This is a forum that welcomes anonymous users, but discourages abuse of anonymity.
Participation in a public forum can carry high risk when there is controversial content, especially in our fractured society. The stakes can be high, and sometimes it is appropriate to use an anonymous moniker to avoid reprisal in another context. For that reason, I want to emphasize that user anonymity here will be protected. Even if it is abused. We will not tolerate doxing, or exposing anonymous identities on this site.
At the same time, the people at greatest risk are those who are not anonymous, like many of the people here including myself. It is critical that we all respect this risk and keep this a safe place. Please respect the risk that some people are taking by being here. In particular be very careful about describing other’s views incorrectly. Quote the Forum Disclaimer when appropriate too.
In this way, more people might be encouraged to participate with their real identities.
Because we value anonymity, and respect the risk that people take here, we will also be very alert to anonymity abuse. This may be a new concept for people, and this Quora Post is a helpful starting point:
https://www.quora.com/What-constitutes-abuse-of-anonymity-on-Quora
As they put it, anonymity should be used as a legitimate shield from unfair reprisal elsewhere, not a mask for poor behavior here. Use it to protect yourself in the real world, not to protect yourself from the consequences of poor behavior here. A pattern of poor behavior here as an anonymous user will get you banned. The threshold for poor behavior, also, will be lower if you are anonymous.
Thoughts?