How was Buckhead's identity discovered?

[Zechariah11]

Forgive me for asking, but being ignorant of Internet workings, I don't know how the MSM got info about Buckhead's true identity. Isn't all of that supposed to be private?

[liberallarry]

They read his posts and did a lot of sleuthing. That's what they said anyway.

[Slings and Arrows]

[js1138]

Don't put identifying information in your personal profile.

[borisbob69]

I don't have your answer, but suspect Buckhead himself revealed it via contacts with other bloggers or directly to the media. One thing I'm sure of...FR didn't release the name.

[cynicom]

With due diligence and time they can find out who you are also.

[thegreatbeast]

Don't ever think that the Net offers you anonymity. Be circumspect as to what you put to paper (or zeroes and ones).

[harrycarey]

I was wondering the same thing.

Especially after I read an article this morning that Bush's accuser (Burket) posted on Democratic web sites under a screename.

[Drango]

As I understand it, they read two years of his posts and picked up on all the clues.

[CaptainK]

I read some of Buckhead's posts. With the droplets of personal information he included and access to Lexus/Nexus, I can see how they figured it out.

[xm177e2]

I don't know for sure if this is how the reporters tracked him down, but it may be:

Readers Tom Mortensen and Liz MacDougald direct us to the FreeRepublic post

They might have traced the name "MacDougald" back from the Powerline post that launched the scandal outside of FR (that was the first big blog to make a note of the scandal, and that post was linked to a lot; any serious journalist investigating how this story unfolded would had to have seen it)

[headsonpikes]

"Isn't all this supposed to be private?"

Heck, no!

For instance, we know that Zechariah11 stopped off at the Quik-E-Mart for a Chutney Squishee this morning.

Besides, the new FR software makes your monitor 2-way.

Change your pajamas!

[vbmoneyspender]

I think the way they discovered it was that he prepared an amicus brief on behalf of FreeRepublic in its fight with the LA Times and the Washington Post and probably mentioned that fact on one of his posts. They then went the through the legal briefs to find out who filed an amicus brief against them that was an attorney in the South and -- Voila! -- Buckhead is revealed.

[Congressman Billybob]

Many of us, in our posts on Free Republic, talk honestly and accurately about things we've done and seen, people we've met, places we've been, and issues we've been involved in. It is a very simple matter to search for all the posts made under a single name. Then it is a simple matter to connect the dots and find out who the person is.

Nothing either devious or mysterious here.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "The Manifesto of Pukin Dog"

If you haven't already joined the anti-CFR effort, please click here.

[Mamzelle]

re: With due diligence and time they can find out who you are also.)))

Indeed. I'd love to post my home state, for instance, but it'd be too easy to identify me. So I say, "rural mountainous south."

I've gove through one stalking experience (via the forums at Salon)--

--happened because I careless posted somewhere my real email address--and it wasn't a "junk email" address.

But it wasn't FR that did it--though all our posts can be retrieved.

Some no-life went through Buckhead's posts for years, and put small things together. He should be proud of the attention--and actually causing a "journalist" to do some real homework.

[CobaltBlue]

People on Democrat Underground started a thread to "out" Buckhead, and collected every nugget of personal information they could find by reading old posts. Took them maybe a week of collective action.

Given the antipathy of Jim Rob to DU, all mention of this has been scrubbed. I am curious to see whether this post will be deleted as well.

[js1138]

I googled my screen name expecting to find my FR posts. Instead I found other people posting on other forums using the same name. I should say something outrageous. Chances are the press would finger someone else.

[Zechariah11]

Thanks to you and all who have contributed such insights. It just means I'll have to be circumspect about what personal info to reveal in postings, etc.

[mattdono]

Well, it was known that Buckhead wrote a brief (JimRob did an update on this at one point) and the brief was filed. It was really a simple matter of looking up who wrote the brief.

As far as I can concerned, he's Buckhead. I don't even want to know his name. His analysis and commentary is true and that's what matters to me. I'm here to support my FREEPER friends, especially ones that I have observed over time as quality folks. Don't put identifying information in your personal profile.

I think it's a personal choice. I have several "personal" items (such as a link to my business) in my profile. Of course, my FREEPER name, mattdono, is just about enough to take a wild stab at my real name.

I am who I am. I hope that my FREEPER friends would respect my privacy, as I would respect theirs. And, these lefties are nuts, no doubt. But, should they find themselves theatening me or my family, it will be a sore mistake on their part. I'm not a Birkenstock-wearing type. I'm quite familiar with the abbreviation CWP and understand, well, the concept of center mass. If they want to bring, bring it.

[jellybean]

Many of us, in our posts on Free Republic, talk honestly and accurately about things we've done and seen, people we've met, places we've been, and issues we've been involved in. It is a very simple matter to search for all the posts made under a single name. Then it is a simple matter to connect the dots and find out who the person is.

HA!! All my posts are forgeries, so they'll never figure out who I am!