# What kind of backlash would occur if everyone's identities were revealed? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 15, 2014, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314 "2014-12-15T18:26:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314/21 "2014-12-16T02:47:15Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Yeah, you don’t want to mess with Rebecca Black fans. I’m pretty sure he was talking about James Otto. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314/22 "2014-12-16T03:44:36Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Yeah, you don’t want to mess with Rebecca Black fans. > [@PlainJain](#): > > I’m pretty sure he was talking about James Otto. I don’t actually know the name, but it’s a fairly young girl who does religious music, and tried to branch out into opera arias. My friends who are deeply into opera say, “Ouch, no, she doesn’t have the range.” But saying so on social media was…dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314/23 "2014-12-16T03:46:54Z")
I’m the Elongated Man of SMDB. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314/24 "2014-12-16T03:50:45Z")
For me … I assume I am identifiable by my chosen screen name and information in my posts to anyone who cared (but who would care?). Honestly given the places and contexts I’ve run into people I know (a nurse from the hospital called out to me in an airport in Asia as we were transferring planes with our daughter adopted from China 12 years ago, for example) I am pretty surprised that I have not (to my knowledge) run into people who otherwise know me, either personally or professionally, here, or had parents in my practice ask me if I post here under DSeid. I say no more (or less) that I am ashamed of here than I do in the rest of my life. (Mind you my daughter _is_ often embarrassed by me … but she _is_ thirteen.) I doubt too many would get into much trouble. Some a bit of 'splaining to do. Some mildly embarrassed that they revealed personal information that they would not generally want broadcast, some perhaps embarrassed that what they said here was such BS and untrue to their real lives. Some might post a bit less obnoxiously though once their identities were revealed. The illusion of anonymity drives some to adopt a more abrasive avatar than they have in real life I think. Less so here than many other places perhaps, even in the Pit, but still the case. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314/25 "2014-12-16T03:56:28Z")
My real name is in my email contact in my profile, and so is my location. Jim Rockford could track me down in an hour. ETA: Without the help of Dennis. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314/26 "2014-12-16T18:20:05Z")
There have been links posted to my business I own, and I don’t go to much effort to camouflage myself. My business web page has pics of me and my real name. I don’t hide my religious views here and I know from office conversations/decor around my customers offices, that many of my customers are deeply religious and would most likely drop me if they knew I was an atheist. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314/27 "2014-12-16T18:27:46Z")
I’ve posted about things here that would probably surprise some of the people in my life (religion, relationships, the fact that I’ve never seen an episode of The Simpsons), but I doubt anything would blow up. My wife might be able to pull out some details and wrap them around a big stick for her lawyer to beat me with in divorce court, but it’s not like I’ve got any money to take, so, whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314/28 "2014-12-16T18:29:52Z")
I am not so concerned from fellow Dopers. I think there is a level of respect here. My concern are the drivebys and those who find posts via a Google search. They don’t know/don’t care about the board culture. They are only here long enough to feed off a piece of trivia and exploit it for their own designs, regardless of any damage they may cause. Kinda like what Facebook is all about. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314/29 "2014-12-16T19:05:15Z")
> [@Tuxie](#): > > **What kind of backlash would occur if everyone’s identities were revealed?** The only people who’d consider something like this would be publicity-whores, much like the hackers who went after SONY or the hackers who broke and published all those actresses’ nude selfies. Oddly enough, if a publicity-whore Was threatening exposure, they’d create a thread much like this one to try to drum up fear/interest. The best way to handle it is to ignore it as a subject and not give any person trying to cause terror… any terror. We just have to trust that the Mods will lock and purge any such thread as soon as its posted as well as ban anyone who was involved with the hacking and the posting. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314/30 "2014-12-16T19:27:05Z")
So…no, I don’t post anything personal enough to really matter. But I have learned that it doesnt’ really matter to the trolls. A few years ago I posted some pictures of myself with my hair colored. On the same album online were pictures of my extended family. Nothing inappropriate, just pics of family being family. Those snackpitters over there got a hold of them and made fun of my hair coloring, ripped it to shreds. Fine, I was asking for it, I posted it, that’s what happens. They also went after my family, targeting each and everyone of them, finding nasty racist things to say, ripping them to shreds. Do I believe, if they had addresses, at least some of them would contact my family just to be obnoxious assholes? Absolutely. Do I believe that they would link to my posts here? Possibly, but more likely they’d just write racist incoherent screeds and upset my family needlessly, who don’t understand the Internet like I do. So, no, I’d rather not come out of anonymity. That doesn’t even count the prevalence of stalkers. Don’t think I mean only women getting stalked, either - women can be stalkers, too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314/31 "2014-12-16T19:49:28Z")
You could probably comb through my posts and figure out my identity, but I generally assume my identity anywhere online isn’t secret so my posting is pretty uncontroversial. So no backlash from me. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314/32 "2014-12-16T19:57:09Z")
I’m comfy being anonymous here because I’m new. That may change as I get to know some of you folks. Over the years, I have posted with and/or been a member of so many different online groups that I’ve lost count. Most have eventually known me ‘fer realz’ if they have wanted to do so. I’ve attended and even organized offline meets occasionally. With one exception, it’s all been good. That being said, I don’t post pictures, disclose where I live, where I work, or any contact information about my family. If I’m stating political or religious opinions, I do so anonymously, largely because I’ve begun to see employers trolling online records of potential employees and eliminating some because of pictures they’ve posted or opinions they’ve shared. That is also why I refuse to use Facebook. More and more potential employers ask for your Facebook sign on and will read your page and posts prior to hiring you. I think if everyone’s information were to be disclosed, willy nilly, it might be a real problem for some. And that’s why it shouldn’t happen. But for me, the impact would be minimal. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314/33 "2014-12-16T20:40:54Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > I’m pretty sure he was talking about James Otto. Ahh, good times there. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314/34 "2014-12-16T20:54:03Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Few people on these boards like me or the positions I take on issues. . I have no major issues with you, you seem smarter than the average bear, and contribute to the board. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314/35 "2014-12-16T21:06:13Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > My real name is in my email contact in my profile, and so is my location. Jim Rockford could track me down in an hour. > > ETA: Without the help of Dennis. Totally true. In fact, I’m naked in your garage right now. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314/36 "2014-12-17T02:20:14Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > Totally true. In fact, I’m naked in your garage right now. Ooh, track me down next! Note: joking ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314/37 "2014-12-17T02:27:05Z")
I and another Doper, **LavenderBlue** , co-authored a book about vaccines, and announced it here. Therefore, we admitted our real names on this very board. Neither one of us has gotten any flak for anything, and I didn’t feel then (and don’t feel now) a problem with people knowing my IRL name. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314/38 "2014-12-17T05:38:36Z")
Anybody who wanted to figure out my real name could probably do so in less than 2 minutes, and my wife ( **Rhiannon8404** ) posts here, so I don’t think it would affect me too much. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314/39 "2014-12-18T00:17:17Z")
> [@Greg\_Charles](#): > > Ooh, track me down next! > > Note: joking Too late! I’m in your garage, and me pants are comin’ off! ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314/40 "2014-12-18T01:00:24Z")
I don’t post anything that I would consider truly dangerous or embarrassing, just for the reason that things might get revealed in some way. In a way, I consider the posting board no more anonymous than chatting with some pals around a few beers. I trust that these things don’t get shared with just anyone, but if it did get shared, the worst anyone would really suffer would be some embarrassment or hurt feelings. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-backlash-would-occur-if-everyones-identities-were-revealed/707314.md?page=3)