Seems real life identity has come up a few times in the past few months.
[ul]
[li]There was a Pit Thread in which one poster made a game of collecting clues from the Pitee’s posting history building up to a phone call (to the Pitee’s supposed place of work) that lead to a banning.[/li][li]There’s the Opal memorials- she wasn’t guarded about her real life identity and the memorials recap much of what she shared.[/li][li]There was a “drive-by” post by a new member who apparently never returned, but she used her e-mail address (first initial, last name @whatevermail) as her username then she referred to herself by her first name in her post. A more seasoned poster warned her about being careful about guarding one’s own privacy.[/li][li]There’s a poster who’s Twitter account is referenced multiple times in a Pit Thread devoted to her.[/li][li]and . . . it seems I remember it coming up at least one or two other times in recent months but can’t think of the specific instances.[/li][/ul]
How guarded have you been here about your real life identity?
I’ve outed myself on a few occasions. I’ve shared links to my music- as celebratory announcements when I’ve released new recordings, shameless plugs when other posters have requested “examples of songs that . . .”, and I’ve made celebratory announcements a couple times when I’ve been played on the Dr. Demento show. At least once in my very early days here before I had really learned the Board Culture, I posted a Thread to promote a gig (and was pretty harshly criticised by other posters- lesson in Board Culture achieved!).
Being “out” never really worried me much. You all seem like a good enough lot and, besides, when I’ve shared identity-revealing links I never really expect people to take enough of an interest to store that information for recollection beyond the immediate discussion.
I’ve never attended a Dopefest, though I would if a convenient gathering were planned.
So, to what extent do you feel your real life anonymity is important here?
On a scale of 1 to 5?
[ol]
[li]I’m OUT! I’ve shared my name and/or other personal info here.[/li][li]I’m anonymous, but only because no reason has ever come up for me to share identifying information about myself.[/li][li]I’ve met others at Dopefests / I’ve connected with certain individuals on Facebook (or similar) but I wouldn’t drop any personal info here on the board.[/li][li]I’m anonymous. I wouldn’t say I’m GUARDED about my real life identity, but I consider the anonymity to be kinda the point of a messageboard. It allows me to interact in ways I’d be inhibited about if I weren’t anonymous.[/li][li]You’d better believe I’m anonymous here! There’s NO WAY I would allow you freaks a glimpse into my real life- eeew! The very thought of it makes me feel the need for a shower![/li][/ol]
Scale of 1 to 5 is just a vague reference for discussion, hence not a formal poll.
I think I’m out, but nobody cares. When I joined in 2005, my first user name was my real name. Some people advised me to change that, so I did. My email address contains my real name. Since we became searchable via Google, I’m mildly glad that my user name is not my real name, but I haven’t posted anything here that I would be ashamed of, I don’t think. A handful of dopers have my street address because we have sent each other things.
Probably 1. I don’t share my name on the board (though it does include my real name in it). I used to link to my web page in my sig (until the mods told me the rules had changed) and make no secret of it. Now, I’ll occasionally link to my blog or web page when it is part of the discussion.
I guess the best description is a transparent pseudonym. Anyone who wants to find my real name can do it.
It’s pretty trivial to find my name if you want to. But the idea of posting about my book (and occasionally articles) was too irresistable.
My philosophy about the Dope Board in particular and the Internet in general is that it’s like what Will Rogers said about how you should live:
“Live your life so that you wouldn’t be afraid to sell the family parrot to the Town Gossip.”
Because the internet has the memory of an elephant, and the ability to repeat of that Parrot. And it’s in the hands of an entire world of potentiakl town gossips.
I’ve met a few dopers in real life who know my name. And anybody else who really wanted to track me down probably could. I don’t think I’m on anyone’s radar enough for them to go to that much trouble.
I haven’t ever directly referred to my true identity (which makes me sound like a superhero), but I’ve posted enough info about my life and work that someone in my circle of acquaintances could figure out it was me if they cared enough to do the research. I feel comfortable in the assumption that I’m not interesting enough for anyone to bother.
I thought long and hard about this before posting the link to my donation page for the World Wildlife Fund CN Tower Climb. I decided that raising money for a good cause was more important than someone finding out my real name.
I’m out-ish, in that I’ve shared plenty of personal details here and a few pictures. I mean, you’d have to be paying attention and going through it to find me, but it wouldn’t be hard.
I’ve posted during bouts of depression, said some things I wish could be erased. Also, there have been times I’ve made some minor trolly posts to get a rise out of someone. So, there are some potential quotes that I’d like to not have attributed to me.
But I have so many posts over so many years and the posts I’d be unhappy with are very much in the minority. Someone would actually have to be digging for dirt on me. If I’m ever famous, I’d hate for TMZ to find me here. In terms of more realistic concerns, no worries really.
Hell, your username makes you sound like a superhero (though I shudder to imagine what your super powers might be!).
I’d put myself between 3 and 4. I don’t mind sharing things from time to time, and I’ve been to a couple of Dopefests, but I would have to make a concerted effort to identify myself, and I don’t see any particular reason to.
I’ve been to several Dopefests, and I was outed in a big way when I talked about a national contest, posted my entry, and then won. And then there were news stories all over the world with my name and pic in them.
I’m out. I’ve been to several HouDopes, and I believe I have posted the link to my Taekwondo school’s website with my name and picture on it. I also remember putting a picture up on one of the picture collection threads.
I’ve made one post that would allow you to narrow my father down to one of maybe 40 or 50 people but I don’t think there is enough of a trail to follow back to myself.
The one that impresses me is Bryan Eckers. That guy is a fucking ghost!
I’ve shared enough details that someone who knows me IRL could identify me. I doubt that a stranger could follow the clues and identify me. I am quite certain no one would have any motive to try.
I. too, have never formally identified myself but with the pieces of info I have provided across thousands of posts someone who knew me and suspected it could figure it out easily, and someone else with the currently available resources to crosscheck with other online references could probably narrow it down pretty close if motivated enought to go through the bother.