This site/forum welcomes blog posts from all anonymous users (guests) as well as members. In the past, some issues have been raised whereby guests have chided/scolded our members/admins and this site, and have sought to lecture others on how to run things. They have defended their right to be anonymous, while at the same time denigrating this site and insulting others. So, here's a long overdue explanation of what membership is.
Membership is JUST a login ID. Depending on your needs/circumstances, you may bring your true real life details into your login, or just a nickname with no other details. When you become a member, you are not compelled to reveal your real life details as in your voter ID card. You...
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can still just have a nickname, with no other details in your membership.
The real key and similarity here is that members with logins have a history and reputation with this site - it does not matter if there names are real or fake. Guests do not. We do not care who the member is in real life. Your real life credentials and reputations don't matter in this site. You may just be known by a nickname, and so you are STILL more or less under an assumed identity and anonymous. But that login now builds history and reputation in blog postings and other activities. That is the most important thing to understand.
To clarify further, you might be a world-famous cardiologist, but when you newly login to this site under your real name (or create a nickname), you cannot demand that people respect you here. You may have be a top official with lifelong railway experience, but still you cannot demand that people respect you on the first day you become a member. A 20-year old guy who logged in and has performed helpful activities for the past 2 months carries more seniority and respectability than a guest user or a new member. All members start equally as a login ID, and their reputation stems from their contributions in this site. Your age, wealth and status in real-life does NOT matter here. If you know more than others or deserve respect, your blog posts will easily achieve that goal.
Hope the above explanation makes it amply clear, the distinction between real-life reputation/identity and internet membership/identity. Both are distinct and separate. In the internet world, your "login carries a reputation" irrespective of your station in real life. Since members are building up a reputation and history, they have a greater responsibility and accountability compared to guests. Admins have much more reputation and accountability, and thereby much more respect here.
Given the above situation, here are some posting guidelines.
1. Guests are most welcome to visit the site, and post their questions and thoughts. And like most guests in our culture, they will be treated with honour and respect. But guests may NOT come here and chide and scold our members and admins, or order us how to run this site. That is an abuse of your freedom. That is the analogue of guests barging into a home, eating meals and generally taking advantage of the facilities, and telling the inhabitants how to run the household. Guests will HAVE to respect our members and admins - no matter who they are in real life, or whether they are senior citizens or otherwise.
2. Members: Members have a reputation to protect. They are accordingly "citizens of this world". They may have an opinion on how to run this site or the attitudes of other bloggers. But once again, they are NOT permitted to scold our Admins, whether they be right or wrong.
3. Admins: Admins are long-time trusted members with a lot of reputation to protect. Senior Admins have even more at stake. Accordingly, they shall enjoy respect of all visitors - no matter who they are in real life. Please note that Admins are not 100% right in all matters - that was not the eligibility to become Admin in the first place.
There have been some comments in the past that this is not fair, and this not a true democracy. This is correct. All visitors are not equal. Guests are not equal to members. Members are not equal to Admins. Accountabilities and responsibilities are different, and so are the privileges.
There is a distinct pecking order in terms of privileges and responsibilities on this site. Everyone is expected to respect that. Any guests abusing the freedom offered by this site will be blocked further access.
Note: Members and admins are permitted to logout and post anonymously. Nothing wrong with that. Once again, this is a freedom allowed by this site. But, please note that when you post anonymously, your post stands alone. It will treated on its own merits. It will be answered or deleted based on its quality.
Members/Admins are requested to quote this post when necessary or faced with a crisis regarding who can do what.
You may reply to this post or add to its contents in replies. Thanks very much.