Chapter: The Meaning of Anonymity in an Information Age

Quote:                              

The natural meaning of anonymity, as may be reflected in ordinary usage or dictionary definition, is of remaining nameless, that is to say, conducting oneself without revealing one’s name. A poem or a pamphlet is anonymous when attributable to a named person; a donation is anonymous when the name of the donor is withheld; people strolling through a foreign city are anonymous because no one knows who why are. Extending this understanding into electronic sphere, one might suppose the conducting one’s affairs, communicating; engaging in transactions anonymously in the electronic sphere is to do so without one’s name being known. Specific cases that are regularly discussed include.

What I expect to learn:

To know the meaning of anonymity in an information age

Review:                    

We always want to be unknown because we have a feeling that being mysterious is cool --- and I’ve proven that it truly is cooler than cool.

I have been known in my class to be the very mysterious one. I do talk a lot and loudly at times but no one really do know me. People and some of my friends already told me that I should let loose and just, you know, let myself be open to the world, but that is not me. This is me. I am person who is anonymous. I have to admit, I am mysterious even to myself because I tend to not talk about things about me that much considering my interest with other people’s lives. I find my life boring even though people kept on pushing that I am doing the coolest things because for me, the hype is not there anymore; it is nonexistent. I am a living breathing proof that anonymity is supposed to be alive in this world where technology made it almost impossible to keep something from someone online. It is like people knows what the other person is doing. An example of an application that does such a thing or aids us for becoming more informed in other person’s every movement is plurk. I recently created an account just to see what is the hype all about. To know why my classmates are creating accounts and having too much fun and you know what? I finally know why.

What I learned:

·         Brief definition of anonymity

·         Data-flow

·         Information registration

·         Gatekeepers

·         Analysis after admission

·         Methods

·         Anonymity of sender

·         First encryption with a public and secure key

·         Double encryption twice applied

·         Encryption procedure with an anonymity sender

Integrative Questions:            

1.    What is data-flow?

2.    Why do we need information registration?

3.    What is a gatekeeper?

4.    Is it really necessary to analyze after admission?

5.    Explain the encryption procedure with an anonymity sender.