For the non-Anonymous members of this community, what are your thoughts on responding to discussion threads posted by Anonymous users?
While I've done so regularly in the past, I'm going to alter my approach to only respond to posts where it was either created by a "named" community member OR it was created by "Anonymous" but the person has included their name in the close out of the post (as I have done below).
While I appreciate that some folks might not be willing or able to create accounts, at least they should be willing to name themselves when asking the community to help them with something. That's basic courtesy and in a community focused on project management which is a relationship-based profession, I feel we need to set the bar higher than the average social media experience.
Kiron, I wholeheartedly agree with you. The issue isn’t with creating an account, but rather that PMI allows users to post anonymously.
For instance, anyone can choose to post or comment anonymously by selecting the “Post Anonymously” option just like I did now. This means that all those posting anonymously do, in fact, have actual profiles but opt to post anonymously.
Perhaps we should raise this concern with PMI, specifically Laura Schofield and Kimberly Whitby. Since you’ve brought up the issue, it might be worth suggesting this change through the Aha! platform as well.
I fail to see the rationale for providing such a capability for regular members. We have community rules and codes of conduct so I can't see the benefit someone would receive from purposely choosing to post anonymously.
Kiron, I wholeheartedly agree with you. The issue isn’t with creating an account, but rather that PMI allows users to post anonymously.
For instance, anyone can choose to post or comment anonymously by selecting the “Post Anonymously” option just like I did now. This means that all those posting anonymously do, in fact, have actual profiles but opt to post anonymously.
Perhaps we should raise this concern with PMI, specifically Laura Schofield and Kimberly Whitby. Since you’ve brought up the issue, it might be worth suggesting this change through the Aha! platform as well.
I fail to see the rationale for providing such a capability for regular members. We have community rules and codes of conduct so I can't see the benefit someone would receive from purposely choosing to post anonymously.
I can see cases where someone asking a question would be wary of exposing information to their employer. Two particular risks come to mind: I do know people who have been fired when their boss found out they were looking for a better job as one example. The second is the fear their employer finds out a lack of knowledge in some subject and lessening their credibility.
They could provide a name, but there is no assurance it is real and I'm ambivalent about a fake personal touch. Saving Changes...
Community Specialist| Project Management InstituteNewtown Square, PA, United States
Hi all, our reasoning for providing the anonymous posting feature is very much in line with what Keith describes.
Since the discussion forums are open, we have found that some community members prefer to post anonymously if they are discussing a topic or scenario specific to their current job or employer. This allows them to participate in the discussions, potentially gain much needed support from fellow community members, or share their own knowledge without fear that their employer will associate them with the post. Saving Changes...
On top of what Keith and Laura have shared, I believe there is a need for the option to post anonymously. Not every topic or discussion has the same level of privacy concern, and it is important to provide options that address these concerns. This will ensure everyone feels comfortable and secure when participating in discussions. Saving Changes...
That's fair, but I see no reason why folks wouldn't at least provide a first name in the body of the post. If they are truly that worried about blowback, they should avoid all online communities for such posts and stick to IRL discussions with peers...
Project Manager| AWR Development (BD) Ltd. Cox's Bazer , Bangladesh
Hi Kiron,
I completely understand your perspective on responding to Anonymous posts. Encouraging users to identify themselves fosters accountability and strengthens our community.
It’s great to see you setting a higher standard for engagement— it seems this could l definitely enhance the quality of our discussions.
Best,
Golam Rob Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Posting Anonymous, just for fun (This is Mayte) :)
Some organizations limit their employees' use of social media and participation in forum discussions, while others screen profiles during the hiring process. I completely understand that some members are looking for support from this community while wanting to maintain anonymity.
Offering an option to keep profiles anonymous is a fantastic feature, but like any feature, its value depends on how it’s used. It’s all about finding the right balance to ensure both privacy and engagement. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
I just wanted to chime in as another voice in support of preserving the feature to post anonymously! I’m new to the PMI world and still getting to know people in my local chapters, so I don’t currently feel that I have a lot of IRL peers in project management to lean on for support or advice. Plus there are some of us who are paranoid about employers finding out that we are searching for a new job… don’t want to get phased out of my role before landing a new position. Saving Changes...
Product Operations Program ManagerBarcelona, Cataluña, Spain
For individuals that do not with to disclose their identity, it could be an option to sign their post with their initials; not that they could not make them up, but at least it adds some sort of ownership without giving up their full name. Saving Changes...
PMI Team Member
Community Champion
