Trolling on Topix
I’m of two minds about the requirement of [Topix][0] to identify their posters. (See [Texas judge orders site to identify anonymous trolls, flamers][1].)
1. Before the Indy Star switched to a new system, I used to troll on the boards by taking the opposite opinion of everyone else (or what I thought would be the opposite opinion). While I did it for fun, I would like to think this stirred some useful debate. When I posted some what anonymously (as The Plaid Cow), I would not expect Topix to tell people who I was (but anyone who really wanted to find me, probably could).
2. Trolling is an art. These people are just assholes.
[0]: http://www.topix.com/
[1]: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/02/texas-judge-orders-site-to-identify-anonymous-trolls-flamers.ars)