...that's the assignment given to several of my students taking the First Year Seminar on Anonymous Communication in an Information Society. 

This week we are exploring tools that facilitate anonymous communication as well as ways to detect the identity of anonymous communicators. We are looking at the use of anonymous or pseudonymous posts to online bulletin boards, websites, and chat rooms.  We're also examining anonymous remailers that strip one's identity before sending mail to others.  They will also be experimenting with anonymous Wiki entries, anonymous exchanges on groupware sites, and playing with "identity" on a social networking site. 

With any of these tools, part of the issue is the ease with which anonymity is possible, the security and confidence users may associate with the tool's ability to provide anonymity, and other perceptions of just how anonymous one is with various tools. Beginning to understand that helps people know what options might exist and to make reasonable choices about efforts to interact anonymously.

So, who knows what sort of feedback we might get here and who knows who will be sending that feedback.  Maybe some people will identify themselves and perhaps some will not; maybe some replies will come from students in the course but perhaps other replies will come from elsewhere.  Stay tuned to see what happens!

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Anonymous IP:24.149.156.70 | 2008-02-28 13:06:37 This sounds like an interesting assignment. Maybe you should have blogged something really controversial, so people might have really needed to respond anonymously. Just a thought. Good luck.

Anonymous2 - It's still scary IP:128.6.30.197 | 2008-02-28 13:58:54 It's still scary. I can see IP address of the first respondent above. I barely know how an IP address informs identity of an individual. But, I know many users build respondents’ identities by tracing IP address on discussion forums. A tracer can create the posting history of a tracee who has used the same IP address. Readers may guess what kind of person he/she is based on the list of postings and judge the person (no matter who the person is). If someone traces my IP address (e.g., what and how many posting has my IP address done in SCILS blog), I must feel that my privacy is intruded and my anonymity is not secure. You know what, I am self-censoring while writing this message not to give any clue of my identity. But still, I may leave clues about me as many as the number of words I wrote. Ok, so, now, I stop this!

Anonymous2 - No option to delet or modify? IP:128.6.30.197 | 2008-02-28 14:04:48 Hum.... I am getting nervous....

Anonymous 3 IP:172.23.195.166 | 2008-03-03 22:22:21 I wonder why the IP address comes up when you post. Does that happen on every blog? I agree with the first posting that maybe the topic should be more controversial so that there is more to discuss. As for the second posting, I agree that someone can gain clues as to who is posting by what they type. In this case, my guess it that the second posting was made by a student because of the language that was used online. I think it would be interesting if you told your class to enter a chatroom during a class to see if each student could be identified by the way they interact in the chatroom.

Anonymous4 - Can I be the fourth? IP:128.6.30.197 | 2008-03-04 20:49:51 Let's see it

Anonymous2 IP:128.6.30.197 | 2008-03-04 21:02:02 No, I can't. Yes, I am the same person as Anonymous2. T.T Even though I don't need to reveal my real name, I should keep consistent with myself. It will lead me to build a new virtual identity or to disclose my actual identity. If I keep posting on SCILS blog, someday, people can say "Yes, I know the person (who is using IP:128.6.30.197). An IT expert in SCILS may trace who I really am just for fun, and he/she may easily figure out where I am posting messages. My Anonymity is not really secure. I should not use any flaming expression. should be polite!!

passleo'lies - anonymouse blah_g IP:130.156.129.254 | 2008-04-02 21:08:36 I'm contributing to this fun challenge. Do you know who I am? Do I know who I am? I'm not signed in at this computer, just using it. Can you still tell who I am? If you can--why doesn't the class email me and let me know? I'd love [hate?] to know how scarey this all really is! ----Someone Sincere

Beauty articles - http://www.beautysupply7.com/ IP:122.163.2.254 | 2008-04-03 05:30:34 that's really a fantastic post ! ! added to my favourite blogs list..

funlessome - Anonymous Communication IP:71.0.96.46 | 2008-04-03 14:11:39 Was browsing the SCILS page and cam acrss this log and thought I'd post. If you want to look at a highly used anonymous list visit "Scarlet Nation". It deals with sports of course.

ken onion knife - http://www.thekershawstore.com IP:122.163.0.57 | 2008-04-07 05:33:39 that's really a fantastic post ! ! added to my favourite blogs list..

Myspace Layouts IP:122.163.0.230 | 2008-04-09 03:58:58 that's really a fantastic post ! ! added to my favourite blogs list..

Free Powerpoint Templates IP:122.163.0.230 | 2008-04-09 03:59:44 I have been reading your blog last couple of weeks and enjoy every bit. Thanks.

Free Obituary Templates IP:122.163.83.170 | 2008-04-23 03:11:39 I have been reading your blog last couple of weeks and enjoy every bit. Thanks.

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