and i propose...........

if we want our research of groups like postsecret, anonymous, 4chan and the like to be meaningful in any way it is important that we go back to the roots of anonymity. despite the fact that the word didn't come into use until after the printing press was developed, anonymity has existed for hundreds of years. it is something that has changed and evolved over time and it provides tremendous amounts of insight into how it has benefited some and been detrimental to others. it is important to consider that prior to the printing press as well as the internet, anonymity has taken many forms and been implemented in various ways to accomplish different things. establishing a grasp on the multiple aspects of anonymity will provide a segway into the research being conducted by the rest of the class. it will also force us to step out of our "normal" way of thinking about anonymity and plunge us head first into a realm that is hard to grasp, yet fascinating.

if we are to understand the role of anonymity in our recent past and our future, it is crucial to look at the role anonymity has played in influencing people and their actions. anonymity is a key player in deciphering whether or not people are influenced by ideas themselves or more so by the identities behind them. by adding anonymity to the picture we are able to separate the identity from the idea, but then we have to ask ourselves if anonymity itself has some sort of influence based in its mysteriousness. this, in turn, will lead us down an avenue that penetrates every aspect of life as we know it.....if we are to impact our global village in way that is positive and long-lasting we need to understand how influence operates and what makes some influence more powerful than others.