Kha Khan
Patron Meritorious
I posted the following on WWP in response to a post there. I thought people here might find it of interest.
First, let me say that not only do I agree with all your post except for the part quoted above, I think it is quite good and insightful.It is important for us to remain anonymous. That is why we are anonymous. If we weren't then we wouldn't exist. It's not because we are afraid of OSA that we remain anonymous. It's because it keeps everyone in check (there are no leaders) Our egos have no hope of trying to become bigger than what we are because there is no name or person that runs this. We run this as a collective and solely based on our group individual conscience.
But as an outside observer, I don't agree with the portion quoted above. I think it is BS. Don't get me wrong, I'm not calling you a liar. As an ex-Scientologist, I'm all too familiar with people who believe their own B.S. I know I certainly have.
But when Anons get upset, or perturbed, or angry about being "namefaged," it is not because there is a resulting danger that the "ego free," individually nameless nature of collective will somehow be endangered. No, it is because, oh shit, now the COS may show up on their doorstep, or leaflet their neighbors, or harass their elderly parents, or call their employer, or do a background check to find any old criminal convictions, debts, etc. All of which has happened to Exes.
And anyone who has been on the net any length time knows that quite a bit of reputational capital, and resulting ego enhancement, can accrue to a pseudonym like, say, "isupeonedDavidmiscaviage." I've seen people fight vicious online wars to protect both the reputation of their pseudonym and their ego. Yes, I'm guilty of that too.
I mention this not merely to be an asshole, but because I've seen more than one post on WWP to the effect that Exes were cowards who didn't do jack shit before the dawn of Anonymous. Posts that ignore the fact that, at least when they showed up IRL, Exes weren't anonymous and never had the option. So, yeah, the Exes had Scientologists show up on their doorsteps, leaflet their neighbors, harass their elderly parents, call their employers, and do background checks. It was unavoidable. Some, in the old days, got their asses sued.
So, please don't kid yourselves about not being afraid of OSA, and maintaining anonymity only because it serves as a check on the ego.
And you know what? There is no shame in rational fear of OSA. Ask anyone who has had their 85 year old grandmother receive anonymous, untraceable phone calls asking why their grandson is is attacking a church and interfering with religious services. The danger of that happening would sure be enough to make me wear a mask.
