This is a brief discussion of the author's views on anonymity.
The author of this entire tutorial wishes to remain anonymous.
Anonymity is an issue that brings many varied responses to it.
People say you have nothing to hide if you are doing nothing
wrong. I'm not so sure of this. First a link for you to a
case where the Supreme Court of the United States of America upheld an
authors right to maintain anonymity.
This is not the only case where that Supreme Court upheld
anonymity rights of an individual author. Now to return to the
question regarding if you've done no wrong, you need not hide. Let
us not forget the famous Underground Railroad that existed during the
United States Civil War period. This was used as a means to help
African American's in bondage to escape slavery. It was done under
cover of secrecy. Let's not forget the Underground that existed
during World War II when people hid Jews to keep them from being
apprehended by the Nazi soldiers. So we already see two uses of
hiding from the 'powers that be' of their given time that were of course
right, yet probably condemned by those in charge. And what about
Christianity. For a period in Roman times it was illegal to
practice Christianity. The only way for the religion to grow was
for people to practice it in secret. There are undoubtedly many
more examples of using the cloak of anonymity and hiding for positive
ends.
It is true that anonymity can assist others to do misdeeds. This
is a situuation that the reader must wrestle with in his or her own
conscience. I personally take the chance of anonymitiy's dark side
because of the advantages it has to offer in responding to any oppresive
force in one's life. Please read Ian Clarke's views on anonymity
and the freenet project on the Freenet Website .
In addition there are plentiful resources on the internet
discussing anonymity issues both pro and con. I favor everyone
informing themselves about this very important issue for our generation
and for those to come after us. Peace.