Anonymity

Dave, if you really want to upgrade your message boards, consider not allowing anonymous posters. Make them have e-mail address that can be verified and have them identify themselves. You would save yourself and everybody else a lot of aggravation. And you would enhance the quality and sincerity of the endeavor. It is all to easy to be brave when hiding behind a screen name.

Good morning Barry, have been considering for some time, will discuss with the I.T. chaps.
Have a good boxing day, massive racing from the U.K. plenty winners, just have to find them?

Morning Cat, nothing missed, just the normal subject that often pops up.
In fact as you are aware, I am sure I do have the details of 95% of the posters and the "very small minority" I am also fairly sure who they are.
So not a major issue.

Its just to have a "proper" email address and confirmation of the poster rather than mickeymouse@ disneyland. com

Its the question of "anonymity" and I am sure the point Barry makes is that if someone is not hiding behind a false name, less chance of saying something over the top about another individual?

Hi Cat - Most sites ask you to insert a valid email address when registering on a site. The webmaster then sends the person who registers a verification email with their registration details and a verification link to the email address that the poster registered with. Once the poster clicks on this link from the email, the registration is then verified and completed.

The poster can then enter there user name and password and becomes a member of the forum.

This is all good and well but there are ways around this (hotmail accounts etc).

The above post stems from Mr Irwins Merry Christmas wishes.

Morning Al, the Cat is well aware where the post stems from and likes playing games on Forums, and as you point out the (hotmail accounts) is away around true identity.
However as I mentioned, "not a major issue".

On most reputable forums, hotmail or yahoo accounts are not allowed.

People that are chickenshits find it more difficult to hide behind them.

Comments in an of themselves are usually of interest, but if they come from a source that has a historical backup, their context can be more meaningful.

Nothing makes a troll or duck-hearted individual more brave than being able to post in anonymity.

Barry,

I am an anonymous poster. It suits me because I can speak my mind without having to worry about the politics of the matter. Putting your name to something certainly gives it more weight, but then you have to pick and choose your words far more carefully.

I'm always conscious that names can be disclosed in the future and one will still have to live with what was said.

Dear Jack Dash,

You have condemned yourself, sir, by admitting that without anonymity you are afraid to speak your mind.

What would the real world be like if people that were passionate about their life's endeavors chose to operate in this type of manner?

I seriously doubt if you would enjoy it much.

Anonymity provides for an atomosphere that is more akin to guerilla warfare and terrorism, than a truly democratic method of operation.

Are you more in favor of pot-shot artists that can act without having to be responsible for their actions, or people who temper their comments with reason because they are legitimate members of a community.

We are a small community in racing. Do we really want to shoot outselves in the foot by allowing irresponsible jerkoffs to incite riots on line?

I am also an anonymous poster. I refrain from using abusive language on the air. I don't insult other posters, but rather shy away and keep silent. For this reason I don't post that frequently. I visit the forum every day and read the threads, but stay away from conflict.

Racing is a sport of kings,with the rich and super rich part of it. I am not rich, but have a passion for the horse. I am a small time breeder and owner. I pay my keep the same as the rich, am not in arrears. My vet fees are fully paid.

I, not being rich, have been called an "armgat" once, not to my face, but to another person, when asked who I was, by a breeder to a trainer.I accidently heard it.

Being small, not rich, one doesn't get the same treatment as the rich. You don't get calls to inform you of the well being of your horse, you don't even get notified of a runner. I once went to the Vaal, just to see my horse was scratched on the board!!

Barry, believe it or not, money talks!!

Because of this, I will remain anonymous, I will not let myself be belittled by anyone!!

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