Anonymity: Morals, Ethics, Responsibilities - Essay Example

How Are Ones Morals, Ethics, And Responsibilities Affected By Anonymity? Anonymity has the potential to affect ethics, morals and the responsibilities of an individual. Anonymity gives an individual the freedom to live in disguise. Being anonymous affects the morals, ethics and responsibilities of an individual because the individual is faced with a situation of competing obligations, duties and conflicts of interests. These individuals are also needed to make explicit and implicit choices between the interests and values of different groups and individuals. During a research, an anonymous participant has the right to confidentiality and privacy. However, the researcher is challenged by legal and cultural variations. In this case, anonymity is used as a mask for hiding the identity of an individual. This is achieved through the creation of a fake identity or by out rightly declaring anonymity. Masks create an illusion in which people can hide and feel safe. Behind these masks, the individuals can act in manners that reflect their true feelings. Anonymity also reduces the anonymous person’s regard for the repercussions of their actions. Anonymity is favored in different situations because of the fact that people act differently when in privacy and in public. In anonymity, what goes on has nothing to do with changes in personality, but a change in the entire being. What Is Anonymity? Anonymity refers to a situation where the name of the acting person remains unknown. For instance, an individual can send messages using a hidden identity. The message is sent without the author being shown. Anonymity is implemented in order for the receiver of the message to have difficulties identifying the author. One of the most common examples of anonymity, in which anonymity is enforced and protected by law, is the act of voting in a free election. In some of the instances, anonymity may be accepted as a natural occurrence. This occurs during instances such as conversations with strangers or purchasing services or goods from a shop. There are situations where people may decide to withhold their identity. For instance, acts of charity have been anonymously performed whenever the benefactor does not wish to be identified. People who feel threatened may mitigate the threat by hiding their identity. In addition, a witness may seek anonymity in order to avoid retribution. In the U.S, there are situations where anonymity is illegal. Close to 24 states in the U.S have a stop and identify statute, which requires detained people to identify themselves. Ways an Individual Can Be Anonymous One of the most common ways in which people are anonymous is through the internet. The internet has increased the ease in which people can distribute anonymous messages. It is vital to note that though the internet eases anonymity, this form of anonymity is not 100 percent because there are ways of finding the sender of an anonymous message, or a perpetrator (Erdely 1). In charity, an individual may decide to support a large charitable organization. Giving to this organization obscures beneficiaries of the donation. In addition, an individual may decide to support a charitable organization anonymously. This obscures the beneficiary from the benefactor, and from other stakeholders. Anonymous charities have a widespread moral precept used by many religious and ethical systems. Benefactors may wish not to create a relationship with beneficiaries, particularly in cases where the beneficiary is perceived as unsavory. Anonymity may also be created unintentionally because of loss of identity. How Is Anonymity Flawed Anonymity is flawed because it reduces accountability. This means that actors have reduced accountability of their perception of the actions (Erdely 1). Anonymous people have a tendency of separating the impact of their actions from their reputation. This has an effect on the parties involved. During conversations, anonymity gives people an opportunity to reveal personal feelings and histories without the fear that they may be embarrassed. In addition to anonymity, electronic conversational media may provide physical isolation. This means that the anonymous person may feel isolated. One of the most important flaws of anonymity is the possibility that it may lead to the loss of identity (Vanderbilt 487). Anonymous people face challenges as they try to maintain their real identities. The anonymous person is reduced to a stereotype or nickname. Anonymity prevents physical contact between the anonymous individuals and their world. As a result, they feel restricted whenever they contact the real world. They also have problems expressing themselves without the veil or mask of anonymity (Vanderbilt 487). The use and appropriateness of anonymity is significantly related to issues such as the quality of relationship between the anonymous individual and their family members or workmates. How Is Ones Identity Altered By Anonymity? Anonymity may alter the identity of an individual because it creates multiple personalities. Anonymous people may develop multiple personality disorder because of their need to change their identity whenever they are anonymous. This is a dissociative disorder in which an individual has an alter personality, which controls behavior (Erdely 1). Instances of prolonged anonymity may lead to situations where the alter personality occurs involuntarily or spontaneously. It is vital to note that the behaviors of the anonymous and indentified personality may function independently of each other. In case of anonymity, the unity of consciousness, which people use to identify themselves is absent in multiple personality disorder. Anonymity alters aspects of identity such as consciousness and memory. These aspects are divided among the alter personalities. Social individuals who use falsified identities may have numerous personalities. These personalities usually have powers over the behaviors of the anonymous person. In some of the cases, the anonymous person may have problems recalling crucial personal information. They also display memory variations, which may fluctuate with the split of personality (Vanderbilt 488). The alter personalities may have their own sex, race and age. They also have their own gestures, postures and distinct ways of communicating. Additionally, the alter personalities may be imaginary people. As each of the personalities reveal itself and gain control of the anonymous person, thoughts and behaviors change. The identity of the individual is altered by events such as mood swings, depression, sleep disorders, drug and alcohol abuse and eating disorders. How the Altered Identity Affects the Morals, Ethics and Responsibilities of an Individual The altered identity affects the ethics, morals and responsibilities of an individual through the reduction of accountability. These individuals have reduced accountabilities, which mean that they are not accountable for their actions. Additionally, they have altered perceptions of their actions and their effects on other people (Vanderbilt 488). They have a tendency of separating their actions from their reputations. One of the most common connections of anonymity with altered morals, ethics and responsibilities is the issue of tipsters. These people are afraid that the information they have may have serious repercussions. Regardless of the repercussions, these individuals divulge information about their organization or job to third parties. Once they divulge this information to third parties, the anonymous individuals lose their responsibilities to their organizations and workmates. Police and newspaper editors rely on tipsters to gain information about a criminal activity or situation, which would be inaccessible. Anonymity and instances where people have altered identities gives people an opportunity to discuss personal problems. Most people may feel embarrassed or uncomfortable in case their identity is associated with concerns or thoughts that regard personal issues. Additionally, altered identities may motivate anonymous people to express their ideas. Altered identities provide opportunities for the proliferation of negative elements of a personality (Campbell, Michael and Harry 28). These negative elements are usually unethical and immoral. For instance, most criminal elements are known to operate behind the veil of anonymity. Criminal acts are also dependent on anonymity for their successful implementation. People who have altered identities successfully implement some of the common crimes such as child pornography, slander, racial agitation, illegal threats, intentional damage, fraud and malice. The establishment of an environment or situation for performing these acts requires the altered identities or anonymity. For instance, a pedophile may appear as a young individual who voluntarily associates with children. The readings of Vanderbilt, Singer, The Dalai Lama and Erdely connect to each other because they realize that anonymity may lead to a situation of altered identity. These contributors also realized the need for people to make favorable or appropriate first impressions. This presents challenges to anonymous people as they try to live in altered personalities (Vanderbilt 486). Anonymous people have a feeling that the people around them do not know their real identities. This becomes an ideal platform for their self-expression. The use of a falsified identity removes the user from direct connection with their world and sentiments. The resultant lack of accountability creates a false sense of courage. An anonymous person gains this sense of courage and may begin personal attacks and insults (Erdely 1). According to the contributors, the acquisition of certain personalities empowers an individual by giving them the freedom to express their true selves. It is vital to note that anonymity is dependent on two entities, the actor and the group that interacts with the actor. Currently, anonymity has negative connotations because of its known effects and negative occurrences. The four contributors differ in the fact that anonymity can be used as a medium of communication. They agree on the fact that a number of factors influence individuals during ethical decision-making. These include factors such as moral judgment, awareness and intentions, in addition to their relationships with the five aspects of moral intensity, magnitude of consequence, social consensus, and probability of effect, proximity and temporal immediacy. People who act under the veil of anonymity do not consider factors such as the magnitude of consequences and social consensus. Though these individuals are faced with morally charged situations, they lack the awareness of moral dilemma, intention to act and judgment of the potential consequences of their actions. Examples in each of the readings argue identity and anonymity based on their impact on ethics, morality and responsibility. Anonymity may be used positively as a platform for enhancing communication. It can act negatively by encouraging aggression. Anonymity gives a person an opportunity to have an exaggerated feeling of self-importance. The individual does not have additional incentives to engage in activities, which are considered normal social pleasantries. As a result, the anonymous person may acquire a language that is characterized by rude, harsh and abbreviated connotations. The most important effect of anonymity is the likelihood that individuals may change their identities. Anonymity requires an individual to have two identities or personalities. Prolonged durations in anonymity may alter the real identity of the anonymous person. This is altered when the anonymous person faces difficulties trying to recall their personal information or memories of themselves. Anonymous people always try to assert their identities in different situations. Conclusion Anonymity may affect morals, ethics and the responsibilities of an individual because it can alter identities. This occurs because of lack of accountability, which affects the personality of the anonymous person. Anonymous people operate under a veil that hides them from the world. This gives them a sense of freedom that they can do or say whatever they want regardless of their environment or society. People can be anonymous when their identities remain unknown. Anonymity is flawed because it may lead to the creation of multiple identifies, which may lead to a multiple identity disorder. An anonymous person is required to have more than one identity. This enables them to interact with people without being noticed. These people have a tendency of asserting their identity in different situations and do not acknowledge the consequences of their actions. Works Cited Erdely, Sabrina. Kiki Kannibal: The Girl Who played With Fire. Rolling Stone Culture. 2014. Web. July 28, 2014. Vanderbilt, Tom. Shut up, I can’t Hear You: Anonymity, Aggression and the problems of communicating while driving. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2008. Internet resource. Read More