There’s been an interesting discussion on Twitter this evening about if and when it’s justified to “drop docs” on another person that is basically anonymous while online.
The consensus seems to be that if someone defamed or threatened another person in a way that there could be no doubt of the threat, then the exposure of the offenders true name, etc. would be justified.
How much of that is subjective? For instance, I used the example of being referred to as a misogynist. Clearly, without any proof of that by the accuser, that’s defamation. Then again, in the online world, that term has been used so many times against men (and women) that happen to disagree with a certain group of online atheists and “skeptics” that most people allow that accusation to just roll off their shoulders.
Just because someone redefines a word to mean something that it clearly doesn’t, shouldn’t justify the defamation of another.
What is it that constitutes a threat? Well, of course making a personal declaration of physical harm against another person as well as to the persons property, and, well, even their reputation.
As we’ve seen this seems to be subjective in the minds of some. I’ve received “threats” on this blog. When I first started writing, there were several that stated “conservatives should all be killed”, “conservatives are evil and one day will be dealt with”. Not that it concerned me as I just deleted them and moved on. Responding in any way to these would only give license to others to taunt even more. To some however, statements like these are perceived as threats. I just view them as trollish behavior.
There’s always going to be those online that display stupidity but does it always rise to the level of requiring that their personal information be made public? I don’t think so and I believe all of us should be careful when considering releasing any Personal Identifiable Information of another person.
Conservative Skeptic 
I don’t think it is permissible. The person revealing someone’s identity is rarely in any position to know how doing so may impact the person whose identity is revealed. The anonymous individual could be an ex-Muslim in real danger of being killed if he or she was outed. The anonymous individual could be a woman fleeing serious intimate partner violence who has been maintaining anonymity to protect herself and her children. The anonymous individual could be fired for being outed like this. The point is, I’d never out someone publicly because I could never anticipate how this might affect them. The fact that I might be mad at someone does not justify taking this type of risk with their well being.
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All this is why I’ve always been very public and always will be. No ammunition for the dumbasses 🙂
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I would argue the only appropriate time to drop docs is when the threat is sufficient to involve the authorities. At which point one -should- drop the docs… to the proper authorities. Doing so in any other way is just a backhanded way to threaten a person, and regardless of how the SJW squad may try to justify it with their “name and shame” campaign, it’s just bullying with a different name.
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