For the record, I will defend the right of anyone to engage in any discourse anonymously. Anonymity is a very potent and powerful tool that, as participants in a society, it serves to empower people to come forth and engage.

I’ve been a member of the Electronic Frontiers Foundation for a long time and fully subscribe to the EFF’s stand on anonymity. I am not sure about Singapore’s stand on anonymity. Nonetheless, what matters is that I will continue to support and defend the right to anonymity.

The challenge I sometimes face is how to respond to anonymous posts (either online or offline) in a way that will satisfy the person(s) making the anonymous posts as well as myself in responding to it.

Recently, I received two anonymous snail mail (yes, it’s 2013 and snail mail still exists!) about some matters at the place I live. I happen to be the chairman of the council managing the place and two  anonymous letters were about some issues about the estate.  I would very much want to respond to it, but am struggling on the how to.

I need advise on how to turn the anonymous praise/comments/requests/queries/complaints into productive and useful replies and conversations. Should I just post answers up on communal notice boards? Would the anonymous correspondents even know that I’ve replied? How can I know that the anonymous respondent has seen the replies?

Too many questions on a Friday evening.