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Comment by jsherry | Hacker News Reader

360 feedback is good. But if you want to use this to remain anonymous, then this excerpt from their "Promises" section doesn't instill the greatest level of confidence:

"If you do not use insults, verbal abuse or foul language, we will do everything in our power to keep your identity hidden. In other words, don't be mean and we'll have your back."

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Can you help us improve the clarity of this part of our promises? Obviously, we don't want our service to be used to present hateful, threatening or abusive messages and providing a user doesn't do any of those things, we will do everything in our power to prevent their identify from being revealed.

We welcome your feedback.

Simple: We will not reveal any details regarding your identity unless we are compelled to do so by law.

Once you decide to be the arbiter of what constitutes abuse or foul language, you're embarking on a trip down the rabbit hole.

Thanks a lot.

Is it necessary to associate feedback with the user's email address after you've confirmed their identity?

If you don't associate their information with the feedback, I think users would be a lot more confident in your promise of privacy. You can't reveal what you don't have.

The 'everything' in our power comment is particularly weak. It suggests there are ways in which the users identity can be revealed, even if they aren't abusive.

If a user uses your service in an inappropriate way, then stop letting that user send messages. Don't reveal their identity.

Threats of physical harm might constitute a valid exception. At that point, law enforcement should be involved.

Thanks for the feedback. We are going to update "Our Promises" within the next 48 hours to reflect the feedback from this thread. It's much appreciated.

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