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‘My name is Dominic Fisher. I am a natural Tory and I am moving to Prague from where I will write an anonymous blog at www.praguetory.blogspot.com’
– anon.
So just who is Prague Tory? Who is Prague Tory!? It’s damn-fangled mystery! But if anyone knows who Prague Tory, the anonymous blogger who writes at www.praguetory.blogspot.com, might be they should keep it secret. That’s right: please don’t tell anybody that Prague Tory is Dominic Fisher.
Hotly tipped to stand for the Tories in Birmingham, Prague Tory came to the attention of party selectors after calling shadow chancellor George Osborne a wanker. (Those unfamiliar with the Tory subculture should know that following David Cameron’s campaign to reclaim ‘Tory Tosser’, wanker is actually a high compliment. To be a Tory Tosser is cool, but to be Tory Wanker is hot. And it’s not at all sexist. Tories may say, for example, as they reminisce over Thatcher: ‘She really “rubbed one out” over those miners… taking tea with Pinochet helped her “find her groove”’.)
Okay, Dominic Fisher (aka the Prague Tory) has realised his mistake and since removed his name from most of the fora he used to promote his blog, but not all (and I’ve combined a couple of his posts so as not to bore you). Google has some interesting definitions of anonymous, some of which Dominic Fisher would do well to commit to memory.
Seeing as Dominic has outed himself, debate on the ethics of outing anonymous bloggers is academic. Although there are those who feel we should try to save Prague Tory from his incompetence.
This is nonsense. Like all rights, the right to remain anonymous carries responsibilities and we should always be suspicious of those who are wary of being associated with their own opinions.
Dominic Fisher’s Prague Tory is rather boastful; promising to engage in all sorts of campaigns. That’s fair enough so long as those targeted have access to full redress. That means rather more than being able to leave a comment (among many others) on a blog entry or to have your own blog (nobody should be forced to blog). In the case of libel, the law assumes damages and bloggers should be aware that a libel that results in a breach of the peace (nasty phone calls at home, say) is criminal and carries a custodial sentence.
Of course Dominic Fisher will have nothing to worry about, so long as Prague Tory remains honest and his opinions fair.
