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I've always used my real name in forums, etc.
I know many have mentioned identify theft as a reason for using an anonymous name. I guess someone could obtain the necessary information if they were willing to dig deep enough but dumpsters, ATM's, mail theft and credit card use are the major sources of identity theft and much easier to obtain the necessary information. I've had one credit card hacked and I'm sure it was from online use. Thankfully, American Express is great at identifying a hacked account and the hacker was shutdown in a matter of hours. I had a new card delivered to my front door 24 hours later. |
Mine is my real name; I just left out all of the vowels! :D
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Originally Posted by Beverly
(Post 13134999)
I've always used my real name in forums, etc.
I know many have mentioned identify theft as a reason for using an anonymous name. I guess someone could obtain the necessary information if they were willing to dig deep enough but dumpsters, ATM's, mail theft and credit card use are the major sources of identity theft and much easier to obtain the necessary information. The rule I've been preaching since the dial-up bulletin board days is never email or post anything anonymous or otherwise that would harm you if it was tacked up in your church halls or business-place, because it eventually could be. We're not really anonymous on the internet regardless of what handle we use. Using your real name just acknowledges and accepts that fact. |
I'm Benny. BluesDawg tells you more about me than the name does. I am much nicer and more reserved here under the forum name than I am in real life where I go by my real name.
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I just figured nobody would believe me if I told them I was really Conan the Usurper.
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You do have a point but I am not going to give someone access to my name so they can use it as they wish. There is much more to this than meets they eye.
So if I tell you my name is Ingrid Svenson, how do you know that is my real name? My social security number is 234-78-5677. Believe that? |
Originally Posted by Beverly
(Post 13134999)
I've always used my real name in forums, etc.
I know many have mentioned identify theft as a reason for using an anonymous name. I guess someone could obtain the necessary information if they were willing to dig deep enough but dumpsters, ATM's, mail theft and credit card use are the major sources of identity theft and much easier to obtain the necessary information. I've had one credit card hacked and I'm sure it was from online use. Thankfully, American Express is great at identifying a hacked account and the hacker was shutdown in a matter of hours. I had a new card delivered to my front door 24 hours later. |
And as a business owner I don't trust a Democrat one inch not to try to get me in to trouble somehow by voicing my opinions against environmentalism. These people are.....................NUTS!
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First initial-last name-year I was born, and I never post anything I wouldn't want my wife or children to read.
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[QUOTE]
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 13134968)
Jim from Boston, d'uh. Jim is my name and Boston is my venue, so it works well for me and is more informative than my real name. I'm perfectly satisfied reading posts and attaching the comments to an anonymous Electronic Entity. If someone rants and I don't like it, I just don't read it.
I just replied to a current post on the Fifty Plus Forum, “I met another BF member last night.” It just occurred to me that for almost all the BF members I have met in person, I still know most of them by their user name or their first name. I was amused to learn that DF's name is really Denver Fox! It is a great name, but I assumed he chose it because of his location! The story behind it is interesting, as well! |
In fact on discussion boards the people I have seen that have caused the MOST problems are those using their "real name". Has happened over and over and over. There's kind of a sense of self-importance. And a sense of "I'm defending this discussion board".
Not all, of course. But this is happened enough times that it really is a pattern. |
[QUOTE=miss kenton;13135472]
I was amused to learn that DF's name is really Denver Fox! It is a great name, but I assumed he chose it because of his location! The story behind it is interesting, as well! |
Everyone that lives around me knows my real name. Rusty Shackelford :lol:
No Facebook or Twitter. BTW-Shouldn't those who use Twitter be know as a Twit? MICHAEL PALIN, so nice to meet you! |
Originally Posted by BluesDawg
(Post 13134150)
I like Facebook. It has proven to be especially useful for increasing participation in the bike club and for staying in touch with family and friends. I only mentioned it here because most people there use their real names and that doesn't seem to keep many of them from saying idiotic things.
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I think it is simply a personal choice. I 'prefer' to use real names, but privacy is a funny thing - it means different stuff to different people. Yes - some low-quality people hide behind screen-names and will speak much more rudely than in person. I dislike that, but I sorta see it like this; if you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns.
And no, I am *NOT* trying to start anything :) |
When I first joined BikeForums I was so new to the internet that I got confused about user name and name! Most everywhere else I'm known as Newfsmith, but here I'm known by my full name. No regrets so far.
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Originally Posted by miss kenton
(Post 13135472)
...However, in-person meetings could be a tad awkward when the member has a user name composed of a series of letters and numbers!
I was amused to learn that DF's name is really Denver Fox! It is a great name, but I assumed he chose it because of his location! The story behind it is interesting, as well! The subscriber of whom you write may well be named "Denver Fox" (like Denver Pyle), but he posts as DnvrFox. What do you think he is trying to hide? :innocent: (Actually I have seen corroborating evidence, but provided by (only) him in his postings, that that is his name.) |
My first name is Leo, middle initial is B. that's all I choose to share. If at time I act like an idiot, well, nobody's perfect.
And Kurt, being a member of the judicary, giving somebody the finger is proctected free speach, so flip away(specially to those that deserve it). |
I do use my real name, with initials following it. I use my full (real) name on Facebook. Go find it, I'm not going to put the link here!
I've also had a credit card hacked. Short version of the story is that the, umm, "person" who did it hacked a card that was expired. The online merchant he used it with didn't check the security number or expiration date and sold the perp a refrigerator (!). The good part is that he was eventually caught, and I was in not liable. I still don't know how he got the card information, and probably never will. |
I use my real name in FB, but am kind of generic here. The one thing I do maintain privacy on is my schedule. I dont post when i am going to be gone.
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First inital of my first name, first inital of middle name, first three letters of my last name. I don't like my first name or my middle name will probably shorten my first name, and drop my middle name once my mother passes away.
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Just how do you change your username?
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Originally Posted by JWalton215
(Post 13136133)
Just how do you change your username?
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Interesting responses but all, including the OP's, miss one important point. The posting name actually means very little with regard to post credibility. Opinions rendered here, or in almost any forum for that matter, are worth, for the most part, exactly what they cost. That wouldn't change except it would make checking the opiner's background a bit easier. Anyone who takes information that affects life or property from this, or most any other board, and uses it without further research is, not using all their faculties.
Identity theft is actually a very minor issue. The board owners know who we are ard where we are. There is the information that has real value. On the other hand the whole user name thing adds a bit of fun to the experience. |
Originally Posted by Kurt Erlenbach
(Post 13132723)
Being a member of the judicial branch of government, I have to live with some rules that are different than those affecting most folks (I'm always reluctant to flip off a dangerous driver, at the risk of being considered injudicious, but some folks just plain deserve it). Among those rules are developing rules about the use of social media. After reviewing those rules, and because it's the right thing to do, I've decided to start posting under my real name and I'd like to encourage you to do so, too.
Online anonymity encourages too many people to act like idiots online. I strongly believe that one should never post anything anonymously that they would not say personally, and one of the best things about this subforum is the lack of idiots hanging around here. So, hello everyone. I'm Kurt. That said, I shall choose to be as anonymous as I can be in all my dealings with the net that are not of a business nature where my personal info it required.
Originally Posted by NOS88
(Post 13132780)
Well, I understand your position, and I disagree with it. On line information is too easily an access point for criminals. I don't post real name, real street address or any other information that could lead someone to my home after learning more about me than I might want them to know. If my behavior is unacceptable on a given forum, the moderators will take me to task. There have been people ban for unacceptable behavior, and I would expect nothing less. My experience has been that idiots will act like idiots with or without real names.
Just one other comment. I really hope government keeps its nose out of the INTERNET. It's one of the last places of unfettered free speech. If I don't like what someone is saying, I don't have to read it, I can even put folks on my filtered list (which I've recently done). I assume others will do the same with me if I get too annoying. Oh, and I wanted to add that I only participate in moderated forums. Moderators have a tough job, but they maintain the stability of any given public forum. |
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