# Why do people use pesudonyms online? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 13, 2008, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003 "2008-12-13T09:41:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003/21 "2008-12-13T16:42:55Z")
Answering the question more seriously, I’ve talked about some crap online I probably shouldn’t have, and I’m glad for the semi-anonynimity. Of course, I also throw in some misdirection in posts from time to time. There’s at least 5 Dopers who know my real name, though. ---
**Author:** ![seodoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@seodoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seodoa)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003/22 "2008-12-13T16:45:43Z")
> [@xjetgirlx](#): > > is this a whoosh or are you really a misogynist? rawrawrawr i hate women. 1 x good 2 x bad rawrawrawr. 😉 ETA: Aww. It edited out my capital letters. Doesn’t have the same effect in lower case. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003/23 "2008-12-13T16:51:37Z")
It’s okay, **seodoa** , you can tell us who she was. 😉 Usernames are fun. Where else in my life would I get to be a goddess of love? (…Well, besides the _obvious_, of course, but…) ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003/24 "2008-12-13T16:59:24Z")
I had a variety of handles in the BBS days, but at some point, I just wanted to be me. I’ve never had anything negative come of it (other than spam), but I’ve been recognized IRL by people I met online. And I’m okay with that. ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003/25 "2008-12-13T17:02:18Z")
I was given the name Jalilah a few years back and my mate affectionately called me Jali. He always introduced me as Jali, so a whole group of new friends knew me this way. Old friends started calling me Jali after they heard the name. Some spell it"Jolly" which I think is cute and goes well with my newfound chubbiness. My given name is Jil (I always add\* Li’l Jil of the ghetto\*) and I don’t love the name. Too many “Rons” say when introduced, “hey baby, my name is Jack” (wink-wink). Too many people will call me Kim or Lynn - any diminutive name seems to suffice and I generally didn’t correct them. I don’t run into the same crap with jali. I now introduce myself as jali to friends and use Jill (the nuns added the second el for some Catholic school reason) for business and official stuff. I never thought to make up a name to use online. “jalicook” is part of all my email addys and the name I use almost everywhere on the 'net. I like the look of the lower case better than one capital and I don’t need to use the stupid shift key when signing in. I’ve considered interesting names like “grouchyblackmenopausalpoet” or “toolazytogetangryaboutmuchthesedays” or “formerrevolutionarywhoneedsanap” or “hellyeahi’mhungry” but the names would probably get on my nerves before long. I’ll stick with jali. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003/26 "2008-12-13T17:10:08Z")
\*\*Aesiron \*\*is more interesting than Robert. Plus, tradition. Other people do it, so I did as well. ---
**Author:** ![wunderkammer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ed8c4c/32.png) [@wunderkammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wunderkammer)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003/27 "2008-12-13T17:47:43Z")
> [@XJETGIRLX](#): > > And just what is so wrong about having two x chromosomes? :dubious: I’m guessing the intent was _supernumerary_ X chromosomes. It’s pretty safe to assume that the poster has between one and two IRL, the rest bringing one up to virtual Klinefelter’s syndrome or trisomy X. As an owner of two Xs, I can attest to the fact that there’s nothing wrong with those. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003/28 "2008-12-13T17:59:48Z")
Even those who might be 100% comfortable with telling all about themselves do not live in cotton-covered cocoons – If you ever mention your spouse/boss/mother/best friend, you should have some consideration. You out yourself, you out them. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003/29 "2008-12-13T18:07:34Z")
> [@XJETGIRLX](#): > > Is this a whoosh or are you really a misogynist? Kinda hard for a girl to be a misogynist–how could she stand herself? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003/30 "2008-12-13T18:11:18Z")
Wait a minute. The rest of you are using pseudonyms? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003/31 "2008-12-13T18:57:25Z")
My name is like “Jennifer” where I come from, but it’s rare and unusual here, plus I like my psuedonyms a lot. They have also grown to be part of my identity, especially the one I use everywhere else. Anaamika means nameless or anonymous, so it works well for a message board. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003/32 "2008-12-13T20:15:36Z")
> [@Ronald\_C.Semone](#): > > Since the over-whelming majority of the posters here do not use their real names (I suspect the percentage is over 95%), the real question is 'Why do some of us use our real names?" I’m EXTREMELY uncreative. My mom is still annoyed that her aol user name is the model number of the modem that was sitting in front of me when I set up her account. My aol username is Nec3f, the model of the monitor I was sitting in front of when I created mine. Anyone of you right brainers wanna rename me? I’m open to suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003/33 "2008-12-13T20:19:37Z")
I’m shy! ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003/34 "2008-12-13T20:41:14Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > Kinda hard for a girl to be a misogynist–how could she stand herself? I’ve known plenty of female misogynists. ---
**Author:** ![Khan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ab097/32.png) [@Khan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003/35 "2008-12-13T21:47:08Z")
Because where else in life can you have such freedom to choose what other people call you? 😉 In retrospect, though, choosing “Khan” based on Ricardo Montalban’s character in Star Trek was probably a little short-sighted. Having since realized how common it is both as a first and last name, I might as well have chosen “Steve” or “Jones,” and my real name is Daniel! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003/36 "2008-12-13T22:15:27Z")
The thing of it is, on the internet, nothing ever goes away. I can google up usenet messages I sent in 1982. Normal human interactions shouldn’t be that archival. Make one off-color joke or have a bad day and call someone a rude name, and everyone (including potential employers) who bothers to do a search on your name for the next 30 years will think you’re a jerk. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003/37 "2008-12-13T22:36:19Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > The thing of it is, on the internet, nothing ever goes away. I can google up usenet messages I sent in 1982. Normal human interactions shouldn’t be that archival. Make one off-color joke or have a bad day and call someone a rude name, and everyone (including potential employers) who bothers to do a search on your name for the next 30 years will think you’re a jerk. That is true. However, if I had my way, I’d have all of you… no, that’s not it. I meant : if I had my way, real life would have logs. ---
**Author:** ![seodoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@seodoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seodoa)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003/38 "2008-12-14T00:21:08Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > Kinda hard for a girl to be a misogynist–how could she stand herself? > [@](#): > > I’ve known plenty of female misogynists. Wha-? This isn’t the first time somebody thought I was a girl. But last time it was a 4 year old child. I has wiener, yo. ---
**Author:** ![as\_u\_wish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@as\_u\_wish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_u_wish)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003/39 "2008-12-14T00:36:30Z")
I like to talk trash and flirt, especially while playing card games. It’s not something I’m ashamed of or hide from my family. They hear me giggling and typing away most nights. I’d describe it as my “party girl or hanging out in the bar having a good time” personality. I also work for the government (in accounting)–where I have a much more restrained persona. Being a bureaucrat, it’s very easy to find my work number and address on line. Back in 1995 or so, a person I’d been playing cards and joking around with showed up at my office. This wasn’t a totally creepy stalker experience. It was more like “the guy from the corner bar whose ass you kicked at darts and you told raunchy stories to while sharing a few too many beers” showing up at the office. I felt it was totally inappropriate and it disturbed me. I’ve been extremely protective of my real life identity ever since. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003/40 "2008-12-14T01:28:55Z")
I do use my real name. I wish I hadn’t chosen it years ago, but I did, and I don’t like it when people change their user names, so I’ll keep it. Basically, it’s boring. Not my name itself, which is quite unusual, but it’s so uncreative to use your real name online. I wouldn’t use my _whole_ name, though, because along with the unusual first name, I have a unique (it’s hyphenated) last name. It makes me a little nervous. If your name is Jose Gonzales, you have a certain measure of anonymity in the world. I do not have that luxury, and it makes me a bit nervous. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-pesudonyms-online/477003.md?page=3)