How many out there use their real names here? (vanity)

[Peter J. Huss]

Just wondering. I switched a little while back, mainly because I didn't see why I should hide behind a fake name.

When I started using my real name, I was a wee bit more careful about what I posted.

Anyone care to chime in on this? Am I being foolhardy?

[garylmoore]

Yes I do Peter, I guess there's nothing wrong with using a handle, I know that there are some people that hide behind their handle but their mostly liberal.

[Riley]

If your mom had named you Elvis Archibald Shaka Zulu you'd sign on as Tijeras_Slim too.
I tried to get the login 'Tijeras_Slim', but alas, it was taken.

You are going to be periodically having to explain your nick to new people for YEARS to come! LOL!

[altura]

Altura (real name - J. K. Rowling) you are an idiot!

You meant to say, "that would NOT be the case if I were a left winger.

Oh, yeah, that's my name Debra Leftwinger.

[mdmathis6]

I had thought about the kook angle when thinking about using my name but they could just as well get at me when I write letters to the editor or any old way. Since there are a lot of Mdmathis' around I figure I'm only marginally less safe than before...It's not like I put my SSN number for any-one to see and as for internet IP tracking...the IP I use doesn't belong to me at this point. But I can't just see hiding and skulking around any-more...there are dark things happening in our country and we need to stand and face them.

By the way...The Democrats must be defeated in 2004!

[looscnnn]

They could figure it out, it would take some time. It would involve finding out where you are posting from by use of IP addresses, etc. they could then use that info to find out your phone number if using dial-up or the IP of your high speed connection.

[cyborg]

Cyborg is my real name :D

[LadyShallott]

It's amazing how much information people can find on the internet. I found Luke (he gave his real name on the web page he made) in less than five minutes. The police department knew who he was before I even told them what happened. They recognized his name. I stayed in contact with the chief of police for over a week about this man. He needs help, really. His mental illness has impacted his mother (who he is living with) and his sanity. May the Lord help him. And I told him as much.

[petercooper]

how do you define "real"?

[connectthedots]

It wasn't me, H______.

[70times7]

Mister Likes-To-Dress-Up-Like-a-Catholic-Schoolgirl-and-Get-Spanked-By-a-Naked-Dan-Fogelberg...!

Now, now... you are supposed to be taking you lithium daily!

[stainlessbanner]

The cornrows are gone

New spring look, rdb3?

[mdmathis6]

I think you become less safe the more you are viewed as a threat!...Look the real famous people have their name out there all the time, Limbaugh,Coulter...et al! Certainly attempts have been made to ferret out their personal records and history....internet or not. People who don't have onscreen accounts, internet accounts or just happen to be the pretty girl in the mail room can get them-selves stalked. I just don't see much more danger than other wise in posting ones real name. I don't doubt some may have to watch what they say...I'm certainly not going to say any-thing about my work or boss on line even Positive!

[guitfiddlist]

They could figure it out, it would take some time. It would involve finding out where you are posting from by use of IP addresses, etc. they could then use that info to find out your phone number if using dial-up or the IP of your high speed connection.

Bears repeating. Monikers offer some protection from the individual nutcases and trolls out there, but zero protection against the Kerry Kabal, or the Departments of The Dowager.

[mrsmith]

Using your real name allows the Aliens to fine tune the mind-control rays from their satellites that control your behavior.
Here's proof.

"Judge resigns after paper publishes remarks made in chat room

ZINIE CHEN SAMPSON, Associated Press Writer
Thursday, March 4, 2004

(03-04) 16:24 PST RICHMOND, Va. (AP) --
A Virginia judge has resigned after the disclosure of racially charged remarks he wrote in an Internet chat room, including statements suggesting that blacks have a biological tendency toward violence.

Richmond General District Judge Ralph B. Robertson stepped down after 19 years on the bench. He stopped hearing cases last week and filed for retirement, which is to take effect April 1....

"I am not a racist," he wrote, according to the paper. "I am a racialist. The difference being I don't discriminate against an individual, but I do recognize the fact that there are a lot of differences between races which I assume from a biological standpoint is caused by difference in DNA. "

[4CJ]

Someone told me that if you post with a fake name, anyone can read your FrailMail (see this link for yours).

Then I said to myself, 4 - 'cause that's what I call myself, you're simply being paranoid, and decided I just use my initals. All of them.

[Riley]

Before we all get too sanguine about the protection offered by using monikers, I'd like to hear from some Freeper IT wizards about how hard it would be for hostile governments (including domestic 'Rat) and other organizations to track each and every one of us down.

We had a Freeper make some intemperate remarks about a national political figure a few years back. He got a visit from the Secret Service in very short order. They had the incident figured for what it was, a guy losing his temper and saying things that he'd never carry out, but it answered this question perfectly. He had a moniker BTW, not using his name.

[general_re]

Whatever happened to Luke "Bananas" Braly? Did you guys ever hear any more about him or from him?

[LadyShallott]

Link to website. :http://lukebrl.150m.com/

Plese think twice.

[af_vet_rr]

Some of us may work for employers who might look askance at our political beliefs. Remember--everything you post here is available through an easy Google search.

This would/could be a big concern to some, but more importantly, with all of the scams, ID theft, and spam going around, it's better to keep a little bit of anonymity.

There's also the fact that if your not so anonymous and you post opinions that go against somebody else's, they could try to cause you problems. Granted, it is a lot easier for others to cause problems with usenet (I saw some bad things about 10 or 15 years ago in some of the alt.politics groups) since when you post on usenet your giving out a lot of info in the message headers, whether you mean to or not, as opposed to a site like FR, where you can keep a bit of anonymity.

I used to find it amusing how some would go to great lengths to maintain anonymity because they felt the government at some point would go mining usenet and other forums looking for those who own firearms, have certain viewpoints, etc., (especially after Ruby Ridge and Waco when online paranoia seemed pretty high in some usenet groups). Now that I see where things are headed, I'm not so sure they aren't far off the mark. After 9/11, it was pretty clear that various three letter agencies are/were starting to keep tabs on various online groups that aren't all that pro-government, regardless of where their loyalties lay.

[piasa]

If your real name was Hugh Mongoose Teats you'd prefer to go by piasa, too...

My folks had a sense of humor and an affinity for the children's story Riki Tiki Tavi. I still don't understand what's so funny about "Mongoose."