Earlier today I wrote a blog. The subject matter centred on a dispute surrounding a deceased drummer. I felt it important to get online and voice my opinion on this subject matter, not because of my feelings for the drummer, not for my feelings for the writer of the original disputed article. I needed to voice my opinion over the issues that arose from the dispute. These issues included, fair use of imagery, and when a writer has gone too far. However one issue I didn’t touch on, and ultimately the one that dragged me into the tiff was the issue of anonymity on the internet. It started here with an article by Vancouver local Sean Orr.
I understand where he was coming from when he wrote the article, he was incensed, and wanted to know who the writer of the original article was. I however think Sean was in error. The only wrong caused by the hipster designer was ultimately found in the mind of the reader, I read the article, and was not affected by it as some were, after all as a bystander, I had no connection to Devon Clifford, the Hipster Designer was only saying what I and many others were thinking. Because of the tenacity of Sean Orr he discovered the pen behind the words, his anonymity broken, he was exposed for Vancouver to see.
I think Sean should have left the situation alone. The hipster designer was well within his rights to remain anonymous, the internet affords us this right, and as of yet there is no law he has broken to deny him those rights, that is he can say what he pleases. Sean failed to acknowledge the reasons that the hipster designer choose to remain anonymous. It may have provided place to vent, or speak his mind in a way that does not affect his professional life, or personal life, and why should it after all people are entitled to their opinions. Sean in his actions has proven himself to be possibly more disrespectful than the hipster designer. What the hipster designer has said may have offended some people Sean included, it is the belief of not just a single writer but an entire demographic that didn’t know the story as personally as the few who knew Devon. Sean failed to think before posting his article, and given some of the responses became himself a negligent party in this whole dispute, with calls to social ostracism, or even violence, he spurred on a group who was already emotionally attached to the issue, with complete disregard for those close to the hipster designer who may very well be caught in the cross fire so to speak.
I know some may say the Hipster Designer brought it on himself, but thats kind of the point of anonymity, so that a dialogue might be opened with fringe opinions in a way that people don’t actually get hurt. Sean could have said his peace and been done with it, taken the high road so to speak. As much as the hipster designer failed to think before posting, so too did Sean Orr, and he too must accept responsibility for his own actions, the same way he calls for the hipster designer to accept responsibility for his. In fact I also urge Sean Orr to retract his article and delete his facebook posts and put the matter behind, in the hopes that no one actually gets hurt, and perhaps next time think before outing someone.
