Where Everyone Knows Your Name...

The situation comedy "Cheers" had a retro-ballad theme song that had the catch line' "where everyone knows your name." And the thought of Cheers as a warm, safe, friendly place where everyone knew you was supposed to be reassuring. But everyone knowing your name as you read or post on the Internet is a whole different thing.

The government of China, which has struggled mightily to regulate the Internet, may be about to implement a "real name" system. Under the plan, which is still sketchy, forum moderators, posters, even people who read stuff on the Internet, will have to do so under their actual name. Civil libertarians claim this system will be anything but warm, friendly or safe. The Associated Press reports.