Rather than discuss the merits of this particular "outing," I think it would be more productive to discuss ways of encouraging people to edit under their own names rather than anonymously.
I realize that some people have legitimate reasons for preferring to remain anonymous. Maybe they live under a repressive government. Maybe they do some of their editing at work and don't want to get in trouble with their boss. I don't have any quarrel with *allowing* people to be anonymous. Most people, however, might as well edit under their own name, and if Wikipedia could find a way encourage this, it would cut down on some of the trolling and flame wars. (People are more likely to be on their best behavior when their own name and reputation is attached to what they do.)
-------------------------------- | Sheldon Rampton | Research director, Center for Media & Democracy (www.prwatch.org) | Author of books including: | Friends In Deed: The Story of US-Nicaragua Sister Cities | Toxic Sludge Is Good For You | Mad Cow USA | Trust Us, We're Experts | Weapons of Mass Deception | Banana Republicans | The Best War Ever -------------------------------- | Subscribe to our free weekly list serve by visiting: | http://www.prwatch.org/cmd/subscribe_sotd.html | | Donate now to support independent, public interest reporting: | http://www.prwatch.org/donate --------------------------------