Is it possible to have a discussion

Is it possible to have a discussion about ethics and or morality on a public forum that allows or advocates anonymity ? Most on here would agree that honesty is the best policy . My question is .... Are we honest because we want to be ? A choice to be honest ? Or are we honest because it is natural and part of who we are ? If given the choice , not knowing who we are , where we live , would that effect our honesty ?? I know some who are keeping score will salivate on this subject to subdue others . I ask it as an individual question for the person to ask themselves and if you want to tell us about it . Not intended to start a finger pointing salvo;s . prigz pizzing contest would fit here . Thanks prigz for that . :) B) ;) B)>>>

Wywoody, are you a words midwife? "Bloviate" is a interesting word. I don't think I've encountered this species before. ;)>>>

Tico, what a story. In all that you didn't mention the good Lord. Believer? I always wonder why we are born into certain situations. I heard once someone say that we are given the parents we get to make us the people we need to become. All you have been through, wow. Thanks for posting here.>>>

Patty Cakes Thanks , That being said I'm not to sure you know me very well . Then again I'm constantly challenged about the idea of what and why friendships are . Not only is the challenge about our friends oh , oh here it comes . Our spouses . THE LOVELY MRS CIAK the person I am supposed to be able to talk about anything - Is it the same with anyone else . Our close friends know us better than anyone else in the world, and still like us... Whoa , baby . Could it be that there are giant parts of us that they miss entirely or we don't show them and or do we do the same thing with them. tico You are one of the lucky ones where honesty is automatic . You don't have to think about it . You don't have to decide if you are going to be ...you just are . A blessing >>>

This isn't a direction I had imagined this topic heading to so early . Very insightful prigz. Let's talk about the value systems of people we think we know and their anonymity . We think we know them very well. Are they hiding who they really are ? Do we know them as well as we might think or is that an illusion . If it is an illusion is it good or bad right or wrong , As a suggestion we probably know alot less about our friends and may I even suggest spouses ( whoa, this is dangerous ) We think we know them but , the question is do we ? As much as I admire THE LOVELY MRS CIAK I'm often completely wrong about what she likes or dislikes, I'm very certain about THE LOVELY MRS CIAK'S political beliefs . We have found a way to erase the tensions when it comes to tastes, our cherished values that sometimes are not the same. I'm guilty of low balling the ethics of some of my co-workers. I've also overestimated how happy THE LOVELY MRS CIAK is at times . I have myself to blame on this one . When we were younger Sex and ragging hormones were more important than getting to know each other . We deal with that now in a more conscious and mature way . Damn I miss being young J/K :laugh:>>>

Since morality/ethics are subjective, it is very important to know the context and value system within which a commentator is operating. If the statement "X is bad" was offered by the village idiot, we could give little weight to it.. If the same opinion was offered by someone we revere, then obviously the weight/importance we give it is much higher. So anonomity does not allow us to judge whether it is the village idiot or the revered elder making the pronouncement.

We also know that people have blind spots in their psychological or mental makeups. A person may be reliable and knowledgeable and logical in one field, and have extreme, off-the-wall ideas in another. If, for instance, Miss Zamboni, is a world-renown expert on Middle-East economics and the monetary system, but has some pretty extreme ideas on eugenics, then I would attribute considerable weight to her prononcements on economics, but probably be very sceptical of her other views. Again, under the cloak of anonomity, we just don't know what kind of credentials and track record someone brings to the discussion.

As for honesty on an on-line forum, people tend to be honest when there is a good chance they will be caught. If someone is known only by their avatar, what incentive do they have to tell the truth, and how will anyone "know" that it is the truth without independent verification? Perhaps, someone has to be undercover because they are in a sensitive position and their organization would not be happy to know that this person is sharing confidential knowledge. Or they really are nobodies, and are desperately trying to prevent anyone else from finding that out. Or... we may have ideas that we really don't want to share with people unless we really know where they stand. I don't think one can assume or even hope that what we read is the "honest opinion" of someone else that we don't know. Maybe it is, and then again, maybe it isn't.>>>