get a job, newb.

Dear Thomas, please tell me more about the phrase, "it's totally unfair to bash people who create: writers or otherwise." When is it "fair" to bash people?

It is my contention that because most newspaper's are generally anti-anonymity, anonymous comments should not be allowed.
The majority of newspapers in this country (and I believe the DEN is included in this) do not publish anonymous letters to the editor. There are various reasons for this, but it mostly comes down to content control. And whether or not people want to believe it, a comment section is a form of publication -- and nearly the same thing as a letter to the editor.
That is not to mention lack of accountability, newspaper policies on anonymous sources, and the high-availability of self-publication.

If the only argument for anonymous comments is that people are more honest, then I believe you are walking on a very flimsy argument -- one that isn't necessarily proven.
Whereas it is very easy to see that people take the ability to be anonymous and abuse it. Comments tend to be less of a critique and more of an insult ("get a job, newb" being a pretty good example).

when commenting on issues such as abortion, rape, race, culture, immigration, etc. I believe, absolutely, people are more honest, or at the very least, bother to comment in the first place.

Picking sides in the cases of racial politics/assessing blame in a rape/opposing immigration/etc. could possibly get you terminated from your job or expelled from your teaching position if you don't take the politically correct side(s).

Isn't it a little hypocritical for a newspaper to require comments "not" be anonymous when many of their sources are anonymous.

If you want to read my comments about AJ's, then read that story. This commentary was another crap piece of work by the DEN.

I do have to laugh when they write these little disclaimers such as, "...we're not professionals, but we're working on it."

Way to settle for mediocrity.

P.S. John Willman was the man that exposed himself at AJ's.

haha.. .i just read the AJs article for the first time before i read this. i especially enjoyed the comment about increasing recruitment from the high school crowd. and the fact that this comment inspired article is inducing the same type of comments you commented about. phil luciano would be proud!

Hmmm. Geology Giant, as far as anonymity is concerned your "name" doesn't help you too much considering there are only a few dozen people in the geology department. Thus your attempt at anonymity is quite poor considering you threw yourself in with the smallest lot.

P.S. I am in the geology department too so I will find you....(creepy)

"Along with the first art came the first art critic."

At least we're in modern times where criticism can be left with a safe, anonymous, dull font message where you can check on your watch. If this were caveman times, I'd just piss on your shoes and mutter some low-pitched grunt.