In half a dozen years of hard-core web usage, I 
have to agree with Yann. Even if a post may be 
construed as inflammatory [by some], an opinion 
is still an opinion and legitimacy in identity is 
still required for people to take the view 
seriously at all. Less-than-popular views? Surely 
normal people are not *that* sensitive to having
someone not like their perspective, it's called 
life. Yes, "opinions of another person are
completely based on what is read" - and that is 
the point. The internet does not follow the same 
social rules as face-to-face, because you build 
your *entire* reputation, good or bad, on every 
single electron you let loose on the internet. And 
people should deal with it. 

Surely I've posted my share of foolish things 
which I regretted afterwards, as I'm sure other 
web veterans have. If forcing an ID on an anon 
post is construed as squelching "free speech" 
or discouraging the expression of views which may 
have "consequences" -  oh, that's not the point! 
In writing letters-to-the-editor you are still 
required for your real name, and certainly that is
free speech! With an identity behind a statment, 
if you feel *strongly* enough about your opinion 
and have the guts to believe in your point, then 
it really doesn't matter, does it? At least with 
ID people are more apt to use words a tad more 
carefully. Is that squelching free speech? Good 
lord, then absolutely no one on the face of the 
planet practices "free speech" because in true 
social communities you *always* have to watch what 
or the way you say something, when and where. I 
suppose the reason why people may overreact to 
anon posts is because by virtue of being anon they 
seem more inflammatory - now, I know we covered 
this already .....

ANYWAY -- 
I read somewhere that benzene is sometimes used to
remove a stuck pencil from a cel without any 
damage. Is this true? Has anyone tried it??

-oion