlifter who is actually doing powerlifting full-time, earning their living competing as a powerlifter.[/quote] Zane, until you take your own advice.. please spare us the lectures.

Submitted by ken wheeler (not verified) on
[quote=zane geeting][quote=phreak][quote=zane geeting]So you think a bunch of anonymous posters ripping the sport is going to help it get noticed and grow? Fans are fine, they can post with their real names if they want to give opinions. [/quote] Name one sport where the norm is that fans use their real name.[/quote] Name one sport where the pro athletes interact with the fans like powerlifting. If you want them to be totally inaccesable, keep this garbage up. [/quote] Zane, I feel your pain about the anonymous posters and agree that they lend nothing to a forum...obviously they disagree with us. That being said however I filter their input very easily by simply not engaging with them at all...even the ones with pseudo-names unless I know who they are. If a real name isn't attached to it, I don't consider it or respond to it. Done. If you choose to interact with an anonymous poster, YOU give them power by recognizing their input. If all of us who don't like anonymous posts would ignore their posts 100% of the time, they would fade rapidly. Yes, people can put fake names to posts, but if someone really wants to hide that much then whoopie for them for hiding behind a fake name. I'm certainly not going to lose any sleep over the fact that someone "fooled" me with a fake name. I will promise you this, with few exceptions, no executive committee of any of the biggest federations gives two cents about anonymous posts, no one in the head office is listening unless you put a name to it. kw

Submitted by You can be very... (not verified) on
[quote=zane geeting][quote=Anonymous][quote=zane geeting]Phreak, are you a lifter? Do you actually compete? Honest question, because judging by the way you talk about things it would appear that you do not, at least not on any real level. I'm not saying that to disrespect you, it just seems to me that you are someone who is more concerned with being intelectual about things and has no grasp on common courtesy, respect, or integrity. I am friends with some of the top lifters in our sport and they all feel the same way I do about this topic, these are the people who's opinions matter IMO. Not those of people who are merely bystanders and observers.[/quote] You probably have opinions on how to make the sport grow also. Olympics, Unification, etc. You can't have your cake and eat it too. That would be like taking the fans out of the NFL. The fans or bystanders make it possible. Ed Coan would have never been on ESPN without an audience too watch. Powerlifting is attracting new people every year through sites like this. If you want to chit-chat with your friends use email. [/quote] So you think a bunch of anonymous posters ripping the sport is going to help it get noticed and grow? Fans are fine, they can post with their real names if they want to give opinions. [/quote] If I didn't see many of your posts, I would look at your post as very enlightened. However I have seen on countless occasions you taking a very hostile attack on those hos points you don't like.

Submitted by phreak on
[quote=zane geeting]Phreak, are you a lifter? Do you actually compete? Honest question, because judging by the way you talk about things it would appear that you do not, at least not on any real level. I'm not saying that to disrespect you, it just seems to me that you are someone who is more concerned with being intelectual about things and has no grasp on common courtesy, respect, or integrity.[/quote]I think it is funny that you imply that "being intellectual" and lifting heavy are mutually exclusive. :) But if you really must know: Yes, I do compete, off and on. Not as much since I turned senior (1996) when I stopped both lifting and coaching, but I've recently started lifting seriously again to prepare for my first meet in the masters. That will be 2013, so I have a while to prepare yet. And I'll need every second of it. :) And repeating myself: I AM for moderation of comments. Because a lot of posters (including a lot of registered posters!) utter threats and such. Again: this forum needs proper moderating. The content of posts matters, not the name attached to it. Let me ask you this: you are at a meet, and someone you don't know tells you: "great job!". Will you then demand to know his name? I wouldn't. I'd just be happy with the compliment. Conversely, if at a meet someone called your squat shallow, would you ask for their name? Nobody I know would ask for a name under such circumstances. Why not? Because it is the content of the message that matters, not who says it. [quote]I am friends with some of the top lifters in our sport and they all feel the same way I do about this topic, these are the people who's opinions matter IMO. Not those of people who are merely bystanders and observers.[/quote]I'm not getting into a pissing contest about who knows more famous lifters. Yes, I do know some. And I don't really care what their opinions are on matters not related to lifting. I prefer to do my own thinking. They'll be the first I go to for lifting advice, though.

Submitted by Suzanne Hedman (not verified) on
I don't mind what name an individual uses to post. I can generally figure out by the content of their post if they're legitimate or a troll. I also agree with many that one can use whatever alias they want if the name "anonymous" is prohibited so one still would never know the real identity of a person. So, you're back to square one in not really knowing the true identity of the individual. Tying to an IP address isn't the right way to go either as there can be more than one person in a household who is a lifter and reads this site. There are a couple of sites already who only allow one login per IP address, which really sucks, when there are multiple people in a household who visit the same site.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
These comments are basically a bunch of old men who don't understand how the Internet works.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
This site would lose traffic if it didn't allow anonymous post. There are probably 100 anonymous viewers to every registered 1. I don't register because it's risky and a pain. I always lose or forget passwords. It's just a hassle. One of the reasons I use this site is because it doesn't discriminate post. If it didn't allow anonymous post I would just go somewhere else. If I can't interact and all I can do is read the news I can go somewhere else for news. I am sure many others would do the same. Be careful what you wish for. These sites make money through sponsors and traffic. They should just have a moderator filter bashing and dumb posts. What happens to the well mannered anonymous posters if they do away with it? They will say goodbye. Then this site will gradually fade away. Getting rid of anonymous post sounds like an easy fix, but there is a catch to it.

Submitted by eggsurplus on
I'm a fan on how Slashdot filters out the crap. They let the users moderate the posts by giving it a score. Lower scored posts (trolls) get hidden by default but can be viewed if desired.

[quote=eggsurplus]I'm a fan on how Slashdot filters out the crap. They let the users moderate the posts by giving it a score. Lower scored posts (trolls) get hidden by default but can be viewed if desired.[/quote] This is a brilliant idea. Community moderation means the administrators aren't bogged down with moderation of posts. It also satisfies the anonymous posters- they can still post if they want. And it satisfies the other side as well - if they anonymous post (or registered one) is no good it will be voted into oblivion.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
[quote=Harley Bailey][quote=eggsurplus]I'm a fan on how Slashdot filters out the crap. They let the users moderate the posts by giving it a score. Lower scored posts (trolls) get hidden by default but can be viewed if desired.[/quote] This is a brilliant idea. Community moderation means the administrators aren't bogged down with moderation of posts. It also satisfies the anonymous posters- they can still post if they want. And it satisfies the other side as well - if they anonymous post (or registered one) is no good it will be voted into oblivion.[/quote]do it

Submitted by phreak on
[quote=eggsurplus]I'm a fan on how Slashdot filters out the crap. They let the users moderate the posts by giving it a score. Lower scored posts (trolls) get hidden by default but can be viewed if desired.[/quote] Doesn't PLwatch have that already? How does Slashdot's implementation differ?

Submitted by Fattest Illinoi... on
I wouldn't mind the anon. posts if people ( mederators included) didn't take them so seriously... Now with more " shut up and lift"

Submitted by phreak on
[quote=briangodsen]Sock only. Wait, where am I?[/quote] Not pink sock, I hope? :)

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