anonymity on RADSAFE - off topic

["M. Woo" <melissa@zelda.ehs.uiuc.edu>]

Discussion of the use of aliases is a matter of list administration,
and as such, should be discussed via private e-mail.  Send your
comments to either the individuals in question or to me, *not* to
RADSAFE.

I have been thinking about the use of aliases on RADSAFE since they
first started appearing, but have been hoping that it would not become
"yet another moderation issue that I have to spend time policing."

FWIW, I am sensitive to both sides of the alias issue.  In my earlier
Fidonet BBSing days, I was the object of a series of
obscene/threatening/racist phone calls because I had been using my full
name on local bulletin boards and was listed in the telephone book. 
Therefore, I really do appreciate the desire for anonymity.  That said,
this is a professional forum, and the use of "cute" aliases strikes me
as being grossly unprofessional.

I should point out that inclusion of e-mail addresses is already a
requirement of posting to the list.  Although that is not quite the
same as inclusion of a "real" name, it does offer a means to contact
the individual privately.  

I would also like to point out that if you don't feel comfortable
conversing with someone whose real name you don't know... don't.  Peer
pressure can go a long way, and it is difficult to have a meaningful
discussion with people who won't respond.

As Kenneth Prendergast put it, it must be a slow news day.  Let's go
back to discussing radiation protection issues, shall we?

Thanks in advance for your cooperation!

Melissa Woo
RADSAFE List-owner/manager

--
Melissa Woo, Health Physicist                    |m-woo@uiuc.edu
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign       |ofc 1.217.244.7233
DEHS, MC225, 101 S. Gregory St., Urbana, IL 61801|fax 1.217.244.6594
http://www.uiuc.edu/ph/www/m-woo                 |