I agree in part, Liz. Any one case of disreputable behavior may have a reputable explanation or a helpful outcome.
But rules of thumb are still indispensable in everyday life. And we have seen anonymous posts on UC-list are strongly associated with malice, dishonesty and cowardice. These are all part of the Circle of Life; but so are mosquitos, and breast cancer. When somebody exhibits this behavior in public, it is disreputable and they should expect to make an impression of disreputability on others. UC-list is not a masked ball, where faking things is part of the game. Anonymity has nothing to do with newbies either, from what I can see. Whenever I walk into a roomful of strangers (which I do all the time), I say, "Hi, I'm Tony." Identifying yourself is normal and easy, if you mean others no harm. If you mean harm, an honorable print assailant takes especial pains to identify himself. Accuracy does not salvage this dishonor. -- Tony West From: Elizabeth F Campion I repeat, "I prefer attribution". My further comment was MHO, that said writer might have good reason to stay quiet and avoid any association with the straw figure, held up for immolation, by you and others. What may have been an oversight has been so roundly pounded beyond recognition, and the writer (possibly a hapless soul) defined as vile, sneaky, manipulative and part of some putative clique. I believe 'strangers' should be invited in, and bona fides revealed in a natural and organic manner. Most on this list are neighbors and even potential friends. "Newbies" should not be grabbed by the digital throat and shaken until they accept the pigeon hole assigned by the loudest bully. I'm not calling the post or subsequent silence the bravest or most honorable or smartest choice. But I'll note that it is hard to build relationships upon such a rocky start. C-7 may be choosing a new E-name as we speak. Committeeman7 did nothing wrong! Unfortunately he did nothing right. But the real harm is being caused by those who are abusing their talents and our time.
