Today’s Ray of Hope
By
I’ve been a bit lax in offering the Ray of Hope. I’m sorry. But looking at the NR News was someone who also thought it was hilarious that someone not listen to someone without knowing who they are. So today’s Ray of Hope goes to Peter Marren, of New Richmond Wisconsin.
He says in his Letter to the Editor:
How immature to chastise those who don?’t think like you do. Personally, I don’t care if an opinion is anonymous or not, I’m MUCH more interested in the message. I think that not listening to an opinion simply because it’s anonymous is the essence of ignorance.
What was hilarious about this letter is he said “how anyone with an opinion should not be anonymous that I almost shot milk out my nose.”
Editorial that this one was in response to.
Thanks Peter!
No related posts.
So much chastising to do, so little time… Jim Reppe, from New Richmond, must be having strategy sessions with fellow NewRichy, James “the mustard man” Nelson.
I read Reppe’s editorial, it was actually somewhat chilling. Reminded me of some staff seargent in the Third Reich. “Vhere vere you ven dat blog entry vas posted?” “Vat is your name?” “Ver do you live?” “You know, vee haf vays of making you speak.” “vee know vere your children go to school.” “Vee know ver you verk, and now you vill pay vith your job.” “Her N.Onimous, either you give up your name or vee vill haf to deal vith you in udder vays.”
I find this whole criticism of anonymity bizarre. What it tells me is that certain anonymous writers are making some serious points to which their targets cannot rebutt, so their only course would be to engage in other tactics to silence the truth teller… Since they cannot win with their intellect, they will revert to their darker side and use force (of some sort). And that would be the crux of my defense of an anonymous writer, that he or she is no less accountable than any other form of writer. If I don’t like what towncrier or N.Onimous writes, I can respond and attack with my own ideas (anonymously or not). The only thing I can’t do to towncrier is scare his or her children, or try to affect his employment (Which is a common retaliation for Internet enemies).
Look, there is absolutely no reason why N. Onimous, towncrier, bergwin, et al should have to put their jobs, businesses or families on the line to share their thoughts and engage in this great battlefield of ideas. At some point they may wish to do so, but in the end it truly is all about the voracity and power of ideas put into words – not the person typing. Oh, to be sure the so-called journalists out there love to bash anonymous writers because it takes away all the power from the journalist – he can’t have control, the anonymous writer has it and journalists eschew that whole notion.
If Reppe had any balls he would be encouraging more anonymity as it only increases thoughtful debate – and does nothing to hurt it. Forcing people to reveal their identities, on the other hand, would clearly have a chilling/controlling effect over ideas, just the way the Nazi’s preferred matters during their tenure in Germany…
Lastly, writing anonymously has a rich and very famous history in this country. Not the least of which include the following. I guess these guys should have kept quiet and really had no business speaking out….
1. Thomas Paine; Author of Common Sense, Age of Reason, Etc.
2. Samuel Adams; Anonymously posted notes and hung effigy dolls in Boston beneath an oak tree.
3. The Federalist Papers were originally written anonymously.
Now, you will note that I use my real name – frankly, I prefer to do that because I am not afraid of Reppe or Nelson or Muchlinski or any other socialist weeny writer for that matter. In fact, I relish the opportunity to confront these people directly. If anyone has a personal issue with my writing I can be found and am happy to deal with any one of them personally. Or, since California’s Governor was previously noted, as Arnold Schwartzenegger would say, “Go ahead, make my day.”
But that does not mean that I am opposed to anonymous writing. It has its proper place and space, long live anonymity!