Poll: So where do you stand on Anonymous and why?

[TheXRatedDodo]

Well it's practically a human hive mind, so your question is more akin to asking where I stand on people, and I don't have a real opinion there.

People are capable of some really douchebaggy things, even evil things, they're also capable of incredible good, anonymous reflects this.

 

[creager91]

I'm still not sure what exactly they are and I think that is their biggest strength and weakness, how can people support something they cant identify and how can they be attacked?

 

[Lancer873]

Anonymous, I support. Now Anonymous, those guys tick me off. Anonymous, on the other hand, they're alright, but nothing worth getting worked up over.

Loose translation: Anonymous isn't a single group, so it's impossible to stand in one place on them.

 

[fundayz]

I honestly don't know enough about them but from what I have heard I agree with their goals but not they way they go about them. It just seems cowardly to me for them to hide behind a veil. What do you guys think and why?

EDIT: I agree with their more recent actions, their stuff from 4chan and the stories ive heard about facebook are just disturbing

You do realize they are anonymous to avoid legal repercussion right? Not just because they don't want people to know their identity.

I personally support them as they are today's most active group in defending freedom of information and expression.

Also, the lulz

 

[flying_gazzelle]

I think they're an interesting social phenomenon.

Normal person + anonymity = huge douchebag.

Normal person + anonymity + animal abuse = awesome, righteous shitstorm.

So yeah, uhm, they do good sometimes, they stand for utter and indiscriminate open speech... I like 'em, for the most part. And the shit where they do stupid stuff? Trolls are everywhere on the internet, and if you don't learn to deal with them you'll have a rough time here.

Also they're against Scientology. Thumbs up!

I feel I should point out that half the reason they are so righteous is because they have a chance to send someone to jail etc.

On the whole, you can't say you have a position on "anonymous". It is not organised, it doesn't occur on only one website - it is simply anyone on the internet. Almost anyone who doesn't have a large amount of information about themselves online is anonymous. Even when named someone is still anonymous.
Think of it as being similar to the term "People". You don't tend to refer to your friends as people, they are friends. A large mass of humans are people. But amongst those people could be friends, compatriots, criminals, enemies and what have you. When you think of "anonymous" along these lines then you can start to understand the term. Even when you look at websites like 4chan you have a large group of people who have many different reasons for being there.

Several reasons, mainly that I don't believe in their one single policy. 'I do not agree with what you have to say, but I defend to the death your right to say it.' I don't believe in freedom of speech.

I have to admit, this piqued my curiosity. Surely you believe in freedom of speech to some extent? Or do you mean to say that if you, as a person, were simply barred from saying anything, you would be totally fine with that. It just baffles me how someone, in this day and age, can actually claim to be against freedom of speech - and still have the audacity to voice their opinion. I would appreciate an answer as you seem to have your reasons. Furthermore, you say that anonymous are most likely geeks who were bullied in school etc. I'd like to refer you to what I said above. That being said, I find that the people who visit 4chan and other such sites aren't even "geeks" as you would put it. If anything, they are generally from middle-lower class backgrounds and suffer from short attention spans. The ones who bully people do it, as has been mentioned, simply for a laugh. There is nothing more or less to it -mostly- than that.

 

[rokkolpo]

They stand up for what they believe in, and that's good...to a degree.

 

[teebeeohh]

it's like this gelatinous blob made up of the worst the internet has to offer and creates the fear of being overrun by it but it does shit golden bricks. And i kinda agree with most of their actions.

 

[RDubayoo]

So yeah, uhm, they do good sometimes, they stand for utter and indiscriminate open speech...

Wrong, wrong, wrong. I've said it before, I'll say it again: They are NOT pro-free speech, they are ANTI-free speech. No? Well, maybe someone could explain to me how taking down what someone said on their own website and replacing it with something you said is free speech? It simply isn't, and if you believe otherwise then you don't know what the term even means.

Freedom isn't the same thing as anarchy. In a free society, people can do what they wish but must take responsibility for their actions and they must coexist with others. With anarchism, however, the strongest--or in the case of Anonymous, those who can haxxor the best--dominate others and do pretty much whatever they want. And ultimately, that's what many members of Anonymous are really all about--anarchism, and forcing your own point of view on others. Unfortunately, since they go after targets that will appeal to certain people--anyone who even criticizes Julian Assange, Fred Phelps--people on the Internet seem to mistake them for some sort of heroes.

 

[MrPrecocious]

They're delusional. They seem to have this image of themselves as the "Robin Hood" of the internet, but they really don't DO anything. They fight meaningless battles that serve only to feed their own egos. They're immature, perverted, and offensive.

 

[That's Funny]

Meh I don't really care, I mean some of the stuff they do you can agree with them. But since they have no agenda, other than 'teh lulz', they're not really my concern.

 

[DarthFennec]

It just seems cowardly to me for them to hide behind a veil.

It's not about cowardice as much as it's about lack of stupidity, I mean they really couldn't do much if they're all arrested, could they.

OT: The thing you have to understand about Anonymous is that they're not very organized, they're a pretty anarchic group, they have no leadership or official spokesmen or whatever. That means that everything and nothing that they do is `official' Anonymous business. That's what they mean by they are everyone and they are no one. Basically, anyone can hack any website and post words with a headless suit and nobody would know the difference. That's why they seem so schizophrenic a lot of the time, because there are different people doing different things under the same name. That's how it works to my understanding at least.

Everything they've been doing to protect our freedoms on the internet, I agree with. What they're doing in that realm is important, and they're using the few tools they have to help in big ways, and for that they deserve a pat on the back or two. The web needs to stay free and open, and they're doing more than anyone to help keep it that way.

 

[creager91]

I'm not gonna lie, the whole IDEA of anonymous kind of scares me, they seem to act like an ill trained attack dog, they can be noble and know what they are doing but they can also react really immaturely and viscously when prodded, they need to show more maturity in their responses to being poked at. They seem to be trying to gain respect through fear and are currently trying to demonstrate just what power they have. This power needs to be kept in check. They need organization or they will ultimately be destroyed by conflict withing themselves and personal agendas.

 

[hooksashands]

Why are people so happy to tell you they're part of 4chan?

"Yeah, you know that faceless, hive-like entity on the internet? The one that owns image boards filled with profanity, nudity, rascism and scat? The one that threatens harmless middle schoolers? I'm totally part of that."

Way to gain respect, dumbass.

 

[creager91]

Why are people so happy to tell you they're part of 4chan?

"Yeah, you know that faceless, hive-like entity on the internet? The one that owns image boards filled with profanity, nudity, rascism and scat? The one that threatens harmless middle schoolers? I'm totally part of that."

Way to gain respect, dumbass.

Hey now I know you're probably fired up as we can all get when we have distaste for something but can we please try not to get offensive, I'm trying to keep this a debate not a trash talking marathon. Thanks in advance.

 

[Verlander]

Well, I'm a bit confused at the concept of them, but from what I can tell is that they could be anyone, so my stance on them is the same with the general population, although I think a little less of them, that they seem to be primarily a bunch of idiots with too much time on their hands, and a large dose of online disinhibition effect.

I am more annoyed by the constant coverage of them on this forum though

 

[Daveman]

Where do I stand on Anonymous? On it's nads. Why? Why the fuck not!?

But seriously, there too much of an incoherent mass of people for me to hold an actual opinion of them. Some things they do disgust me others do not, I prefer to think of them in terms of random acts perpetrated by random people.

 

[Death God]

I believe that they are a group looking for change through radical means. Sometimes it is good and sometimes it is just plain stupid. But either way, they aren't all bad. Just... misunderstood on their beliefs.

 

[creager91]

I would really like one of the claimed members who posted in here earlier to explain on a scale of 1-10 just how "organized" are you guys. There seems to be a lot of confusion on this

 

[Staskala]

Bunch of kids who can do barely more than use LOIC to get a server down for maybe 3 hours.
Complete with childish idealism, self-justfication and self-empowerment.
Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.

Also, I blame shit like "Project Chanology" for 4chans ultimate downfall by attracting even more idiots to the site.
I'd also like to mention that Anonymous the group has fuck all to do with the site these days.

Not like 4chan has any redeemable value left though, so whatever.

 

[BRex21]

I kinda hate myself for this but... i AGREE with their recent campaings. I would love to live in a world where hackers are bad and this is all black and white, but they are rooting out corruption and protecting peoples freedom of speech.
They are halfway to becoming the rebel army fighting the evil empire here.