The question of anonymity seems to have been brushed on here, and it is also something which has come up on other forums, so I would like to state my personal position, which is probably not that of anybody else here.
To some or even many, openly stating your name and identity is either considered or characterized as being necessary to establish trust, responsibility, and credibility. It is also considered important in the establishment of relationships and truthfulness. And I might well agree with all of that!
On the other hand: A forum such as this is by its very nature “anonymous”, in that anybody in the world can come, lurk, read, and learn – it is a fish bowl. This is intended of course. But what is not necessarily intended (at least for me) is that people I do not know learn personal things about me, my family, and my life which inevitably come out over time. And these are by no means limited to orthodox minded people.
Today, all one has to do is do a Google search on a persons name and they can often find out a great deal, and these people are potentially the enemies of Orthodoxy. There can easily be situations where people I don’t even know take something I say out of context and transmits that to someone I do know, even intentionally, to hurt me or the Orthodox cause. I can think of many other undesirable situations and am sure there are many more I have not thought of. Most people would not want the FBI to have a file on them, and I certainly don’t want the entire world to have a file on me of any kind.
I guess my point is that if people are going to get to know me personally, I would like that to be done on equal terms and with my ascent. Those who I have grown to trust and respect know who I am. I have also not claimed to be a bishop, a priest, or anything other than a forum handle, and I would hope that anything I say is either true or false on its own merits and not because of whose saying it.
To conclude, I will say that if someone wants to know who I am, if that person has established a reputation of at least being respectful on this forum or another forum, I would be happy to reveal it.
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Dear in Christ Brothers and Friends,
With the new ### of the posters, this a good opportunity for illustrate the convenience of REAL NAMES. Do you think that some can write to other some as?:
"hey,007,
your post is OK.
But beware with 900, that seems suspicious,
Yours,
89 (Maxwell Smart)"
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LOL,LOL, LOL.
GIORGOS+
Dear in Christ Joasia (Miss,Mr?) [This is not a joke],
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Precisely this is the problem with my English.I am from a generation that has been educated with some high standards: In the National College of the La Plata University, I had six years of French and five of English as Foreign Languages.
Sometimes, I can write without many problems,sometimes not. It's depend of matters,readings, et coetera. Besides this depend from the speed in write and a good Dictionary at hand .
My family have a Greek background, but my native language is Spanish.
I understand some of Greek, of course, and as all the argentinians some of Italian.
But,in generally, I speak so so .
There are not mistery in all of this.
And, please, my precedent message is so bad?
Giorgos
PS. A REMARK, DO YOU REMEMBER A TOPIC NAMED "SHOW US YOUR PICTURE!"?
Nobody was capable to inform at the all poor posters that has a danger in publish his portraits, what are now, God knows in what hands ...? LOL, LOL and LOL
DEAR IN CHRIST GPHADRAIG (IS A NAME?),
If you are in this thread you have possibly see that there are a question from Joasia about my English. These has been my answer.
Besides, there are a mini-response to the defenders of the anonimity because he thinks that reveal his own identities is dangerous.
Yours, IN THE LOVE OF CHRIST
Giorgos