Trolling.

[sapelesam]

During a dinner party, the subject of why trolling started and how to stop it came up. My opinion has always been that the internet's anonymity has given power to sad individuals who have never had any influence in their lives. My solution is simple, let me know your opinion, make it illegal to use a pseudonym, every post must be in your real name. I am sure this would stop the haters who hide behind their cloak of invisibility.

[Buenchico]

>>> make it illegal to use a pseudonym

With three and a half billion users of the internet, spread across nearly 200 countries, how do you propose enforcing your new law?

[Bathsheba]

Can't understand folk who hide behind a pseudonym.

Baths
x x

[Postdog]

Or a fictitious name.

[Mamyalynne]

Your idea though laudable is unworkable.

[jno]

Facebook tried that but people didn't like it.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/nov/02/facebook-real-name-policy-protest

[ludwig]

School and workplace bullies don't hide behind pseudonyms but they still seem to get away with it quite alot.

[Old_Geezer]

It would also remove the opportunity for people to anonymously express opinion or inform. It would effectively remove much of the Internet's perceived value to huge swathes of people. As a solution it would cause more damage than it was worth.

[Elina]

sapel, impossible. A troll always finds a way, the internet is their

[Elina]

... playground.

[ummmm]

Very bad idea.

[Baldric]

///every post must be in your real name.///

Great idea, I'm John Smith, A bitter troll,now you prove I'm not.

[sapelesam]

John Smith, your internet provider has your real name. Real names shouldn't stop people expressing an opinion especially if we could do away with trolls. By the way, my name is Ian Fraser, that didn't hurt.

[ummmm]

Internet providers don't know how many people are living in a house and who is using what device.

[jackthehat]

My ISP has details of my wife's name......not mine.

[Buenchico]

>>> John Smith, your internet provider has your real name

But many people go online via VPNs, anonymous proxies or the Tor network, meaning that their IP address can't be traced. Others use public wifi services or PAYG mobile devices, which again leaves them hard to identify.

[ummmm]

Internet is not in my name either. Also, quite a few people use the wifi here.

[woofgang]

If you are such an advocate of it then why do you use a pseudonym on AB?

[sapelesam]

Hi Woofgang, when I first came to the site I followed like the herd animal I am and used a pseudonym, I am more than happy to use my real name, but then again I've never been trolled. I just feel that using real names would make the internet grown up.

[ummmm]

Not really. There's some sickos out there...