So someone who's lying about who they are is somehow more honest than someone who
doesn't lie?

Posting anonymously is not lying about who you are. It's just not saying anything about who you are. Different.

it's not like there's some sort of police coming to get someone
who posts a PIC opinion.

Well, that's not exactly true. In some circles there may actually =be= "PC police", with consequences to one's employment, marital status, or other parts of one's life.

It just seems that many of those with the most extreme
opinions seem to be ashamed of them and don't want anyone to know who they are.

Not wanting anyone to know who you are does not imply shame of opinions. Pcople on Usenet come from different surroundings (and from all over the world).

I have no opinion on the underlying issue, but I do have an opinion on correct reasoning.

Jose
--
for Email, make the obvious change in the address
(replied to the post in a.a.safety, r.a.piloting, and r.a.safety, but I only follow r.a.p.)