I disagree with your two proposals, but I upvoted your post.

Some folks don't want to join the community, but they do have a quick question. Slashdot works the same way -- it's possible to post anonymously. I have used it myself, on the rare occasion that I need to contribute to a discussion that's employment related, for obvious reasons.

Yes, getting downvoted is a drag, but it sends a message, a) that's wrong; b) that's stupid; or even c) I disagree. Perlmonks has worked well in the close to ten years I've been here -- I think downvotes are here to stay.