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.

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.

Is it OK to use an abrieviation? Not saying what Dan is short for. Probably not what you expect.
I don't have issues with people who use screen names out of privacy concerns, but when folks start hiding behind them to become internet snipers, I do take issue.
Congratulations on having the fortitude to identify yourself, and welcome to the non anonymous club.

I've got no beef with folks who chose to be anonymous, and NOS has good points. My beef is with folks who are anonymous and post things they would not say in person, which mainly seems to happen on newspaper sites, but rarely here.

Well mine is my real name as well. And I agree with Kurt, and think what Michael said will also sadly be the case. But if we weren't so anonymous, I think we might think twice about what we say and how we say it.

You're right about that. I used to hang out on an unmoderated bike forum where most posters were identified by their real names, and it was a most uncivil place.

We expect no less than sensible and correct conclusions from members of our judicial branch Kurt, but I'd like to congratulate you on this one regardless.

I'm happy for you.

However, I must disagree wholeheartedly with your encouraging all others to do so.

Not everyone has the weight of the legal system behind them if they become the object of full focused attention from a stark raving lunatic. It happens, along with other assorted and sundry problems.

It may well be right for you to post under your name, but it is not appropriate for everyone.

Further, I pretty much act on the internet as I do in person.

I don't think I've ever flipped off another driver.

Some forums I'm on actually request that their members use nicknames rather than their real names. A name is just a name - until you get a stalker. Then it's an extra layer of protection.

hmm. I too started using a shortened version of my name in the olden days of bulletin boards, before everyone started inventing cute names and pseudonyms. Many many people guess my full name on the first try.

Well, I am in that crowd too. Coleman is my first name, and Howad is my last. Got middle name of Edward.

Sheesh, they stole my idenity, and forged my id in forums, so what else is new...

before the internet we only knew what people said. Now we know what people think.

I use part of my name also since it was my first email name in the early days when you couldn't have something long. You could not guess my last name from the abbreviation but you wouldn't be far off I agree with Kurt on the problems anonymity fosters but I worry along with the others who raised it about the dangers of attaching your full identity to extensive posts. I think on community forums like this anonymity isn't the problem it is on many other forums. Anyone who wants to regularly participate will feel the close to the same urge to protect their online reputation under a "handle" as under a real name. I wouldn't want people to be thinking donheff is a complete A** anymore than I would want them thinking that about Don Heff...

I don't think it's the anonymity; otherwise how would you explain all the times *I* act like an idiot online, & I'm posting under my real name!

Real first name and initials. Wouldn't be too hard to find me.

Real last name. First name is Gregory. I like Greg.

I just assumed you were a fan of um... fine arts.

Okay...I am really Michael Palin.

I wish posting with real names would inhibit some of the totally ridiculous things I see people posting on Facebook every day.

I have totally given up on Facebook. I tried it for several months. It just isn't my thing. Also given up on Twitter - I lasted about a week, and never did "MySpace"

Posting under real names doesn't alter behavior online except in a few narrow circumstances.


-- Your pal, Oprah Winfrey.

Any relation to Moe, Curly or Shemp?

I admire those who use real names. Sheldon Brown was big on it, as are most other heavy hitters in the internet bicycling arena.

This is great, everyone comming forward with their real names and all, but shouldn't we be addressing Kurt as "yer honor"?

Well, he didn't exactly say "Judge" ... but "yer honor" probably works anyhow.