Anonymity: The Enemy of Civility
Downloaded an audio book for Seth Godin’s new one “Small is the New Big” yesterday. Interesting idea at the beginning of the book: if there was no more anonymity, the world would be a better place–the anonymity of the internet is ruining us. Do you believe that?Godin distinguishes between anonymity and privacy to alleviate fears that he’s describing a “big brother” world utterly lacking in privacy, suggesting that reduced anonymity does not necessarily result in reduced privacy. He dreams of living in a village where “everybody knows my name.” (I can hear the Cheers theme song…)
I think Godin’s onto something. Even “good” people (whatever that means) act differently when they are known than when they aren’t. I personally think that’s because “good people” aren’t really all that good at the core. We are restrained by society’s observations, our reputation. If we don’t want to be outcasts of society, we act good enough (when watched) to be accepted.
I don’t know which philosophers to cite here, but I could imagine one tracing out any number of codes of ethics from this point, starting with one’s belief about human nature:
- We are all bad in reality, and selfish, and since there’s no higher purpose or greater good, the best we can do is please ourselves. So screw everyone else.
- We are all bad in reality, and selfish, and since there is a higher purpose, this shows that we’ve fallen. Then the best we can do is to pursue the higher purpose.
- We are all good in reality, afterall. What’s so wrong with adapting our behavior to the environment, looking better when others are looking? So the best we can do is please ourselves; but since part of what pleases us is being fit in society, it is in our best interest to play nice.
- We are all good in reality, and it is a function of society to draw out that good that is within us. That’s why we need to be known by society; to ensure that the best is brought out of us. So the best we can do is build community because that makes us all better.
September 5th, 2006 at 10:29 am
#2.
Would everyone knowing my name - but not truly knowing me - make me any less selfish at the core? Would it truly make me a better person? Sometimes anonymity just makes a person more honest - sometimes anonymity on the internet does nothing more than let someone live out a fantasy of who they would like to be - it goes to both ends of the spectrum if you ask me…which you did not.
Would you recommend the book? Or did it just give you one line to think about?
September 5th, 2006 at 11:10 am
“i.e.”, I’m not far enough into the book to recommend it on the grounds of good content. But I’ve found the author captivating in the past, and I do have great expectations for this title as well.
No, I don’t think people knowing your name would make you any less selfish. For that matter, people truly knowing you wouldn’t do the trick either. At best, having people watching might result in a modification of your behavior to look better. Addressing evil at the core, aka “making me a better person,” requires a heart transplant. Only God can do that.