SHOULD YOU BE ABLE TO HIDE BEHIND A KEYBOARD? COURT SAYS NO IN NOVA SCOTIA

We had a buddy back when we were kids who used to talk a good game while we were in a car. He used to hurl abuse at everybody within earshot while we were driving by them. This caused a few problems, some of which were solved by an ability to drive faster than the guys behind us.

Our buddy was fully prepared to ignore traffic lights when he caused a problem and was behind the wheel. We called him the 60 mph hero and he was an unapologetic and proud owner of the title.

I think of him every time I watch a debate of nameless posters amp up the abuse in forums on every subject known to mankind. It is clear that anonymity breeds contempt when people can use a stage name in a debate.

On the flipside, the cover of camouflage probably makes for a more spirited discussion on forums.

 

We all have our inner voices that are dying to be heard, but it may conflict with our daily gig that has public relation requirements. So the whole thing boils down to a strength of conviction issue. You may be committed to the cause, but not if it compromises your ability to make a buck, or hold on to your community status level.

Personally I don’t know which way to go on this issue. But I have spent the past 25 years writing under my own name as an opinion columnist for my local daily newspaper. Not only that, I have my picture along with every article. The saving grace is the fact that I am an identical twin, so the punch could be misdirected towards my brother Jerry.

But the rules of engagement may have been changed by a court decision in Nova Scotia. A weekly newspaper and Google are under pressure to reveal the names of anonymous posters who took a few libelous potshots at some local firefighters on a website. Drive-by potshots suddenly come under serious scrutiny.

Some may contend that free speech rights are compromised by this move. You have always had the right to say whatever you want about somebody, but you may have to pay for the privilege. Slagging people while using a pen name may not protect you from a lawsuit if the courts uphold the decision.

It will be interesting to watch this one play out as a test case. Canada likely operates under a different set of rules than other countries, but I can’t help but believe that it will open up a new set of test cases.

Worst case scenario? We have to use our own names on a forum.

Maybe that is not such a bad plan in the long run.