# Anonymous & Pseudonymous Posting

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-pseudonymous-posting/105670>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [April 26, 2002, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-pseudonymous-posting/105670 "2002-04-26T00:26:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 6

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**Author:** ![jiHymas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@jiHymas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jiHymas)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2002, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-pseudonymous-posting/105670/101 "2002-05-01T15:25:06Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by tomndebb \*  
> **I could easily use the name of my next-door neighbor.**

> [@](#):
>
> _Originally posted by fluiddruid_  
> **Like SPOOFE, I use a single online pseudonym nearly exclusively. I don’t exactly consider this anonymity, as if someone finds anything by “fluiddruid” (one word), it’s very likely to be me (or, in recent years, someone who saw my name and liked it).**

Identity theft will be a problem no matter how identity is specified. It will be more likely to be considered unethical (and possibly actionable) if the identity being misappropriated is a real name.

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**Author:** ![Jerevan\_Somerville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@Jerevan\_Somerville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jerevan_Somerville)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2002, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-pseudonymous-posting/105670/102 "2002-05-01T15:41:58Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by jiHymas \*  
> Identity theft will be a problem no matter how identity is specified. It will be more likely to be considered unethical (and possibly actionable) if the identity being misappropriated is a real name.

I disagree with the first sentence. If I am using a pseudonym (as I am here), then it is not possible for some casual user to steal my identity in a truly “actionable” way because **Jerevan Somerville** is, at least on this message board, a construct. Someone might use the same name elsewhere, deliberately or otherwise, but it does not necessarily follow, nor should anyone assume, that the postings are by the same person.

In fact, the same can be said about using real names. There might another J.I. Hymas in another community. It might be you, it might not be. It would be unethical only if you could prove that someone did so, deliberately, to harm your reputation.

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**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2002, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-pseudonymous-posting/105670/103 "2002-05-02T01:24:46Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Identity theft will be a problem no matter how identity is specified. It will be more likely to be considered unethical (and possibly actionable) if the identity being misappropriated is a real name.

Not really. Or, at least, only if the purloined name is used to bring opprobrium or injury down on the actual owner.

Given the nature of _discussion_ groups, neither is likely.

You have an interesting hypothesis in this thread, but I am afraid I find it unpersuasive.

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**Author:** ![jiHymas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@jiHymas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jiHymas)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2002, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-pseudonymous-posting/105670/104 "2002-05-02T01:28:49Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by tomndebb \*  
> \*\* Not really. Or, at least, only if the purloined name is used to bring opprobrium or injury down on the actual owner. \*\*

OK. I just couldn’t think of another reason for using one’s neighbor’s name.

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