"... are relationships and commitment as we know them even possible in a
place where identities are fluid? ... We reduce and encode our identities as
words on a screen, decode, an unpack the identities of others."
and Mark Poster:
"Without visual cues about gender, age, ethnicity and social status,
conversations open up in directions that otherwise might be avoided."
Both in "Cyberspace, Cyberbodies, Cyberpunk", p. 90
If we relate this to Facebook where we have all the information of the other persons if they are added to our friends list? In how far would we communicate in the same way as we did when we had an anonymous nickname and avator, not linked to our identities in Real Life. If everything can be linked to our person, will this decrease a sense of need for personal expression? Will opinions that don't agree with that of the general public be closed down in fear or repercussions?
There is something that could be said about the safety of anonimity. That you can say what's on your heart, without having to think about the future and outcomes that are impossible to be foreseen at this moment .. Here comes to mind the posting of pictures where you're drunk, partying, smoking pot or just anything that might conflict with future interests of companies or other entities.
The need for pseudonyms might be greater then we think.
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