Originally posted by roadgravel
Examine the cookies in your browser and you question will be answered.

Haha. I am not paranoid about cookies, and I suppose the people that are paranoid would change the properties. Still kind of funny though.

Originally posted by killjoy45
The best conspriacies are discovered from leaked information. Example:If you had proof that the CIA was mind controlling GWB to get him to do what they want. would you register a account and post it? hell no you wouldn't.

Ummm...whereas if you did NOT register an account you would feel perfectly safe using your home or work PC to mess with the feds via an anonymous ATS post?

why even have a membership if there's not one needed to post here . and there's no accountability for their post's when they are not a member of this community. also it only invites confusion and anarchy to a generally civil community . there for we are all being lessened as a member's of a special group of people. VERY VERY OPPOSED TO ANONYMOUS POST'S ..........

What I hate is going back to a thread because it sais an anonymous user has made a new post. Then you go back to the thread and there aren't any new posts. Since the anonymous posts have to be reviewed first isn't this way too much trouble than it's worth? All that extra work just to make sure the anonymous user's point is topic appropriate and a valid argument.

If they provide information you are taking their word for it unless that information is cited. That's dangerous isn't it? That information could be someone else's college thesis paper or whatever. It's a loss of accountability in a way. I'm just saying it's one way people could abuse this privelage provided to them so that they can post without having to register, meanwhile not having to be held accountable for that abuse.

Sometimes when registered users make posts that break the rules here, they get points deducted. Sometimes in the thousands do they not? An anonymous poster can post whatever they want and it doesn't matter. Yet we who are registered should lose points if we make the same argument?

-ChriS

Geeeesh...Goes to show you how dumb you can be,,I had no idea that that poster was a bunch of differant folks. Some times I thought the person liked the topic then another post showed up on the same thread and it was an oposite position..I was getting real confused...I surely do feel like I just fell off the turnip truck!!
Zindo

Originally posted by BlasteR
All that extra work just to make sure the anonymous user's point is topic appropriate and a valid argument.

That is the main issue I would have with formally sanctioned anonymous posts. I'd like to know what controls, if any, are in place to lessen the impact of bias or prejudice. It seems intuitive that the anonymous poster feature could be used to steer discussion or topics in particular directions.

Heck, for all we know...the anonymous post function could be part of a social engineering experiment...and we're the lab rats. It's feasible.

Here is why the Annon poster is STUPID:

ALL ATS MEMBERS ARE ANNON!!!!!!!

What the hecks the point of making an annon post to .. what .. keep your annon post private? lol..

It's redundant, and for a while I thought it was the same person just posting a lot.. then noticed no info for it.

I don't like it.

I didn't like the Annon board before either, it was an excuse for the most ignorant of users to post the most ignorant content. Now we have annon on the board?

What ever...

Originally posted by RockpuckWhat the hecks the point of making an annon post to .. what .. keep your annon post private? lol..

Don't you visit forums where you are not registered? Aren't there times when you really want to post something, but don't want to bother signing up, so you just skip it? You might also not want to be responsible for what comments or flaming you might do, or you might be paranoid on some boards.

(Anonymous posters may believe they are unable to be tracked; they're wrong, of course.)

The benefit for ATS as a site is different. (You can figure that out, yourself).

Oh stop being babies. It's a great new addition and it adds tons of new experience and flavor to ATS, not only that but will bring in more members.

It is your duty as experienced ATS members to teach the the law of the land.

[edit on 19-5-2008 by LastOutfiniteVoiceEternal]

I think you should only be "allowed" 2 or 3 ANON posts till you have to register. It shouldn't be something you can continually do. Maybe it is like that for all I know, haven't heard much about it.

Originally posted by LastOutfiniteVoiceEternal
... It's a great new addition and it adds tons of new experience and flavor to ATS, not only that but will bring in more members....

If 90% of the traffic is non members and now a non member can post a reply, why would it bring in new members. I have seen posts that stated a person signed up so that they could make a post. Does not seem like it will get more people to sign up necessarily.

Have to agree with most here. There really is no point to being anonymous when in reality we are all anonymous but with a screen name. Get rid of it.

Just change the anony account to guest account and be done with it.

I don't want to loose the valuable input from lurkers just because of the stigma attached to the name "anonymous"

While I agree with the OP's sentiments largely, I must admit that from what I've seen so far, the Anon's posts do not seem to be disruptive...
Maybe, we'll get a few Whistleblowers who would otherwise avoid signing up and get some key information on an important event.

Originally posted by MidnightDStroyer

Originally posted by anxietydisorder
No worries, it's really not a big issue.
For the first time in the years I've been a member here I put an account on "IGNORE".
Just block all posts by "Anonymous ATS" and you'll never see another post by someone not logged in as a member.

To me, this defeats the purpose of "Free Speech."

Nope, that's not what defeats the purpose. The purpose of "Free Speech" is defeated by having the posts cleared by moderators who may have a particular opinion or ideology. Putting the account on "ignore" does nothing to impede the post creation. Makes no difference really....I doubt the ownership of ATS has been sworn to uphold the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. They make the rules.