National Highway

A good friend has been spreading rumours that this is me.

I announce a $100 prize for anyone who can find evidence to prove that!

I did write an anonymous blog briefly at one point, and it was obvious to everyone that ‘twas me. Funny thing was that even though my anonymous blog had no “abuse” or sexual innuendos, people were bent upon finding out who it was, and writing posts without naming me but making it obvious that “that blog” is written by “that blogger”, and mailing a hundred others about it. And the one who always takes the lead in such things is the blogger who pretends to be your best blogger friend. And then The Lady comes to you saying that ‘evidence’ has been found that it is you and that she represents The Lobby in asking me if I had a clarification.

I denied that it was me, and no, I didn’t see why I had to defend either the anonymity or the speech.

I didn’t want to say what I said there because I had deleted Mall Road from existence vowed to keep National Highway clean of blogwars – something I still try until someone comes carpet-bombing with vilification. And I didn’t write my own name on that anonymous blog because I wanted its contents to be considered, at least briefly, in an objective light, irrespective of who wrote it. And the ones who didn’t like it didn’t really have a response when the blog pointed out their shortcomings. They just wanted to find out who the author was: look that troll doesn’t have the balls to troll under his own name, went the predictable response. It was furthermore said that it was amusing that the ‘flame blog’ had its comments moderated – this on a (flame? you decide) blog that didn’t even allow comments.

Point is, boss: I don’t see why I don’t have the right to write an anonymous blog.

Bloggers have the right to stay anonymous – We’re continuing our battle to protect and preserve your constitutional right to anonymous speech online, including providing a guide to help you with strategies for keeping your identity private when you blog. (See How to Blog Safely (About Work or Anything Else).) [Link]

If you claim to champion free speech, you are being a hypocrite by launching a witch-hunt against an anoymous blogger. Go about with your witch-hunts, but if you can’t personally live by a principle then stop getting incensed when the Union of India blocks blogspot or somebody sends you a legal notice. (Reminds me of this.)

Meanwhile, Elementary Watson, that $100 awaits you.