I post under my real name, but my avatar doesn't look anything like me.

Oh dear! Now I am thoroughly confused. I most certainly do hope we're looking at different pictures. (I was looking at JanMM's N.Y. self, his Indiana self was too squiggly)

Ohhh, now where did I leave that bottle of Molson's?

I like to imagine that my avatar looks exactly like me!

"I strongly believe that one should never post anything anonymously"
Why not go all the way and post a clear picture portrait with your name, address, and phone?

Something in between those extremes is more advisable in my opinion. I think it's hard to dispute that using your real name provides an incentive for integrity, regardless of how specifically one could identify you with that information alone. On the other hand, people who post while erroneously believing they are anonymous often behave in ways they'd never dream of otherwise.

I'm not saying you can't post with respect and integrity using a pseudonym, nor that everyone using their name is credible and honest. Yet I do think that stripping the facades of anonymity shines a light into the darker recesses of the Internet and for that reason it's a worthy thing to advocate.

And email.....so the rest of us can sell it to spammers.

Darn it! You mean I didn't have to use my real name and picture?

I'm considering changing my legal name to Doohickie. I've been working on a script version of the name for signatures.



And yes, I really am a cat.

At 225.8 pounds, your a much bigger cat then your avatar, something on the order of a puma perhaps...

That's 225.0, if you please. Don't make me heavier than I am!

Looked like an 8 to me as well. Makes you 20 lb lighter than me if that's any consolation.

Sorry, I need to trade my 40+ glasses for some 50+ glasses....

Looks like I stumbled into the Old Folks Home. Bunch of old geezers and geezerettes...

Hey! I'm ONLY 64!

What I'd like to know is, what is this subject doing on 50+ anyway, when a more appropriate venue might have been the site discussion forum. Seems a lot of us old geezers start threads here that are not age related, just because the forum is addressed to us.

But back on topic, I really don't see the importance or even relevance of disanonimity in a biking forum. The opinions and advice offered here should stand on its own merits, who cares whether you know the true identity of the poster.

On the other hand, gibberish handles like snrt2dg are not very helpful in terms of establishing a memorable online presense. It can be hard to follow the subtle nuances of a thread if the various aliases are all so nondescript.

And on the third hand, a problem with employing ones own real name online is that it might well not be unique, which could cause all manner of unenjoyable mixups. As various posters have already remarked, few of us would feel comfortable including further identifying information that could somehow put us at risk.

That said, andychrist is my real name and that avatar really is me too, I swear on a stack of holy bibles-- Agh!

Do you really want to know or was that rhetorical? If you really want to know read on. If not, never mind.

There are those of us who appreciate mature discussion that is less often found on other sub-forums. Given we share cycling and a level of lived experience others may have yet to achieve, we (OK "I") would rather post here and communicate with others who are more mature. Generally, the moderators have come to understand and accept this. Hence, this particular sub-forum has evolved slightly beyond it's original stated purpose. When we get too far off track, we're generally able to pull ourselves back in. At the same time, we're generally able to welcome the new or returning 50+ rider with support, information, and a place where they can safely share their experiences.

Actually, Doohickie has become my name in some circles. I've met several people who came to know me from this or other forums, or my Doohickie blog, so they just feel comfortable calling me that. Whatever.

You never know though, sometimes, handles have a real meaning to the user, take mine for example, Wogster. My real name is paul, my mother-in-law started refering to me as pauly-wog. This was eventually shortened to Wog as a family name. I needed 7 characters for an online ID and added ster to the end, giving me Wogster. I use this quite often as a handle, it's short and it's easy to remember. The avatar is me, though.

Sure, I'm Billy.

Seriously, the Great Eye can get my on-line identity anytime It wants...in seconds. Warrantless, even. Maybe even with [or more likely without] your help.

Pseudo-anonymity gives me a fool's comfort that there's a safe haven of ideas...quaint, no?

Yeah...call me Billy.

for me, a pseudonym is just fine. There are other forums where I use my real name.

unterhausen isn't on your birth certificate?

Mine is my real initial and last name also. I work in law enforcement so I fall under many of the same requirements as the OP.

I tried being an anonymouse for a while, but even under a screen name everyone figured out who I was.

PALT Pressure Altitude
PALT Procurement Administrative Lead Time
PALT Procurement Action Lead Time
PALT Procurement Acquisition Lead Time
PALT Purchase Administrative Leadtime
PALT Package Alteration
yea...one of those is me

I have a unique name - the only E_____ ______s in the whole world. I choose to go by my nic, the same nic I've used since I started on the net. Privacy and protection. I've been stalked and it gets scary.