I wonder if it will give me a 5-star review
It was time to submit an article to a client. I use Microsoft Word to write and Microsoft OneDrive to share articles because it enables collaborative editing and commenting. I shared the link for my client to review and continued reading to ensure everything was in order.
Typically, Microsoft indicates who else is editing the document at the top right corner of the doc. This is true for logged-in users or users who are given explicit permission. I used the ‘Anyone with the link can edit’ option for this client. In this case, Microsoft does not know who is reading my document. Yet, it feels tremendous pressure to keep me informed that someone is out there, reading!
To circumvent the identity problem, Microsoft makes up names for the guests. Today, my first guest was cauliflower. A short while after that, cauliflower was joined by arugula. Were they making a salad out of my writing?
As I watched, the population of assorted leaves and vegetables on my document began to grow. Argan joined the gang. Word got out that there was a terrific document to read. Another cauliflower came over to check.
Don’t believe me? See for yourself!
Inexplicably, I felt hungry. I fixed myself a salad. But I did not add any cauliflower or arugula. After seeing these guys on my doc, adding these fellows into my salad felt gross. Bleah.
On other days, Microsoft has opened the gates to various animals on my document. I once found a purple fox, a terrier, and other small creatures at the top of my document.
Searching for more data about what other creative names are used to identify anonymous guests on a shared document yielded nothing useful. I suppose it is a closely guarded secret involving complex algorithms.
How is Microsoft deciding who is a rabbit and who is a stick of celery?
If a rabbit and a carrot find themselves editing my doc — ok, let’s not go there.
Does anyone know more about this? I can’t afford to eat each time someone visits my document anonymously.
Anu Anniah Writes 
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