I suspect you wouldn't get many comments.

First we 'chip' our pets for identifcation; next, our children.
"It's only the size of a grain of rice"

"When a place gets crowded enough to require ID's, social collapse is not far away. It is time to go elsewhere." R. Heinlein

Besides, this is a whole new justification for identity theft.... I think.

"How would you feel"

Like I was in China.

These guys don't give up, supposedly they have large staffs already the monitor WEBsite request that originate in China.

I would guess that not only would the number of comments go down but the number of hits a day to your blog would plummet.

Sorry folks, but Google's already doing to you what you think only happens in China. Happy web surfing (and e-mailing).

What ecohuman said. (did his mom really name him ecohuman? is my name really Harry?)

If Bojack really wanted/needed to find who I really am, I expect that he could, certainly with the help of ISPs and government pressure.

Therefore, I (almost) always try and write stuff that, if I had too, I could live with what I wrote if it was linked to my real identity.

But having said that, I would prefer to live in what I thought America was, rather than what I think China is.

When our founders declared their independence from British colonial rule, they signed their real names, despite it being an act of "treason."

It seems to me that posting one's personal opinions has a lot more meaning when you're not just shooting spitballs in the dark, under the cover of anonymity.

Frank Dufay

That's interesting, because it's anonymity that enables some people to post more than just spitballs or "ditto" remarks. I've always wondered why the anonymous thing drives some people so crazy -- you walk into a bar and strike up a conversation with people you've never met ... does it drive you crazy that they're anonymous?

It's really quite simple, George: I wish that my email, web browsing history, commercial activities, employment, etc. could remain anonymous.

But with rare exception (e.g. acts of whistleblowing), society would be much better off if we all signed our real name to comments posted.

John Rettig

I think for many bloggers, especially on BoJack, that signing your full name could/will lead to being blackballed and worse by politicians, bureaucrats and others. It has for me and I have proof. And I'm not paranoid. It happens in our fair city.

Well, if we all signed our real names, they couldn't not listen to all of us.

Oh, wait....

One big difference: In China, they're requiring it for ALL blogs. There's no space for anonymous comments.

But Jack, if you wanted to require real identities (setting aside the technical challenge), your fans and critics have plenty of other places to go be anonymous and engage in their fandom or criticism. Twitter, for one. Blogger, for another. Set up either in 15 seconds flat. For free.

Jack, if you've figured out a way to go real-ID exclusive and decide that's what you want to do... go right ahead. It's a far cry from what China is doing.

Thanks, but I have no intention of doing it. It was a rhetorical question.

I say it's up to the blog owner.

Requiring real names would raise the level of discussion, and clearly Jack using his real name hasn't reduced the edginess of this blog.