The trouble with anonymity

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May 9, 2009

The Mayor's Desk

To blog or not to blog.

That is the question facing many elected officials.

No one needs to be reminded about how the Internet has radically changed the way we communicate with each other. The anonymity the Web provides is both empowering and destructive at the same time.

People can say things in blogs behind screen names that protect their identity that they wouldn't, for whatever reason, say in public or put their names to.

Sometimes, these communications serve a positive purpose. Sometimes, they can be utterly destructive. Therein lies what I view as the policy question that is raised for me and my administration when it comes to reading and responding to blogs and anonymous message boards.

Today, the policy is that the mayor's office will not respond to anonymous claims — whether they appear on message boards, or in phone calls to the office where people don't leave their name, or in unsigned letters that we receive in the office.

When we get anonymous phone calls in to the mayor's office, the messages are never passed on to me. Unsigned letters go in the trash as soon as they are opened.

However, I read all the letters that are signed with name and address. Even in City Council public hearings, the person addressing the council must first state their name and address for the record before giving their testimony.

Every once in a while, I read through the anonymous messages boards. Besides being incredibly bad for my head, I find that there is so much inaccurate information out there, it would be impossible for me or city staff to counter every claim.

Doing what a lady in the Rose Baker Senior Center did a few weeks ago takes a whole lot more courage and character and has greater impact than letting it rip on an anonymous message board.

I was at the Senior Center a few weeks ago for an event. After lunch, I went around to all the tables to say hello. One lady introduced herself to me, and then unloaded all of her grievances with the city and placed the blame squarely on me — I mean, she tore me apart (respectfully, I might add).

Two things happened. First, I was able to clear up some misunderstandings that she had. And secondly, I listened to her criticisms and took them to heart.

This woman had an impact on me which I brought back to City Hall. As a result, we improved the way we were handling a couple of things.

I doubt this exchange would have been possible through an anonymous message board.

I have ventured on to Facebook and Twitter. In fact, I love Facebook but don't have the time to spend on it that I would like. If I wasn't working, I know I would be addicted to it. Everyone uses their name on Facebook so there is a whole different tone than what is seen on the anonymous boards. I don't mind engaging with people on this site. I even posted the DPW pothole telephone number for the "Gloucester Potholes" group.

I am actually hoping that there will be a backlash of sorts to online communication — that we will revert to traditional methods of civil civic communication. I just finished up five State of the City meetings throughout Gloucester's neighborhoods. I appreciated so much the frankness of the citizens who spoke with care and concern. That is what will propel Gloucester forward. The sense of shared responsibility really came through as members of the community sat together and talked about the state of the city not only with me but with each other.

Like coming upon the lady in the Senior Center, I never knew what I was walking in to at these neighborhood meetings, and I was nervous before every single one of them.

Would it be easier to sit behind my computer and blog? You betcha.

There is a richness and sincerity though, when communication is face-to-face — and, almost always, Gloucester is better for it.

Carolyn Kirk is mayor of the city of Gloucester.