Anonymity assured

Image credit here.

Recently, I visited a blog of a friend who had blogged about a recent hankering for a McDonalds Prosperity Burger. 

I was taken aback but not surprised by a comment which was negative towards the entry and its writer, due to the ongoing boycott of McDonalds and other companies allegedly in cahoots with the Zionist regime. I shall save comment on this particular issue as I have had many a debate over it, though I see both camps have a certain sense in their arguments.

The issue here is that the comment had been made anonymously, just as one would write a poison-pen letter, for fear of repercussions of one's convictions. In my view, everyone is entitled to their opinion, whatever it may be, and is welcome try to convince others of these opinions. This in itself is not wrong, but even encouraged here in the academic world. 

However, the issue is that when one is absolutely convinced of one's point of view, and has the willpower to voice it out against another point of view, one should be prepared to justify and defend it (in a civilised manner of course). This is also what we teach in the academic world.

Nevertheless, when an opinion is freely dispensed without giving the receiver of the opinion the chance to defend his or her opinions, and the language used less than appropriate, then this would be an act of cowardice.

The power to dispense one's opinions comes with one's accountability.

"With great power comes great responsibility" - Benjamin Parker