Mon 5 Sep 2005
This topic came from a discussion with a friend of mine who does not really ‘blog’ or surf any blogs.
Why do we all hide behind our online ‘names’? I am sure we all have a reason to blog. We all have a long term plan. We all want to or aim to change something about Kuwait. But is hiding behind an ‘online identity’ a sign of fear or weakness? Are we hypocrates in that we show a personality online that is not our own personality in real life? Do we really not have freedom of speech in Kuwait so we keep our identities to ourselves “just in case” (especially after the disappearance of abu7afs)? Are there family or social reasons that stop us from discussing what we are discussing in blogs? Is it lack of faith in our abilities to write?
I personally know many of the Kuwaiti bloggers out there, and many of them know me personally too, but still, I would not feel comfortable about telling everyone my name. I have my reasons, which are probably a mix of a few things mentioned above plus other unique things, but I would love to hear ur reasons or what u think about it before I tell u my reasons.
40 Responses to “Blogger anonymity”
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September 5th, 2005 at 3:24 am
BECAUSE, We live in a little village where everybody knows everybody, Where everybody judges everybody, Where we have a set of old, retarded social values that we have to abide by.
You want to know why we hide behind our blogger identities? Look at the shit our fellow blogger, Shurouq, had to deal with awhile ago. Look at the shit abu 7afs might be in right now. (pun intended) :p
Imagine us with our real names, hell, maybe even our real pictures on our profiles. Maybe I will be making fun of something or talk about things sarcastically, only to find the people of the village we live in are making these things real with their spiced up rumors and daily stories over “chai el tha7a”.
Remember a while ago when I got some hate-mail over some thing I said about some government men. Imagine my real identity was known to everybody that time (which was to a certain extent but whatever). I believe the guy wouldn’t even care to sit down and write an email, he will probably meet me personally and finish whatever business he might want to finish, for real.
That’s why
P.S: Dude, fax that form from wherever you are. Do it, Do it.
September 5th, 2005 at 4:20 am
I do agree with Tata’s points. Furthermore, I think that it might hurt you professionally i.e. in the workplace or something associated to work. For example, let’s say Tata uses his real name. He’s presenting an advertising campaign to a potential client when he/she recognizes him as Tata Botata a.k.a. flan il flani and rejects his wonderful idea. It may seem far-fetched but it may happen. You get my point. Also, it’s more of a Western ideal to speak your mind freely about relationships, government, and other touchy subjects in Kuwait. I guess cultural tradition could be incorporated in this as well; being discreet is one of the ’social’ rules in Kuwait.
September 5th, 2005 at 7:22 am
I just want to add that out society is in no way letting us have our say when it comes to freedom of speech! If we did have freedom of speech in public why do thay need to put policemen in the gathering halls (Dowaween)?
September 5th, 2005 at 7:53 am
some of my family members found out about my blog some were shocked , because they didn’t think i have thoughts like that
and now they think i used the blog to hide stuff from them
we have freedom of speech in kuwait , the big people just knew how to go around it , for example most newspapers would edit stuff by them selfs , because they fear ad revune , and because if the licence is revoced , there is no turning back
you would be shcoked of how many laws that were made and they never remind people of just to use it whenever they want to hurt someone , and it would legal too
September 5th, 2005 at 8:25 am
Well….
The term “we have freedom of speech” is nothing but bull!!
I mean come on, you see people who say whats on their minds in the news papers or books then they suffer from all the narrow-minded people who’d threat with sending them to jail, filing ethical suit case against them… etc. (Dr. AlBaghdadi, Dr. Najma Idrees are two recent examples).
You see all those people & how are they have suffered from expressing whats on their minds, do you think bloggers would disclose their identities??
However, I said this before & ill say it again… maintaining anonymity is almost impossible here in Kuwait. Like Tata has put it, its a small village & everyone knows everyone… plus if you were going to post topics similar to those Abu 7afs had posted, ur ISP will be the first to rat about ya!
September 5th, 2005 at 8:32 am
Well most people here said it all and I’m not going to repeat it, Tata is absolutely right we live in a society that the majority is ruled by ignorance and stupidity. Personally with my non-Arab friends i never hide behind a nickname or even afraid to post a pic but when it comes to our culture it’s a different story. Let me say this perfectly clear Kuwait IS NOT a democratic country nor do we have freedom of speech! True we may be better then other Arab countries in the gulf area but democracy i think not! then again maybe the definition of democracy to some Kuwaitis is different then it’s true meaning! If America who preaches democracy isn’t fully democratic how come we claim Kuwait is?
September 5th, 2005 at 8:44 am
Dear Q,
I don’t think having an alias online is particularly prevalent in q8 as opposed to abroad. There many bloggers in the States and Europe who use aliases. Personally, I do not put my real name online because I am a private person in general. I don’t think I have written anything I am ashamed off in my blog or something I do not say in public. But the truth of the matter is my job puts me in contact with alot of people who depend on me… I think that having to talk about what I posted at the workplace is awfully distracting…and is none of my collegues business.
Truly,
Misguided
September 5th, 2005 at 10:12 am
You are feeling guilty because you did not repent and hence are thinking about it confusing yourself with other issues.
September 5th, 2005 at 12:52 pm
Ok, I’m tired of hiding..
My real name is Wahbe.. Haifa’ Wahbe
September 5th, 2005 at 2:26 pm
I KNEW IT!!!!!
September 5th, 2005 at 2:51 pm
People are so judgemental here. If we have some freedom of speech in its formal way, then we definitely don’t have in a soceital way. If you reveal your identity, you’ll be sabotaged by soceity first, not the authorities.
The way our soceity thinks ought to change before we have any freedom.
The question is: How is it going to be changed? By giving in to its rules? Or by fighting it (i.e. everybody reveal themselves o bel 6aggaag till it becomes a norm)?
For the latter option, a few (first comers) must take the lead and with it they’ll take a hit to set the stage for the rest. Who’s going to do so? Is it possible that Mohammed Aljasem is playing that role now?
September 5th, 2005 at 3:01 pm
Because I am a Kuwaiti girl.
September 5th, 2005 at 5:06 pm
Most people have online aliases.. it’s just feels natural online..also besides the issues about society that were already mentioned, in the non-blog world there are already lines drawn around you, opinions, feelings, a life…when you shed everything including your name and assume a new fresh identity it is freeing..it allows you to be different, to not care about anything but the topic you are writing about..
September 5th, 2005 at 8:36 pm
We are in Kuwait, i love my country 6ab3an..bs elkuwait kelha 7achy eb7achy. I mean they may read one of your posts then they would over-exaggerate after reading it and make such a big deal out of it mentioning flaan wela flaana and they would be the talk of the century over nothing, then everyone would want to know ‘oooh who is that flaan aw flaana!’ In our society, the majority would not accept such a thing. I don’t know if i’m making sense but what i mean is, just to be on the safe side, i think its better for everyone to hide behind their ‘online names’.
September 5th, 2005 at 10:51 pm
أحد أهم الأسباب..
وبكل بساطه..
لأننا تعودنا في مجتمعاتنا أن نرجع أفكار من أمامنا إلى دينه وطائفته وعرقه، فهذا الربط هو أسهل حل للرد عليه (لأننا تعودنا أن نستمع لنرد أو لندافع لا لنستفيد)، وإن كان ذلك الرد داخلياً في أعماقنا..
September 5th, 2005 at 10:58 pm
In my case, i use an alias to speak out freely, to say what i want truely without mujamalaat .. the society in here will eat u alive if they know who u are and what are ur thoughts… Hiding behind an alias, is the source of my power.
September 5th, 2005 at 11:06 pm
Lol Purgatory and Shurouq
You can never be totally anonymous on the net especially in Kuwait.
But we can pretend to be anonymous.
Like KWTIA said, it is freeing to be detached from your real name.
A form of role play. It’s exciting.
September 6th, 2005 at 12:18 am
Interesting subject Q, but strange enough that you did not mention me; the only Kuwaiti blogger who did not hide behind a nick name, first I will tell you why I chose not to be an anonymous and second I will tell you what happened to me as a result of my choice.
When I first started, I thought that publishing my poems in a blog under a nick name is impossible for copy right purposes, and another reason was that I’m not the type that cares how people judge me, if I have a belief, I speak it out loud and that did put me in trouble so many times in real life and I had to take the consequences. So what would be different in a blog?
On the blog, the story was different; when I started, I refrained from posting anything on my blog that may seem offensive to some, in an effort not to hurt the ones who are close to me especially that most who read for me did not know me personally and would not understand me as opposed to the ones who knew me in real life, but when at times I commented on other blogs, I found myself speaking my opinion when the debate interested me, those early comment were not offensive by any means, they were just opinions. And what was the result?
A fellow reader that I did not know and whom did not know me sent me a couple of 2 page threat letters, analyzing my personality, analyzing each comment that I had made on other blogs, assuming things with his sick mind that did not relate to my personal life and asking me to take my family name out of my blog, or else?….. That goes to show you what type of a village we live in as Tata had mentioned. People are judgmental Q; some might even boycott you just because you are from a certain family even if they don’t know you personally.
Strangely though; those letters gave me more courage; now after a year of blogging; I’m much more relaxed with myself and can speak my thoughts freely even when some might consider them wacko.
Sorry for my long comment Q, but this was not all about me, I only stated that to show you the other side of the story.
September 6th, 2005 at 12:27 am
Ah and one more thing; some of you guys might think that you are anonymous, when in fact you are not; word of mouth in this society travels at a speed more than the speed of light that everyone will eventually be known.
September 6th, 2005 at 1:07 am
Definitions of fear on the Web:
•an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
Instead of flee or fight let’s use (hide or show up) fair enough?it’s very simple, You get to choose one, what’s your desire?
We complain about our governments, we complain about the unfairness, and we complain about many other subjects! We speak about it and hide? People have to speak up. If a government can silence 1, 5 or 10 people, they can not silence 1000 of them because others will rise up. How do we ask people to follow and believe in the correct path while we are hiding? Didn’t our people speak up back in 1986? They stood up together and fear was not an issue to them. They didn’t have the tools and channels that we have today, if we only can believe like they did we wouldn’t be talking about this today…. Sigh
September 6th, 2005 at 1:47 am
There is a difference between choosing to be anonymous, and forced to be.
Most comments indicated fear as the motive.
I am sure that there are many whose anonymity is a choice — including some of us who expressed fear as the motive.
September 6th, 2005 at 1:55 am
i dun understand wuts the big deal about abu7afs ? the only thing he used to write about is toilets (3azkum alla) and mocking 3ahd ilrasool (prayers be upon him)in a very vulgar way …maybe hes just sick of writing about toilets and felt that its not worth blogging anymore !
i mean i would be missing abu7afs if he used to write about the same issues u refer to in ur blog ;p
and about hiding the identities … most of the great writers began writing with nicknames !…beside the kuwaiti society have a very popular habbit that they love and adore which is “6naza” so they’d be searching for ur blog and then scanning it for any mistakes ! or even spelling mistakes “3shan yemarsoon hewayat,hum w yete6anezoon 3leek” ;p
September 6th, 2005 at 2:27 am
Bo Ghazi,
I can’t even leave the house with all the reporters and photographers standing outside. Help!
Abdalla hit a chord there..
I don’t use a nick name, Probably coz I thought I’m pretty moderate, and that my blog couldn’t possibly offend anyone.
I was wrong of course, but if I were to start a blog again, I’d still stick with my real name.
Just like Ayya (Who’s not the only blogger who did not hide… :P) said, everyone will eventually be known
Ayya babe, you’re a role model
September 6th, 2005 at 7:40 am
نخدع نفسنا … يمكن
نقول الصج … طبعاً لا
كيو، ذكرتني بسالفة
إحنا وخصوصاً الشباب حريصين على إخفاء أسماء أمهاتنا، عيب الناس تعرف إسم الأم
وأول ما واحد فينا يتزوج وتييله إبنية راح مسميها على أمه
هئ هئ
خوش سر
September 6th, 2005 at 10:50 am
I guess if I would say anything, it’ll be a repeat to many over here.. other than hiding behind screen names to talk controversy, I think using an alias gives a very nice flavor and spice to the blog, makes people more intrigued to know who this person is, and making them come back for more.. not only the alias, but I think it also contributes a little in the process..
Oh and for the record, if any of my family members read my blog, I think it would be the day I quit.. so it’s a matter of time until a family member catches up with the blog o’sphere and start reading SAFAT.. :/
September 6th, 2005 at 11:25 am
I sure as hell ain’t anonymous anymore, and I don’t give a shit about it either!!
But I totally agree with Abdullah..
غالبية الكويتيين لا يقرأون المواضيع ليستفيدون بل ينظرون الى الكاتب ويحاولون الوصول إلى دوافعه وأهدافه، تماماً مثل ما حصل مع مقالات محمد الجاسم
September 7th, 2005 at 2:47 pm
I’m new to this blogosphere..but i tell it like it is…we hide our real identities cuz “WE’RE CHICKEN”!
September 7th, 2005 at 8:58 pm
Awww shurouq, didn’t know that you used your real name, I only learned your family name when it was repeatedly mentioned by the psycho, way to go girl
September 7th, 2005 at 10:06 pm
Why is it important to know a blogger’s identity if they choose not to disclose it? We should respect this choice.
If a person does not want to use their real name, it does not mean they are better or worse than some one who does. It is a matter of personal choice.
I have been through many international blogs and I have found that it is not only Kuwaitis or Arabs that use aliases or pseudonyms. Just as we find American blogs with photos and names, there are also those that desire to remain anonymous to the masses.
What is wrong with that? It is a choice that a person should be free to make: to announce their identity to the world or to use a psuedonym .
September 9th, 2005 at 4:06 pm
ARE YOU PEOPLE SERIOUS?! Yes it could be a personal choice whether a person puts their real name or not, and yes it could be true that its not important for other people to know the identity of the blogger, but no it makes a big difference in the personality of a person. A person that isn’t afraid to post their real name is the person that really wants change in our society. Why would you blog and make comments and stupid remarks against the government and the law system if you’re too afraid to be identified with your real name. It may be a shame that “freedom of speech” is not found in Kuwait, but that does not mean we, the people, cannot make it happen. If history throughout the world has taught us anything, it is that the people control the country, not the government. In conclusion, it is the Kuwaiti people’s choice not to publically speak and comment on what they think is right or wrong. This is Kuwait, and this is how we live: through private conversations, rumors, and BLOGS.
Thank you for your time and be open minded, Barrak Al- Mashaan
September 10th, 2005 at 9:31 am
Baraak
I have to disagree with you, you can’t compare private conversation and rumors to blogging. In blog-o-spere, especially when you use aliases, it’s a real you that is speaking out. In every culture and society there is a percentage of judgment involved when you deal with others, sometimes even the look of a person would indicate what to say and what is not to say. For example I was so much disappointed in the past when I felt alone with some of the ideas that I believed in, but to my surprise when I started blogging I realized I was not alone, and not knowing the identity of others helped make me less judgmental although I didn’t consider myself being one. Thoughts are the things that count and not the person behind those thought. Each and every one of us have their own reasons, it has nothing to do with courage.
September 10th, 2005 at 11:21 pm
interesting topic Q
i have used my real fullllll name many times and i dont care and my family, (mom and dad) dont particularly care what and who i do as long as i dont knock them up.
some ppl are just raised different.
yes, when i started my blog i was still living in Miami where i was “protected” from this but even a few bloggers instantly recognized me and many, if not all of my blogger friends know at least one of my parents
and for the nick, Mishu1984 has been my online nick since i ever opened an email account, and even my first internet account with Qualitynet was Mishu1984 and so forth.
and mishu has been my nickname since i was a baby….
Yours,
Meshal Mahmoud Khalil Mahmoud Sulaiman
p.s. if anyone wants to bitch they can refer to +971-50-881-0769
June 22nd, 2006 at 5:33 pm
baiou xmafzlmk qegwtxpy
June 22nd, 2006 at 10:25 pm
food, foodporn, nigella lawson,gastroporn
June 23rd, 2006 at 12:48 am
Phew, this makes me glad I didnt sit through Dales Wedding
June 23rd, 2006 at 9:26 am
I had to ask myself if I could get used to a life like that. How much *exactly* did it bother me that He was not only serving Himself, but serving ME also?
June 23rd, 2006 at 7:02 pm
so, whats the lowdown on sleep and food? or, could jefferson really open a bed and breakfast?
June 24th, 2006 at 7:25 am
This article is about a Dutch experiment which suggests that traffic works better if you get rid of traffic lights and bus lanes and things.
June 25th, 2006 at 12:08 am
I like the idea of googles happy birthday warhol thing, but its not the most attractive of their logos, is it?
June 26th, 2006 at 9:08 am
Just heard about this via LINGUIST. The bit that intrigued me is the suggestion that machines can measure how drunk you are based on prosody alone.