Once, a number of years ago (Disqus has been around a while), I signed up for a Disqus account.<p>As part of the process, the service showed me a page of comments from around the Web, and asked if they were mine, and, if so, would I like to associate them with the account.<p>I was horrified. They included some...<i>rather “rash”</i> comments that I had made, over the years (I was not always the stuffy boomer that I am now). Many were quite old, and, I had thought, made anonymously.<p>I scragged the process immediately, and made a vow to be a good boy, from then on (I had already made that choice, years earlier, but this solidified it).<p>Nowadays, I deliberately associate myself with my online comments. I nuked my last anonymous account years ago.<p>It is my opinion that anonymity is an illusion, these days. I feel that knowing my words can come back to haunt me, helps me to be more careful in what I say; just like in real life.