As the internets condense, the volume and the viciousness of anonymous commenters has exploded.  Two years ago, most big blogs allowed anonymous commenting.  Today, those same blogs now require commenters to be registered in order to protect the integrity of the conversation. 

Urban Semiotic requires all commenters be registered in order to join the discussion, and we use OpenID to meet that end.  We have a new Registration Page that explains, in detail, how to use OpenID to sign in to this blog to comment.

We used to allow direct registration with this blog, but a database issue forced us to use OpenID  instead — so if you were once using the “Movable Type” option to login here to comment, we now need you to use an OpenID source. 

The great thing about OpenID is you — probably already have an account — without knowing it!  We look forward to continuing our thoughtful dialogue with you, and if you have any questions, please use the Registration Page to get in touch.

8 Comments

  2. Kathakali Chatterjee – Hyderabad, India – Professionally, I have an interesting concoction of experience -- from entertainment industry to retailing to executive education -- the journey is still on. When I don't work, I love to travel, read, listen to music and watch movies.
    Kathakali Chatterjee says:

    Yay for OpenID!
    I already had an account!

  3. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    OpenID sure helps a lot, Dananjay. It isn’t perfect, but it’s a good start. As I said on my WordPunk blog this morning, “The bad old days of anonymous Wild West commenting is dead.” Long live the dead! SMILE!

  4. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    Hi Katha! Yes, many of us already have many OpenID accounts and we can choose which one to use where and when.
    We’ll use the “Movable Type” login for staff only from now on…

  5. ANNE – I live and teach on the upper West Coast of the United States. My interests are Philosophy, English, and Social Communication.
    ANNE says:

    Am I the only that finds this sad? It’s more fun to have more people.

  6. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    Get used to it, Anne, it’s the way of the world now. I think it’s a good thing to know who people are on the internet. We can have lots of people commenting if they use OpenID. If they don’t want us to know who they are, then they won’t be posting. It’s decision that may make more sense as we drift into a tremulous future.

  7. Doesn’t seem to affect me too much. Reminds me of the new yorker comic: on the internet, nobody knows you’re a dog. Somewhat still true but not as much!

  8. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    We’re all dogs, Gordon! Let’s unwrap that surprise right now! SMILE! Seriously… if you own your behavior and you stand by your words — it isn’t a big deal at all logging in and connecting an OpenID to who you really are in real life.

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