Charles Podles wrote:
Are there any *valid* uses for anonymizing proxies, or are they used only to vandalize, troll, and dodge hard bans? Can anyone think of a situation in which someone might have a legitimate purpose for such a tool? Since I can't, I wouldn't object to a permanent block of any and all anonymous proxy services.
Some people who are engaged in controversial conversation that may endanger their lives may very well feel the need for the protection of an anonymous proxy. An example might be a Chinese dissident operating secretly from within China to rally pro-democracy, pro-freedom support overseas.
Another example might be users of a message board dealing with sensitive personal issues like rape, incest. The victims may fear further victimization if their identity is known.
None of those kind of uses applies in the case of Wikipedia. If you have such a severe personal situation that editing Wikipedia with the level of anonymity provided by an ip number is dangerous to you, well, I guess you shouldn't edit wikipedia.
--Jimbo