I think libel and slander should be proven before identities should be forced to be revealed. What a bunch of lame whiners politicans are becoming.....

Except for whistleblower situations( where the threat of retaliation could chill disclosure), if someone chooses to do personal harm with their words, that is their choice, but I think they should also have the courage to own the words they choose to publish. Who are the real whiners here?

Hey Jack, where pray tell is Drew posting from, a CoP office?

And Drew, wake up, we have the vengeful SamRand twins in power with hit squads and city bureaus who will and do harrass the he!! out of people who disagree with the powers that be. When dealing with bullies with way too much power on their side, anonymity is something of an equalizer. So yeah, I am calling the bullies both whiners and glass jaws.

If we feel we have to be anonymous, then those "powers that be" have already won the intimidation battle. As I recall the Declaration of Independence wasn't anonymous, and it was knowing and blatant sedition. Anonymous character assassination (not referring to LucsAdvo post) is its own form of cowardly brutality.

The Declaration of Independence most assuredly wasn't signed anonymously. But among its signers were men who published editorials and pamphlets under pseudonyms advancing the cause for freedom, most notably Ben Franklin.

There is a time and a place for coming forward forthrightly for sure, but there are also times when the greater good is served by anonymity.

Key ethics when posting negative comments anonymously, in my view, are the same as when posting openly -- take care not to take on the weak and defenseless, don't threaten anyone's person or property and be truthful.

One more nail in the coffin of freedom courtesy of the hammer that is the ACLU.

For such a petty cause also.