Re: John Hancock

[ianb@sun670.telecom.tandem.com (Ian Bui)]

I didn't want to get involved in this thread because
it's a difficult issue -- balancing the need for free
speech against the need to protect ourselves against 
its abuse -- and because it could lead to unnecessary 
and/or unproductive arguments. But, since the issue
is still "hanging in the air", so to speak, I feel
compelled to put in my two cents before it comes 
crashing down on our little village...

In my view, anonymity has its use and purpose, for
there are times when anonymity is necessary and wise.
On the other hand, there are many more instances where
anonymity neither is needed nor should be encouraged.

It is not up to me to judge someone else's motives for
hiding their true identity using whatever means at their
disposal (a mask, a fake name, etc.). But what I do know
is that anonymity can lead to unaccountability and can 
sow seeds of distrust among the people. Thus, it must
be used only rarely, when the situation absolutely 
warrants it. Otherwise, we'll be setting ourselves up
for many episodes of "ne'm dda' da^'u tay", something
we've already seen too much of in our Viet community.

Trust is an expensive commodity these days, yet we need to 
earn more, not less, of it in order to improve the situation 
in VN and elsewhere. If we had to err, I'd rather see us err 
on the side of openness and transparency than on the side of 
closedness and secrecy. How about you?

Ian Bui (the Real, And Only, One)

ps. did anyone catch "John Hancock" in the movie 'Space Jam'? :))