Poll: Anon Memes

[apple_pathways]

MUST. STOP. SPAMMING. FLIST!

...tomorrow. In the meantime, I have a poll!

So I've mentioned here several times that I like to lurk/post on various anonmemes. The ones I've posted to are: fail_fandomanon, who_anon, and eleventy_kink. (Oh, and I theoretically mod concrit_anon, though it's pretty slow-goings there these days.) I've visited/perused others, but these are the ones I visit regularly.

The idea of "outing" comes up often on fail_fandomanon: as in being "outed" as someone who reads/posts to the comm. I think that's a pretty grandiose term for a fairly frivolous pursuit. Not only that, but people will refuse to name the fandom they participate in for fear of being recognized. Perhaps if you're the only Kimmy/Joey shipper in a miniscule Full House fandom you have something to worry about, but even then, I doubt it: even if you're the most visible fan in your fandom, there are still hundreds of others who are either lurkers or infrequent participants. I think the number of fans who are readily recognizable by only the general details of their fandom participation (i.e. Sherlock fan who ships Watson/Lestrade and is into BDSM) is pretty low.

Also: aren't these people being just a bit paranoid? Would they really be shunned in fandom circles in people knew they posted to an anonmeme? And is it any anonmeme, or is it this one in particular? (I mean, I can understand the panic of anon-failing on a particularly catty/vicious comment, but then: that's just karma. If you're coward enough to keep someone you dislike on your flist and then complain about them behind their back in a public forum, you sort of deserve what's coming to you.)

So, flist, help me out: What do you think? Detailed results are viewable to just me, and as always, feel free to be honest: I have a thick skin, and I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to know. (For instance: you will never hear me ask if my ass looks fat in these pants, so don't tell me! :P)

[Poll #1755088]

(Feel free to share questions, concerns, and any points I might have missed in the comments. Also, a question I forgot to add to the poll: does fail_fandomanon have a particular reputation in your fandom/circle of friends?)

Comments

[ladybracknell.livejournal.com]

Anon memes are one of those things I kind of don't get. I've written anon on kink memes and I get that aspect and I think they're really cool, but going anon for general fandom chat puzzles me - I tend to find the anonymity of my totally made up username enough, tbh. Maybe it's just that I never have anything to say I wouldn't stand by?

I think going anon to hate on your fellow fandomers is vile, but there's plenty of logged-in stuff that goes on on LJ which I think is vile, too, so I'm not about to claim anonymity is the root of all evil. I just tend to stay away from them because I hate seeing people talk trash about my friends and I know the misery they can cause people.

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's just that I never have anything to say I wouldn't stand by?

Honestly, I only post anonymously on these memes because it's one of the rules. (It's a good thing, too, because I anonfail all the time, usually with some spectacularly banal comment like "I like my toast with peanut butter". FASCINATING, apple_pathways: tell us more!) I figure that if I wouldn't say it with my name attached, it's probably something that shouldn't be said.

But not everyone else is like that. LJ is full of self-conscious, socially awkward types, and I think the idea of posting anonymously appeals to them. I have had some of the most mundane and un-controversial conversations on anon memes: just last week I was talking about herb gardening and what to cook with tarragon. I think a lot of people end up there not because they have anything particularly mean or controversial to say: but simply because they're shy and a enjoy having a conversation without the expectations attached to conversing with their flist.

Also, with the culture in fandom being "all positive, all the time" I'm not surprised a lot of people feel uncomfortable expressing negative opinions online. Not just "I think userx is a jerk whose fic sucks" but also "I actually enjoyed the last series of that show" or "I don't know why everyone else is raving about that book, I hated it."

Anyway, I find a lot of the discussions that come up to be interesting. But if I ever find myself wanting to have a discussion, I tend to bring the topic over here to you folks. At least then I can count on thoughtful responses!