Read my post:  As I said, I understand the concern and add "is the 'trade-off' worth it?"  That is the real key question.  You imply that you feel a need for the protection anonymity provides.. As an individual who has, over my 74 years, faced reprisals for expressing my views,  I understand and accept your position. I know that requiring "real" identification would change this site. It would likely mean some (I don't know whether it's "a few, some, or many") posters would feel unsafe and quit posting.  It would also likely mean that our most active trolls, no longer protected by anonymity, would cease their trolling.  I mention this delimma because it's one faced by every blog or discussion site on the internet.  I accept the anonymity and the trolling it allows because, to me, it's worth the participation by those who don't "misuse" their anonymity in that fashion.  I think RG/CC works hard to balance "freedom of speech" and civility.  It's not easy. Gary Crum