Do you have first-hand information that needs to get out to the public, but you’re afraid you’ll lose your job if your identity is revealed? If so, I have a suggestion for you: talk to a journalist.
I would specifically recommend talking to Jonathan Ahl. He’s a reputable, experienced journalist. He, unlike bloggers, has a lot of case law backing up his right as a journalist to protect anonymous sources. He has had professional training in protecting a source’s identity. He can help you get your information out (assuming it’s true and newsworthy) in a constructive way without compromising your identity. Naturally, you must have first-hand knowledge (not merely a rumor you heard) and be able to sufficiently prove your allegation to him.
Here’s what does absolutely no good: posting anonymous comments on blogs with no supporting evidence. First of all, if you talk to a blogger, there’s a pretty good chance we’re not going to be able to legally protect your identity if we get subpoenaed (short of going to jail for your sake). Secondly, no one has any reason to believe you because you’re just a pseudonym with an unfounded accusation, for all we know. Third, if what you post is libel, any reputable blogger will remove your statements anyway.
And I have another piece of advice: if you do contact a journalist, don’t do it from work. Don’t send a whisteblowing e-mail from a company computer. Even if you’re posting anonymously or from a Hotmail or Yahoo account, your company knows what was written from which computer in their network, and they know who was logged on that computer at what time. Trust me, you will be discovered. If you’re going to write an e-mail, at least write from home; a public computer at the library would be even better.
CJ says: “Secondly, no one has any reason to believe you because you’re just a pseudonym with an unfounded accusation”
Additionally, it is conceivable that all anonymous commenters on one particular subject could actually be only ONE clever user with an ax to grind and using multiple ID’s.
CJ, in addition to (or instead of) your suggestion of using a public computer, I’d recommend that you use TOR (the onion router) when anonymity is a priority.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tor_%28anonymity_network%29
Or the local TV stations and newspaper. Unless Ahl has all the wisdom.
Anonymous — Like I said, “talk to a journalist.” I assumed readers would know that includes all journalists of all media, including TV, radio, and newspaper. I singled out Ahl because I know him and feel comfortable recommending him, but any of the many fine journalists in town can help anonymous sources.
I recommend contacting Melissa Theuriau. She is outstanding !!!
Billy, that is the smartest thing you said all day.
I had intended to post a picture, but C.J. won’t let me.
Billy — I can’t find any setting that prohibits you from putting an img tag in the comments section. Are you sure you typed it in right?
You know. I believe Vespa is right. In fact, lets do away with anonymity completely. Anonymous blogging stinks! Voting booths? Who needs voting booths? Flick a switch and a neon billboard lights up showing the world who you voted for. Heck, if you are Catholic, step right up to the microphone and let the entire world know your dirty little secrets. Who has “the axe to grind?”
Hate to tell you Mr. Voice, but they are well on their way to doing away with voting booths. Stripping away all privacy is part of the game plan for the new world order totalitarian state.
(Doubters, you won’t be scoffing in a few years, so you better not stick your foot too far into your mouth).
Bottom line is if I can’t stay anonymous it’s no fun anymore. I, like many aren’t going to voice my real opinion about something if you have to worry about your boss or co-workers or family or friends reading as they may not agree with your real thoughts all the time and it could cause problems. This is a great way to express your thoughts and ideas in a public forum. I agree though it is not fair to write or gossip untruths or rumors about someone on an anonymous blog site, especially at the local level.
Anonymous or not, the voice of the people MUST be heard. In the arena of ideas and ideology, ideology always wins unless ALL ideas are expressed and heard. Requiring anonymity supresses the voices of those most deeply effected by ideological Kahunas. Marx wrote: The ruling ideas of society have always the been the ideas of the ruling class. We should not have a ruling class in our “ideal” American experiment. Unfortunately, because voices are suppressed by those with power, we do have a ruling class in America. Therefor, anonymity is essential for the continuation of the dream first conceived by David Hume, and put into action by Samuel Adams, Thomas Paine, Thos. Jefferson and the other founding fathers of this country.
exactly what I was thinking : )
Kind person says “I agree though it is not fair to write or gossip untruths or rumors about someone on an anonymous blog site, especially at the local level.”
‘nuf said.
kcdad: ANYONE can post anonymously on my blog. I just need them to have a verifiable email address. If someone needs to be more anonymous than that, they can start their own blog.
And truth be told, it is far, far, FAR easier to anonymously criticize the “ruling class” now than at any other time in human history.
Billy, I beg to differ with you. I have been signed up with your blog for a long time. I recently tried to respond to one of your articles and I was banned. I sent you an email regarding this and have heard nothing back from you. You know who I am and have met me personally.
Billy, unless I create a special email address that I use for nothing but your blog, it is not anonymous. My ‘anon’ email address can still be linked to me without too much searching. Granted, that is only made possible by a combination of a small oversight on my part and the poor privacy practices of a particular software that I use, but I doubt most people are any ‘cleaner’ than me.