# Have you ever revealed your real life identity here in your posts? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 22, 2013, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624 "2013-03-22T12:32:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![\_Olive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/4af34b/32.png) [@\_Olive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Olive)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624/61 "2013-03-23T08:24:11Z")
I have exchanged physical address and name behind the board. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624/62 "2013-03-23T08:39:08Z")
I’ve linked to various things I’ve done, created, been involved in, etc over the years, each of which has my real name front and centre. I have the same username everywhere I go, including Twitter, who have a heavily suggested policy of displaying real names\*. It’s really easy to track me down if anybody wanted to, but it seems, at least so far, nobody wants to, which is kind of what I’ve always expected. I don’t really have anything to hide, but the semi-anonymity you get with usernames does suit my needs most of the time. \*For some reason I don’t mind on Twitter, but it annoys me that they want the same for sites like YouTube. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624/63 "2013-03-23T10:13:32Z")
I’m a 2 – with a bit of intelligent digging around, you could work out my real life identity. However, I don’t think it’s a big deal if someone did do that. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624/64 "2013-03-23T23:14:24Z")
I’ve dropped enough _clews_ so that one could make a reasonable guess [(the glasses are a dead giveaway)](http://lifeofchuckles.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/adam-ant-is-the-blueblack-hussar-in-marrying-the-gunners-daughter/). ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624/65 "2013-03-23T23:20:11Z")
1. All the info is in my profile. Helps to remind me not to say anything too stupid. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624/66 "2013-03-24T05:09:44Z")
I’ve been a One since the early days, with my attendance at a couple of Dopefests and the fact that I’m relatively insignificant and it doesn’t matter who knows. I’m a hermit, after all, and seldom get visitors. If anyone wants to visit me ever, just let me know so that I can clean the house. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624/67 "2013-03-24T07:53:12Z")
The first. A thorough search of my posts will reveal my first name and my maiden name. I’ve never been direct–I mean, who’d care about my specific identity–but I’ve never gone out of my way to hide it. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624/68 "2013-03-24T19:42:43Z")
I’m a 3, Ive met a doper irl, have some on my facebook, and I’ve talked to other Dopers on the phone. I’ve mentioned my home town and where I used to work. Yeah, you could figure me out completely if you wanted to. But why? ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624/69 "2013-03-24T21:57:12Z")
It looks like I’m in about the same boat as most Dopers - someone who knows me IRL and looks for me here would have no trouble spotting me; I’ve exchanged mail with a few other Dopers; and I’m not particularly worried about staying anonymous. I have no doubt posted a few things I’d rather not have some particular people read, but it’s no more than I’ve said to friends or close acquaintances. Mostly, I’d be puzzled and maybe even honored in a strange way if anyone thought the subject was interesting enough to pursue. And if anyone would like to stop by, I’d be happy to have you over! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624/70 "2013-03-24T21:59:54Z")
Totally out. Not only have I met dozens of Dopers at Fests in several states, I’ve also linked to a speech I gave once. Not hard to figure out who I am from _those_ clues. ETA: Not to mention participating in any number of mug, shot glass and postcard exchanges, where both senders and receivers know real names **and** Board names. ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624/71 "2013-03-24T22:50:27Z")
My ID is the same one I have used for years and ties in with my work identity - which by it’s nature is very, very public. So though I don’t make it a point of saying “Hi, I’m xxx xxx”, I am easy to find. And thus, as I have tried to impress on my children, I make it a point never to say or do anything that I wouldn’t say in public to friends & family. Frankly I think the internet (and society in general) would be a lot more civilized if we were less anonymous, but there are benefits to the anonymity too. So just the same I will just try to live the way I think I should and just hope for the best, because forcing my views on others is just as bad as having other people’s views forced on me. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624/72 "2013-03-25T10:25:45Z")
I think my username says it all: Anyone could find me, and the additional details I have posted here would identify me pretty clearly, if anyone bothered to look. But I’m pretty low-profile so I don’t expect that at all. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624/73 "2013-03-25T11:27:40Z")
I’ve mentioned my first name on several occasions, and I once linked to an article about my brother. So if anyone bothered to put the two together, they’d know my real name. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624/74 "2013-03-25T13:07:31Z")
> [@psiekier](#): > > Yeah, but is your screen name like “Man! Get out!”, or more like “Mange Tout”? The former I can kinda see, but the latter … The latter, but every time this comes up, people express their fresh surprise. ---
**Author:** ![Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Curiosity_Kills_Her)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624/75 "2013-03-25T13:43:18Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > 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. That’s what _you_ think. I’m outside spying on you right now, via Google Street View. _waves_ ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624/76 "2013-03-25T14:19:05Z")
Oh, I’d forgotten about the Jeopardy! thing. I did announce that, so I suppose I’m actually out. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624/77 "2013-03-25T14:35:43Z")
I have mentioned my real first name twice on this board and mentioned my workplace a couple of times; if somebody wanted to, he could easily track me down through my workplace’s directory. (But please don’t.) 😃 Also as others have mentioned, anyone who knows me in real life could identify me by my posts, if they searched my posting history. I’ve shared stuff with youse guys that I’ve never told anyone who actually knows me IRL. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624/78 "2013-03-25T14:36:59Z")
I think I’m relatively anonymous to point here. I’ve never been to a Dopefest, for instance. The only Dopers who know my RL name know me either through another now-defunct message board or through the LiveJournal of long ago. I’d like to post more sort of “personal” things here because the Dope has always been a wealth of information and advice. For instance, right now I’m grappling with something IRL which I hesitate to discuss here because I’m afraid somebody in my RL might read it and know who I am. I might be silly thinking that (I don’t know anybody in my RL who is on here nor who knows who Cecil is), but you can never tell… ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624/79 "2013-03-25T14:50:47Z")
My initials are in my username… A.F. I used to sign my posts with my real first name but stopped out of sheer laziness. Never posted my last name. I would say there are probably only 3 or 4 dopers who know my true identity well enough to track me down. Oddly enough, several years back, I was asking the SDMB if I should create a Facebook account, because I wasn’t all that comfortable volunteering not only my real name, but my location, occupation, school, hobbies, interests, etc. on the Internet for the world to see. One doper commented that there’s not much one can do with only your full name, so as a counterargument, I asked him if he was willing to respond in that thread with his real full name. He did. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624/80 "2013-03-25T16:35:01Z")
I’m probably a 2. I was in the coffee mug exchange, so at least three Dopers have been told the real name and address of Hershele Ostropoler. I’ve mentioned the city I live in, perhaps the neighborhood. I also use the handle in other places, and you could probably put together a pretty detailed portrait, if you cared to – though if you cared that much, you probably could anyway. There is a blog on which I comment as Hershele Ostropoler and also under another name, which I’m far more guarded about, because I use that handle for a very specific topic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-revealed-your-real-life-identity-here-in-your-posts/653624.md?page=5)