Anonymous innovation
Reading through Christopher Poole's comments at SXSW on the implications of anonymity on creativity and innovation, I was drawn to this quote. In it, I think he makes a pretty astute observation about the implications of personal reputation on desire to innovate.
"Anonymity is authenticity," said Poole. "It allows you to share in an unvarnished, unfiltered, raw and real way. We believe in content over creator." And with anonymity, users feel free to experiment without fearing reprisal, he noted. "The cost of failure is really high when you're contributing as yourself," he said. "To fail in an environment where you're contributing with your real name is costly."
It's an interesting assertion: when your name is on the line, most will tend to follow social norms and etiquette. When anonymity is honored, you may get a lot more trolls, but you also create a place where innovation and creativity can thrive.
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