The River offers UNIX shell access and electronic mail, but is primarily dedicated to supporting online conversations. No, The River requires that you use your real name and biographical information when registering. You can then choose a screen name, a short name that appears when you post, but it is possible for other users to then get your real name from your screen name. We believe in accountability for what you write on The River , and that means backing it up with your real name. Its owners are a self-selecting group of people who use and care about the system.
Any user can become a member and participate in the ownership and governance of the system.
It means that any user can become a member, and that all members have an equal stake in the governing of The River . It means that the Board of Directors is directly accountable to the membership. It also means that system staff and management attempt to give a high level of customer service and responsiveness, and members are highly motivated to volunteer time and talent to whatever needs to be done. A user is a person who registers with The River to use the service and pays the monthly access fee. A member gains a larger voice in the governing of The River by casting a vote for the Board of Directors and gains a stronger connection to The River by supporting it economically.