“For many reasons, it is better that in general, we maintain our anonymity. Discussions sometimes get heated or a little personal, and it is better that we really do not know to whom we are speaking at those times.”
I agree that maintaining anonymity is very important. However, precisely because discussions often get heated, I wish that we would all take it upon ourselves to imagine, each time we reply to an anonymous poster, that we are speaking to a friend, relative, rebbe, or someone we know personally. Maybe that would help to dissipate some of the vitriol that shows up here all too often.