Blogging Anonymously? Really...
Can bloggers be truly anonymous? I do not think so, a few bloggers are steeled by the false veil of anonymity. Freely expressing opinions that would come full circle to bite them in the wrong spot. I feel a blog post should be written with the consciousness that the writer is public. The statement below caught my attention in a case reported by the Boston globe. Read full article here.
"Most of us investigate whatever prior writings our clients might have had, so they are not exposed to their inconsistencies in their testimony," said Meyer, who has begun warning clients against the practice. "But it's impossible to do if you don't know that your client is blogging under an assumed name."
For African bloggers, there may be unforeseen peril lurking, free speech is still a developing idea in the continent, African Governments aren't totally warmed to the idea that the citizenry have a right to speak. Do you see the Nigerian government going after a blogger, anytime soon? It happened in Egypt.
Side-bar (added 24 hours later)
Since the mainstream media in Nigeria appear to have an unwritten code to tread the safe route of caution. I think more focused blogs, with balanced op-eds have a great void to fill. However like with most blogs, the validity of claims made on blogs and the credibility of blogs will always be questionable.
In countries with more open and readily available information mechanisms, false claims are quickly tempered by the mainstream media or other bloggers. What happens in Nigeria where information isn't readily available and there has been a prolonged culture or secrecy? I believe citizen journalism is not about selling information but about using information to create value.
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21 Reaction(s):
This is a valid concern. i have been thinking about it myself.
hmmm
check this out
1990 Delegiwa gets a letter bomb from Babaginda and we all knew about it
nothings changed
i wish it had
Oh well, He's had his recompense. It was silly of him to blog so vividly in a case where he was the defendant. Now we all know anonymity is nothing but a very thin veil which could be lifted at anytime.
I totally feel u on this. I don't think a blogger can be anonymous for long.
I think like some people say on their blog- they think before they blog. One should blog with a purpose and not aimlessly. Friendships, jobs etc can be lost otherwise.
I have a principle not to blog about anything that might come back to haunt me later.
Thanks for this post!
As blogging becomes more mainstream. so shall the dangers associated with running ones mouth become greater. @aloted is this your face, LOL. Thanks @Kafo. Tahnks @calabargirl.
Thanks for the post...certainly gives some food for thought. I had heard about the Egyptian blogger but did not realize how serious it was until now. Fact is there have been a lot virtual verbal bashing on the Naija Blogs lately and it makes you wonder that if this was a face-to-face thing would people be so bold as to confront each other so harshly. Mind you most of this happens on the comments section of the blogs. It is interesting to note how blogging has become so widespread among Nigerians - case in point, one of the ways I stayed on top of the recent elections was via the blog posts with updates...but still we need to tread delicately and consider other people's feelings...and also their points of view. There was a post on another blog a while back which talked about how some bloggers were receiving death threats because some of the opinions that they expressed were not in sync with their readers' That certainly gives us cause for alarm and explains why many choose to hide their identity when blogging.
@Jola, great point. some folks consider blogging as an open invitation to pour out their raw thoughts and feelings. Yes blogging is more flexible than main stream media, I do not think its proper to consider it a free for all. I deleted my private blog recently when I discovered that for some reason, google cached it. I was shocked because that blog was private and I was the only viewer. Thinking back though I think I toggled that option in the past and now I have a foot print on the internet.
Whatever gives individuals the gumption to create a blog and type then post their first entry should make them own up to the consequences of such action; be it in form of harsh talkbacks, or as it was in the case of the Egyptian, some more drastic measures by a slighted audience.
But all the same, more power to blogging and safe blogging to others.
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Blogging could only be anonymous for the time being. One can never be too careful to leave any trace that connects to them, which is why its advisable not to get ultra personal or blog about things one might regret!
Blogging is scary sometimes!
Interesting post...
The most vocal of Nigerian columnist is perhaps Reuben Agati (of Guardian)- how many death messages has he received? I'm sure quite a few, but this hasn't stopped him from writing or forced him to run overseas for cover. He is very visible and goes about his business in Nigeria. Bloggers are still year away from experiencing what happened in Egypt, and may never in Nigeria - the dynamics are different. If Nigeria is still under some form of militocracy then I would suggest Nigerian political bloggers sleep with one eye open. However, the commonsense approach while online is not tow the line of modesty and not reveal TMI to the extent that it can used against owner.
Thanks for the link bro.
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
One of the reasons IN love blogging is that it gives me the freedom to express myself among people who either share the same views as myself, tolerate it or are willing to learn what my views are.
Like every action that man (or woman) takes, you have to be willing to face the consequences. I have read blogs that are simply the literary rantings of frustrated individuals and I have learned alot about my generation by catching a glimpse into their lives through their blogs. I have used blogging to test out my writing skills and compare my ability to grab the attention of others against other bloggers.
The doctor is an example of how a bad egg spoils the bunch. Is there anything in live that man will not abuse?
@ Jola Naibi: I too use blogs to keep updated with events happening back home. I have been glad to know that many are aware of the situation and some have proferred what they think could be solutions in addition to their complaints. For this, blogging is very good.
PS: Sorry for the long response
Thanks for dropping by...
uhmm, anony blogging... alot of people who blog anony, well i have noticed that they talk about things that they wont tell anyone or let people identify the blogs with them, so they hide under this anony blog thing, but the refuse to know that as they continue they drop little little clues and before you know it, identity has been revealed...
well is it not a free world, freedom on speech, freedom to do what you wanna do, but everything one does has consequences attached to it...
ol boy, if you are ready to open your mouth, then i guess you are ready to dance to the beats when things go the other way...
think before you talk, look b4 you jump...
Thanks for dropping by...
uhmm, anony blogging... alot of people who blog anony, well i have noticed that they talk about things that they wont tell anyone or let people identify the blogs with them, so they hide under this anony blog thing, but the refuse to know that as they continue they drop little little clues and before you know it, identity has been revealed...
well is it not a free world, freedom on speech, freedom to do what you wanna do, but everything one does has consequences attached to it...
ol boy, if you are ready to open your mouth, then i guess you are ready to dance to the beats when things go the other way...
think before you talk, look b4 you jump...
It's just a matter of blogging only things that cannot come back later inlife to haunt you. There's nothing like anonymity in blogville.
A simple search in any of the social websites will turn up any anonymous blogger...lol!
Be that as it may, 'anonymouses' may have their rasons but they shouldn't relax in the thin shield their anonymous status grants them.
Like my friend would say, keep a clean slate!
anybody that thinks blogging is anonymous is being very naive.
I really agree with the general view here. Unless you keep your personal life TOTALLY out of it (and your personal opinions as well, meaning you'd have to be one of those persons who hates taking a stand, regardless of how trivial the issue may be), there's no such thing as true anonymity. It's easy finding people in the web, if you know what you're looking for.
Interesting post...definitely a food for thought!
Blogging can never be totally anonymous.. To write is to expose your consciousness. Inevitably you leave a bit of yourself behind.. i've come to understand that much of this anonymous comments come from people that know us personally. i realised a long time ago that i am not as anonymous as i would have liked to belive. It was a crazed moment for me.. I thought it would somehow negate the content of my blog.. But it has emboldened me.
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Hmmm...I think I will delete mine. Have been thiniing about it for a while now.
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