In a recent Pit thread, one participant uses another participant’s real first name, at which point the second participant asks if that isn’t against the rules. The thread was then closed without the moderator editing out the real name, which could be either because he didn’t notice it or because he made a conscious decision not to do so.
I’d like to know the policy on this. Sampiro posted his real name in a fit of rage, and it was removed, a decision I fully agree with. On the same token, if someone managed to find out my real name, I wouldn’t like to see it posted on these boards. In general terms, I want only the information I release to be available.
There is nothing in the guidelines forbidding the posting of a real name, but if you do not wish your name to be used and someone does anyway, it could fall under the category of being a jerk.
I am guessing you are talking about the closed **Catsix ** pitting. **Guin ** used her real name near the end of the thread and **Catsix ** protested the use. In my WAG, **Catsix ** should report the post, a mod should edit out her name and notify **Guin ** to please not use **Catsix’s ** name again. If **Guin ** uses her name again she is then being a jerk, but without prior warning **Guin ** did nothing wrong.
I had someone use my SO’s name, in a friendly manner, but I never mention his name here. He’s not a Doper. I reported the post and they edited it out (thanks, Rico!) and I appreciate that. I don’t think real names should be used here, no.
The only reason I take issue with it is that I should be the one choosing what information about myself I make public. If anyone wants to target things I’ve said publicly here, that’s one thing, but to go and use information (correct or not) that was obtained off-board is goin the wrong way.
I apologize for what I said to Guin regarding the DopeFest. I should’ve left it off board. Problems can arise when people publicly disclose information of an identifying nature and other people get brilliant ideas about how to use that information. It’s happened in the past that people have tried to dig into someone’s RL because of their posts, and apparently I’m a target of that now.
I’m not exactly worried that with a first name that common anyone would manage to track down me specifically, but I hope nobody goes out and causes problems for some poor sucker based on nothing more than a first name.
OK… rambled enough.
Also, I’m gonna lay off of Guin. I’ve been unnecessarily harsh and I think it’s time I bury the hatchet.
Probably a good four or five years ago … someone used my entire real name in a mocking kind of post. They had gotten it from my e-mail (which was firstnamelastname@mailclient.com … I hadn’t thought it through at the time ).
I reported the post, but nothing ever happened. No editing, no moderator respomnse, nothing. Thankfully, the thread ran out of steam and faded away … not even sure if it survived the Winter of Our Missed Content. But it made me wonder about how seriously the issue is taken. I removed my e-mail from public view right after that.
I realize that what I did was wrong, and I appologize for that. I lost my temper, let people get under my skin, and I should not have done that. I didn’t think a first name was a big deal, but since it’s not allowed, I should not have done that. Sorry mods-please spank me.
As for catsix, right now, I’m sorry, but I don’t know what to think. You’ve been extremely hateful to me before this, and that wasn’t the first time you’ve hurled my personal problems at me. Maybe this makes me over-sensitive, but quite frankly, it’s one time too many and I’m not in the most forgiving of moods right now.
Either way, it’s over and done with, and in any event, it’s just a message board, and since I really don’t think the mods want us rehashing it, it’s over and done with.
Generally, the mods will only react if there’s information that the posted didn’t want made public, being made public. In your case (I’m guessing, since my memory can’t hardly go back as far as lunch, let alone several years back), if your name was revealed in your email and your email was publicly available… well, you had made your name publicly available. There wasn’t much that mods could have done.
It’s not really that major of a deal. It’s just one of those things that bugs me because I didn’t want to make it public.
I’m not asking you to forgive me. I’m just saying that I’ve been unnecessarily cruel and that I’m going to back off and not act that way toward you in the future. It was knock-down, drag-out for a long time, and it was stupid.
As someone who routinely has their real-life information (name, address, phone number) published elsewhere in cyberspace as a harassment technique, I absolutely understand why a poster would be dismayed to see any real life information displayed anywhere.
We do believe you are entitled to whatever shreds of privacy there might still be in cyberspace and we do not want people throwing out real life personal information here, not on themselves, not on other people.
In a lot of ways this is a polite fiction. There is no real privacy and hasn’t been for a long time. If you think I’m kidding go look at some online databases, starting with Google; you’ll be amazed and dismayed at what is available to anyone for the click of a mouse.
With the click of a mouse and some money you can read someone else’s life like a book.
This being said, we’d rather not contribute to the problem. So please watch what you display for yourself here at the board; I note that it is very difficult for us to go yell at someone about violating your privacy if you’ve been indiscreet and careless yourself. And sharing such information about other people is always the bad way to go here; you can be banned for it. Here again the “Golden Rule” is a good way to go: How would YOU like people to treat you and your information? Extend that same respect and consideration to others.
I, personally, do not want my real name posted on the boards. I’ve been in enough trouble with the law in the past few weeks, and I don’t need the paparazzi stalking me here.
People get all bent out of shape just because I got pulled over for a DUI and said a few things I regret–and I apologized with a passion. But now I’m “marked for life”, like I’m some sort of lethal weapon. That, and the conditions of my rehab prevent me from discussing the nature of my case before my therapist “Max” sees signs of recovery.
A long time ago, I used my real name- first and last- to sign my posts. I have no qualms about it, although I no longer do, and have no problem with my real name being revealed. However, nowadays, I decide not to use it, and I probably won’t use it that often in the future.
