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Monday, February 08, 2010

SA backflip on online political discussion

After posting here in defence of anonymity and pseudonimity, used reasonably, in online political discussion, I missed the ensuing fuss last week over the South Australian law to try to haul this in during the pre-election period, only to read in the Weekend Australian of the complete government backflip, under pressure, and some other colourful aspects of the public life of the minister responsible, Attorney General Michael Atkinson. David Penberthy on The Punch, while welcoming the move, makes the point that "the tone and quality of many (online)) comments is abysmal, and it’s a problem which stems in large part from anonymity." I can believe it, although Anonymous -apparently in many incarnations - is  our best and best informed commenter here.

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