more ideas on anonymity

For some things, anonymity is sufficiently valuable that its use doesn't discredit the source: crime tip-offs, inside corruption revealing, etc. In many of those cases, however, the source would need to establish their validity,

"Externally verifiable" is the key phrase here. An anonymous allegation that Bush and Barb do unspeakable things their bedroom is much harder to verify than the location of Jimmy Hoffa's bones. The weekly posting for alt.whistleblower will contain an exhortation to include such information as can be verified without requiring the accused party to admit to something. Eric