Is there a way to ask or answer or a question anonymously on HubPages?

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   sallybeaposted 10 years ago

   
   Some people might have a personal experience they would like to share without their identity being revealed.  Is this something which has ever been considered before?

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      FlourishAnywayposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You could always open up a profile using a pseudonym.  Don't know if that helps.

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         sallybeaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Think there may be a more simple approach than that - most times I am pretty straight forward but on the odd occasion I hesitate to ask or answer a question.

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      Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      That is a good idea, other than emailing a hubber, but then the rest would not benefit from the answer or situation.  I know hubbers who do not have their true photo and/or real name, do so for private reasons or so they are free to write was they so choose pretty much.

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         sallybeaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         I agree, I only in exceptional situations would ever email a Hubber.

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      Jodahposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I think I agree with the suggestion of having an 'anonymous' button, but there are fors and against as expressed here. I have refrained at times from commenting in forums that I feel could become too controversial. I do love that gorilla though sallybea.

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         sallybeaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, the gorilla was one of many created especially to be auctioned in order to raise funds for charity in Norwich, Norfolk.  They were life size and made to look like famous people. They were dotted throughout streets of the city.  Baby ones displayed in local schools and shops. The previous year there made Elephants. 
         I completely agree with you about entering a conversation where you might find yourself in a place where you don't want to be.  Thank you for your input Jodah.

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   NateB11posted 10 years ago

   That would be a good idea. It is one of the rights of a writer to be anonymous and it is one of the great things about the Internet that many people can speak freely and be anonymous, free of censure, ridicule, reprisal and coercion.

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      sallybeaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Something for HubPages to consider perhaps!

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   brakel2posted 10 years ago

   You could get someone else to ask it.

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      sallybeaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I was considering the idea of having a button which we could click if we wanted to remain anonymous

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         Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         An anonymous button is a great idea!

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            sallybeaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Thanks Faith Reaper - If we can all agree that this is something we would like, we could put the idea forward to http://hubpages.com/forum/category/6634
            for possible consideration as Matthew Meyer suggests.

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   SmartAndFunposted 10 years ago

   I frequent a forum with an "anonymous" button. Members can either post using their registered member name, or click the "post anonymously" button, and no one but the mods can know who made the post.
   
   It works very well on that forum, but this forum is a completely different animal. It seems as though the mods here want to keep dialogue noncontroversial. People are banned for the slightest little things. I think anonymous posting would open a can of worms that the mods here don't want opened.

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      sallybeaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      SmartAndFun - I guess if the mods could still ban the person so it would make little difference to them.!
      Not having being in the 'banned' situation and hoping this is not a likelyhood, I do believe that some people would be more likely to enter the fray if they felt they could speak openly.

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         SmartAndFunposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         I agree; it works very well on that other forum.

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   brakel2posted 10 years ago

   I sometimes feel like I want to be an anonymous person. It would be nice. Maybe it is not that important for people to know who is asking the question. I know the ads and income from questions need to be addressed, however.

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      sallybeaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      It would be nice brake12 - on those occasions when you feel you would like an share an opinion and ask for some help but don't want to make an idiot of yourself. - ha.

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         innerspinposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         One site I use, people get very uppity about anonymous posts. "We're all friends here, why would anyone not want to give a name?" type of thing. I do think  it can be helpful in a question/answer setting to remain anonymous at times.

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            sallybeaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            I completely agree 99 percent of the time but there have been occasions when I have wished I could discuss something personal in a non personal way.

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   The Examiner-1posted 10 years ago

   Was your question about the person/persons remaining anonymous from only other Hubbers or staff also?

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      sallybeaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      No, just other Hubbers, definitely not staff, I do prefer honesty and transparency at all times but at times, the truth can be too close to home.

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         The Examiner-1posted 10 years agoin reply to this

         I do not know if this will work but the person/persons can try using a pen name different from their usual, if the staff will allow it. They will probably know and send an email to the correct person if it is not allowed.

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            sallybeaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Sorry, think you misunderstood me - i had no intention of speaking to any person directly, this would be general discussion but incognito.

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               The Examiner-1posted 10 years agoin reply to this

               I do not believe that I did. I was thinking that you meant asking in a Q/A, forum, etc., so that multiple answers would not know who asked.
               
               When I mentioned the email, I meant staff.

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   SmartAndFunposted 10 years ago

   I believe it is against the TOS to post using multiple accounts within the forums. However, as long as you weren't trolling and causing trouble with you anonymous sock account, you probably wouldn't get reported or banned.

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      sallybeaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      No, I did not want a more than one account -just thought it might be good to be able to ask a general question occasionally without revealing personal information.

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         Matthew Meyerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         @sallybea.
         
         In order to participate in forums or questions, a user needs to create a HubPages account.
         Authors can enable anonymous comments for their Hubs if they would like, but that is the only site content that is allowed from a user without an account.
         
         If some sort of anonymous posting of question would have a use, you can make a suggestion for a new feature.  If there is a compelling interest from the community, then it may be something we would consider.
         
         The more reasoning you can have for how this would help authors, readers, and the site would be useful for prioritizing this as well.
         
         You could then post a link to the feature suggestion here and those who are interested could provide their feedback as well.
         
         Here is the feature suggestion forum.
         http://hubpages.com/forum/category/6634
         
         We read each suggestion, but cannot reply to all of them.
         http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/119282

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            sallybeaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Matthew Meyer,
            
            I posed the question because I realize there are times when people might feel hesitant to give their view on a subject which is perhaps too close to their heart.
            
            On the other hand, they might be wanting to seek an opinion to solve a personal issue which they are going through. 
            
            Allowing them remain anonymous would give them the freedom to ask questions and receive answers without having to expose their personal situation to the whole world at large. 
            It was nice of you to join the discussion and give some feedback to something which has niggled at me for a while. 
            
            Thank you.
            
            Sallybea

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               Matthew Meyerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               You are very welcome!

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   The Stages Of MEposted 10 years ago

   This is a good question, I feel mixed about it.  I do feel the limits of people always knowing who we are, sometimes anyway.  At the same time, I am generally fairly real regardless.  Having worked with teens and young adults, I can see the benefits of people, even myself, being able to ask/ respond without the fear of people knowing who we are.  Especially on some topics.  I have also seen the case where I hope others are assessing the people who may not always be kind, or dare I say abusive.  I like that someone somewhere in the Hub world monitors that for safety.  An anonymous button with a warranty of protection would be awesome

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      sallybeaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree and I also have a small reservations about the idea because I llike to be open and transparent about everything.  There are the rare occasions when I wish I had the guts to say something when I know I should but I am not brave enough.

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9. 85

   Marisa Wrightposted 10 years ago

   I would vote no to this suggestion.
   
   The main reason is that we have enough trouble with trolls etc on this site already.  An "anonymous" button would make it even easier for them to make trouble!   Currently they have to create a separate account to stay anonymous and that extra step is at least some discouragement - plus HubPages can then ban those extra accounts to control them. 
   
   That may be unfortunate for those who feel the need for anonymity, but I think the downside for the majority,  would far outweigh the upside for those few who need to share something private.
   
   On a side note, I do think the trend towards "real" authors online is a bad thing.  When I started writing online, I didn't use my real name and never used photos that showed my face, because I was conscious of the risks of sharing my personal life.  Later, I was pushed into using a "proper" name by another site, but I didn't use my real name - I chose another one.   
   
   Then along came Google+ and Facebook and the pressure to be recognised as a 'real person'.  So now people start writing online with their real identity, and only later realise the limitations of that. 
   
   I think the advent of Google+ was when I started to go off the idea of making a living online, because I can't use those services under my pseudonym so it means I'm working with one hand behind my back.  Writers have always used pseudonyms, I don't see why we should be forced to do otherwise if we don't want to.

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      sallybeaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Marisa,
      I understand and respect the reasons for your saying that you would vote against this idea.  I respect your opinion and your experience on these pages.
      Thanks for sharing your view.

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         The Examiner-1posted 10 years agoin reply to this

         How about a button which may only be used by those on HP for 1+ years or such.

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