Why do people think it would be better if everyone were forced to use their real names in internet comments?

Answer 1

When websites encourage (or even require) individuals to use real names, people are more likely to use words that they would use in person - i.e., they are less likely to be aggressive or offensive, and will be more civil.

Unfortunately, this also means that commenters are being less honest and truthful; not expressing their true feelings and opinions because of fear of real-life retaliation. (For instance, Disqus has found that pseudonymous users post higher quality comments than real name users.) This is an effective way to silence people with unpopular opinions, which is why anonymous commenting is illegal in authoritarian regimes like China.

As the negative consequences of outlawing anonymity are worse than the negative consequences of allowing it, anonymity is considered an essential human right:

Protections for anonymous speech are vital to democratic discourse. Allowing dissenters to shield their identities frees them to express critical minority views . . . Anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority. . . . It thus exemplifies the purpose behind the Bill of Rights and of the First Amendment in particular: to protect unpopular individuals from retaliation . . . at the hand of an intolerant society. - 1995 Supreme Court, McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks - Article 12 of The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The right to privacy is our right to keep a domain around us, which includes all those things that are part of us, such as our body, home, property, thoughts, feelings, secrets and identity. The right to privacy gives us the ability to choose which parts in this domain can be accessed by others, and to control the extent, manner and timing of the use of those parts we choose to disclose. - Yael Onn, et al., Privacy in the Digital Environment