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[Chuck Clark]

Hello everyone,

I understand that this is a touchy subject for many who use the internet, but I would like to address this here.

I'm kinda "old fashioned" and persnikerty, I guess, but I really like knowing who I'm communicating with about budo issues. General chat groups, etc. are a bit different in my book. I can see where some folks like to have an "alter ego" persona to have some "fun" or to protect themselves from the weirdos on the net. I think this sort of venue is different.

There's no way we can keep someone from misrepresenting themselves on the web, but after some time around budo... you can tell who's "full of it."

E-Budo.com requires (but doesn't enforce it much) it's members to identify themselves and sign their name to posts. Most do, and some don't.

I, personally, don't give much credulence to a post that someone isn't willing to stand behind with their name and lineage.

How do the other members of AikiWeb Forum feel about this?

Regards,

[benny]

I agree with Chuck. Knowing who you're talking to is important because it makes the whole thing seem less impersonal, which is just what's needed in this type of internet-based chat. Also, I think that the kind of person who visits aikiweb won't have anything to hide, so why not register and put it all down?

[Erik]

I have posted anonymously for a variety of reasons in other newsgroups: I didn't want my identity or known viewpoints to get in the way of the response; I didn't want to get flamed off the board; I was embarassed by my question and I'm sure there are many more that I'm not thinking about. It doesn't hurt a damn thing.

Chuck, could you clarify the matter of lineage and why it's something you are interested in? My knee-jerk is a BIG HUGE NO! Keep everyone on as much of an equal footing as we can and lineage, rank, or whatever might discourage that. We are all people who share an interest in the art of Aikido. Isn't that enough?

Having said that, perhaps you could clarify your thoughts on the matter. Maybe you have a line of thought that could win me over.

By the way, my last name is Haselhofer. I didn't register it because Erik is a lot easier to type.

[Chuck Clark]

Erik,

I suppose it's kinda the same reason I won't talk to someone on the phone if they don't tell me who it is. I think there's such a thing as manners and curtesy.

One of the things I have experienced for many years in the dojo and most everywhere else is the individual who has an intellectual concept that makes "sense" to the person but it isn't based on actual experience. They often speak with feigned authority that you'd pick up instantly in person. The internet discussion groups are full of em.

I am interested in sincere questions and communications of someone's experience or the result of research that has basis in fact and real experience. If you actually have the sorts of fears and discomfort about your questions, etc., that you mentioned, you might just hang it all out in the open and give up worrying about what anyone else might think and you'll develop some real authority. That sort of authority is not given to you by an outside source, it just comes from real experience.

I guess it comes down to the fact that I just like to know who I'm talking with. I do not care for anonymous communications of any kind unless you're at war or some such thing. I recognize your right to be different.

Regards,

[Mikey]

I prefer to post if not completely anonymously, then certainly behind a curtain primarily because my opinions may not be the same as my teachers'. I wish neither to offend them nor embarrass them.

My peers already know what I think (I'm that kind of guy). My experience is only peripherally germaine to my opinion.

[Erik]

I guess it comes down to the fact that I just like to know who I'm talking with. I do not care for anonymous communications of any kind unless you're at war or some such thing. I recognize your right to be different.

I find this answer perfectly acceptable.

Having said that, I think it's critical to nurture a person's freedom of expression and if they feel the need to be anonymous we should allow them that.

One recent example of the value of anonymity comes to mind. I was part of an open discussion (all ranks) on the topic of Aikido. Essentially what's going on in your Aikido. It was a good honest discussion where people shot straight, clean and expressed their opinion.

However, when Bob Nadeau wandered in, things immediately changed. The conversation turned to "gee, Sensei, what do you think about ...". I might as well have gone to sleep at that point. The discussion was over.

I'm not implying that Bob intentionally did this, rather his presence assured this would happen. Conditioning took over. It's so damn subtle and most of the time we are not even aware of it. Had no one known who Bob was, the discussion would have continued.

[giriasis]

What do you want to know about some one? If you want to know then ask. Those who choose to respond will. Those who don't, oh well.

But once something gets to an email level, I tend to open up more. E-mail to me is more like a telephone call. These forums are more like bulletin boards where you can post a flyer or leaflet.

I prefer to remain slightly anonymous on the internet. What I mean by "slightly anonymous" is that when the information is relevant to what I am posting about then I will tell a little something about myself. But I do not feel secure and letting lose all my personal information in my bio page.

Also I have noticed from my experience in posting in other forums is that it takes time to develop a certain amount of trust between people on the boards. Once the trust is there people tend to open up more.

[Norman]

Here is a site with pictures of me that I've compiled to let people get a better sense of who I am.

http://people.ne.mediaone.net/normanharvey/Norm.htm

[Chuck Clark]

Thanks, Norman

Great pictures! My Dad was a blacksmith. He apprenticed to a local smith in NE Oklahoma when he was a youngster in 1914 and worked on the farm and in the blacksmith's shop until he was 30 years old. I think he really valued those years and his time working at the forge and anvil.

Thanks,