It’s the new bandanna – I call it my bandito-kerchief, donned at the doorways of all public buildings I enter these days, fewer and less frequently than ever before. 100 years ago they only showed up on the occasional bank robber or cattle rustler around here. 2020’s bandito-kerchief is called Internet Anonymity.
Despite online service providers’ attempts to reign in the problem, it’s not going away, because it simply cannot. The ease and speed with which bogus accounts may be created and exploited on various social media platforms fuels their cash engines. Zuckerberg could not possibly care less who or what generates his revenue, as long as he can stay on the right side of the law – law only recently going into development.
Take this blog for example. There is little to be found here not contained in public records or seen by simply walking past 5712 Wetland Loop on the sidewalk. The problems start, where people have things to hide. The Internet is showing it’s teeth after a 20-year gestation period. It’s hungry and social media is feeding it the wrong information.
In “Book III of Odes,” circa 20 B.C., Horace wrote: ‘Our sires’ age was worse than our grandsires. We, their sons, are more worthless than they; so in our turn we shall give the world a progeny yet more corrupt.’