I thought it might be worthwhile to have a thread to discuss the new forum rules. This is not meant to be a thread to dredge up specific bygone events, or make silly demands on Linn, but just somewhere to discuss what the new rules are, how they will work, and perhaps even make suggestions.
The first question I had when reading the new rules was "how will Linn persuade people to enter real names, and will it be a ban-worthy offence to call yourself Seymour St John Cholmondeley Farquhar?"
Personally, I don't really like the prospect of having to display my real name, not because I wish to break rules or be abusive or unfriendly to anyone, but rather because I regard all other internet users as lunatics, and don't relish the prospect of unwanted people, including possibly burglars, being able easily to work out where I live and what I have in my music room. As a consequence, I'm not sure that I will continue to enjoy the privilege of this forum if Linn really wants to display my full name. I can understand the logic for it, but the rest of the internet is still a wild frontier, so I'm not sure a unilateral effort to remove anonymity will be workable, or even safe.
I also noticed that modern mortal sins like sexism are lumped in with hatred. I wondered if it's possible for someone to be a rational sexist who abhors persecution and hatred. I'm not saying that I fall into that category, but it does seem that there is an unequivocal acceptance of political agendae these days. Even this country's stupid laws occasionally mention that crimes of offensive behaviour may be qualified by intent to offend. As long as there is no hatred, deliberate offense or insult, what's wrong with being sexy?
This all said, let's remember that Linn hosts this site as an act of pure generosity, and is entitled to delete it, or me, on a whim.
The first question I had when reading the new rules was "how will Linn persuade people to enter real names, and will it be a ban-worthy offence to call yourself Seymour St John Cholmondeley Farquhar?"
Personally, I don't really like the prospect of having to display my real name, not because I wish to break rules or be abusive or unfriendly to anyone, but rather because I regard all other internet users as lunatics, and don't relish the prospect of unwanted people, including possibly burglars, being able easily to work out where I live and what I have in my music room. As a consequence, I'm not sure that I will continue to enjoy the privilege of this forum if Linn really wants to display my full name. I can understand the logic for it, but the rest of the internet is still a wild frontier, so I'm not sure a unilateral effort to remove anonymity will be workable, or even safe.
I also noticed that modern mortal sins like sexism are lumped in with hatred. I wondered if it's possible for someone to be a rational sexist who abhors persecution and hatred. I'm not saying that I fall into that category, but it does seem that there is an unequivocal acceptance of political agendae these days. Even this country's stupid laws occasionally mention that crimes of offensive behaviour may be qualified by intent to offend. As long as there is no hatred, deliberate offense or insult, what's wrong with being sexy?
This all said, let's remember that Linn hosts this site as an act of pure generosity, and is entitled to delete it, or me, on a whim.