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2009-06-05 18:58:04 Welcome to the Wiki. Please consider the importance of using your RealName, because using your real name is a way to acknowledge that this is a community. If you don't want to use your real name at least introduce yourself. —JasonAller
2009-06-16 21:00:50 I prefer anonymity, I'll be around for a while, some comments may seem controversial from time to time and I'd rather not have to deal with the consequences of completely free web-expression in real life. —davisreviewer
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2009-06-17 07:23:26 I have to give you credit for being honest about your intentions even if I do not agree with them. I think you'll find the amount of feedback you'll get over your name to be out of proportion with other anonymous names because of the particular name you choose. "Davis Reviewer" has several issues. Starting a name with "Davis" is redundant for the Davis Wiki and somewhat limits your participation on other Wiki Spot wikis like Woodland. "Reviewer" implies a certain claim on the word as a title rather than a description. Combine those with your stated intention to make controversial comments that you don't feel comfortable backing up with your real name and rankles those who came here and have stood behind their words with their name. Another similar name was "Davis Resident" which always makes me react, "What, like I'm not a resident of Davis?". That claim of exclusivity to what reads more like a title rather than a name seems off-putting.
This is a community. Several of us are working hard to get past the acrimony and crap that gets added in the form of business reviews and look at the Wiki as a means of communication, documentation and a tool to help improve this town. No other community has as healthy a Wiki or has done as good a job of documenting the "especially the little, enjoyable things". Some of us find links that need to be made, others fact check phone numbers and business hours. Some are photographers, others writers or explorers. We try to reach out to the masked individuals here and let them know that this isn't one of the shadowy corners of the internet, but an extension of the town. Behavior counts here. —JasonAller
2009-06-16 21:40:50 Just realize that many people may not take your "davis reviews" as seriously if you're not willing to stand behind your statements with your name. —WesHardaker
2009-06-16 22:02:35 But you're willing to bring those consequences to others. Thanks man. —BrentLaabs
- I've had restaurant waiters at places I frequented recognize me when I paid with my credit card, and even comment to me "Oh, you're on DavisWiki" when I used my real name. That's not something I want, and I bet that's not something other people want either. It made me feel uncomfortable when I went there again. If I had said something like the servers are awful, the water service too slow, and I waited for the bill too long, that very well could be "controversial" comments. Thankfully, I had said the place was great (and I suppose it could be a good thing, perhaps the waiter would have tossed me free dessert or something to boost a review? heh). But ultimately, reviews are certainly things I do not want any establishment to associate with my person. The assumption that people might want some anonymity from their comments isn't ridiculous at all. What if a professor on the wiki wants to critize a course, or let loose some of their political beliefs? There was a recent case of a political blogger outed to be a professor of law, and it surely affected his professional career. The wiki does engage in such debates, be it abortion, gun control, or things like Covell village. The notion that we should only use our real names ever because anything else is horrible would be fine, if all we were willing to post about were rainbows, puppies and sunshine. I'm of the belief that people will be more honest and open when they feel safe doing so, which would involve posting under an alias. Sure, you also get a lot of people coming in with all caps insults, and that'll always happen regardless of what's done. (It's the internet, baby. People also used to leave those comments in the suggestion boxes of the dining commons. You don't take them seriously, and move on). But to assume that is a general characteristic of people who wear "ski masks to the farmers market" and how 95% of non-realname users make jerk edits or whatever that stupid pie chart said goes beyond unfair and is in my view rather unwelcoming to new users, and unrealistic in terms of topics and the reach of the wiki. -ES
2009-07-30 18:46:10 To Jason. I'll claim "reviewer" because no one else has. Welcome to the internets, it's serious business. To Wes. More power to them, where they choose to spend their money and time is of no importance to me. To Brent. Think before typing. To ES. The first comment that fully makes sense.
If people are going to act like this just because I choose a name I prefer it should be no wonder why I'd prefer anonymity. With reactions like this I wouldn't be surprised if someone tossed a Molotov into my car for correcting a pricing typo. —davisreviewer
- Welcome to a community of neighbors. It's just downright *odd* when somebody uses a pseudonym among the real people living around you. Believe me, I know. :) It's okay, of course, but it is like somebody walking into a community block party, saying "yeah, I live down the street... call me Street Dweller". This isn't the internet at large, it's a tiny corner. You're not alone in using a pseudonym here, just a rarity. You can expect some odd looks, just as you'd get at the block party if you introduced yourself as "Street Dweller". Stick around and it'll blow over, but it will be somewhat odd when you talk to people around town face to face, something that is less likely on the internet at large. (People often feel weird when they call me JabberWokky, but that's a old theater nickname that predates the world wide web, and I'm comfortable with either that or "Evan" in real life). To each their own, of course. I'd offer you a Molotov cocktail, minus the rag, plus a cherry on a toothpick, if I had one. Welcome to the Wiki! —gnomeEvan 'JabberWokky' Edwards
2009-08-03 18:08:24 I don't plan to walk around Davis introducing myself with conversation about my posts on daviswiki so I guess I won't have any problems. There's not much else to say, and making anymore conversation on the topic is pretty much pointless.—davisreviewer
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