From our point of view, anonymity does not promote our goal, which is to enhance social life on campus. The New Athenian's source of strength and motivation is the real people behind it. It is an addition to the arsenal of wired communication available on campus, such as email, CourseInfo, planWorld, and instant messaging. There are thriving anonymous communities in the internet today, with goals very different from ours. There are no local communities behind them, and no intention to create them.
People know each other only by the persona assumed online.
Interestingly, through role-playing, real and lasting relationships can be forged beyond the engineered milieu. These benefits do not apply to the New Athenian, whose participants meet each other on campus every day, in the classrooms, cafeterias, concerts, and parties. Anonymity in the local setting is a liability, not an advantage, as it denies the accountability that makes for good neighbors and, hopefully, good friends. Anonymity is anathema to local community. We are working with the college administration to create the New Athenian's Safe Space to allow anonymous communication when identification is dangerous to, or perceived as dangerous by, the speaker.