Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth. - Oscar Wilde.
As an anonymous blogger (a lazy, inconsistent and infrequent one lately) this quote is just so true. I wonder why we feel so much more at ease with the truth when it cannot be directly connected to us by others?
A debate I heard a while ago about the blogging community was that anonymity presents the danger of the author not having to stand by what they are writing. This opens the door to all sorts of false and scandalous information that could lead the ignorant astray and damage reputations. Bah! Anyone who reads a blog (especially mine) and considers it a source of valuable information that they should base their own thoughts on has serious problems. People should understand that the written word is as corruptible as any other form of communication. Its dangers require at least two people, one to write it and one to read and believe it. Does not the reader need to accept some responsibility?
Oscar would have loved blogging. I wonder what he would have called his blog page? The Importance of being Scandalous? A Blog of no Importance?
Lady Blogosphere's Fan... On the subject of taking the written word for gospel, thous speakest aright. You are the skeptic's skeptic.
ReplyDeleteYou're more pseudonym than anonymous but I certainly know what you mean.
ReplyDeleteThe outing of Grog has pissed me off in so many ways that I steam every time I think of it.
Mitzi.... I am indeed skeptic. I do not enjoy the fact, but see no other choice.
ReplyDeleteShelley.... True, perhaps more digitally masked than anonymous. The OoG is kind of interesting. Perhaps it is an example for all of us who blog and wish our identities to remain unknown to take care. The pitfalls of the real world do seem to be becoming emulated in the online version.
Don't I know it. Far too many people know my secret identity - quite annoying as now I have to be nice to them all and rely on their niceness to keep my secrets. Woe.
ReplyDelete