"Nicknames or real names?" Topic

On a lot of forums I see people using nicknames rather than their real names. I wonder if there is a reason for this. Is the use of nicknames a way for people to personalize their account/profile, or to remain anonymous?

I'm very interested to hear if you'd rather post under a nickname or your real name, and what reasons you have for doing so.

Given the issues around identity theft and cyber security, you would be mad to use your real name.

People often wish to remain anonymous on the Internet for all sorts of reasons.

I am an Information Security specialist by profession and I would stongly recommend that people give away as little personal data as possible on the Internet.

Yeah, what artaxerxes said!!

I am consistent in the nickname I use. And if I used what appears to be a real name, how would you know it was my real name anyway?

I second security issues……

I use a pseudonym for security reasons only.

Of course, sometimes I wonder why people bother. They use a nickname on a forum ostensibly for reasons of security and/or anonymity and then post about an update to their blog – where their real name is easily identified…

I've used the same username for almost 20 years as a handle on BBSs, IRC chat, forums, MMORPGs and other services. It's never been an attempt to confuse or defraud people, it started as picking a handle that had some meaning to me and became habit. A quick google search shows the first ten pages of results are posts of mine on various websites. Recently I've been using WhitPhoto for anything that might be found by future employers or clients. I long ago switched over from a hotmail account to a professional sounding email on my own web page, but decided to start using this username more also. I wouldn't use my own name now because there are only a handful of people in America with it (and few families with my surname at all) and a quick google search on my name can easily bring up all of my actual contact information including phone number and address. Frankly I don't see a need for anyone to have that information on a gaming website, I don't need to be getting a phone call from someone who doesn't agree with my view on something. not to mention the concerns of data mining and identity theft. Most people use one or two user names by habit with no intent of defrauding or tricking people.

This is my real name.

I use the name because it suits me to do so. It's been my Internet moniker for 23 years now, and I consistently use it pretty much everywhere.

As to security concerns, well, I'll share this little story:

Recently we took my son to a "Junior Preview Day" at a university he's considering. While there, the Director of Student Services gave a talk and finished it by giving out his e-mail address, his office number, his cell number and his home number. You could hear gasps in the audience (some 3,000 prospective students and parents). He laughed and said, "People are always shocked when I give out my home number. They say, 'Why would you do that?' Folks— it's in the phone book!"

Sometimes we think we're being "secure" about things which aren't actually secure to begin with.

I remember when a local news show ran a story (back when the interwebs still had that "new technology smell") that all you needed was someone's name ad you could get their address and phone number. The story had a definite stalker/pedophile slant to it.

Anyway, they wrap up, and the dude at the desk says (without really thinking)…"or they could use the phone book." awkward silence for 3 or 4 seconds. And now sports!

My monicker grew out of my web site deepfriedhappymice.com and I use it everywhere. On almost any site I go to I can use it. Otherwise I have to be Markseverin3 here or markseverin1964 there, and now I have to keep a list of what name I am allowed where. A pseudonym is simple because less competition.

We went ex-directory – it isn't in the phone book

20thmaine is not the name my parents chose for me. When I signed up here it seemed to be de rigueur to use a cool "CB style handle", so I went for this one (after about 4 or 5 others proved to already be taken).

On site's I write for I use my real name as a byline, and usually have a cool nickname ( )for use on forums.

Some of us are just shy

Plus Great Fredrick is someone I have read about considerably – and I use this spelling as I use this for another discussion group, where the name Fredrick was already taken

My name was a code word for a bio-war weapon.

What, me worry?

This is the only site I think I actually use my real name

I've been using this alias for so long, it might as well be my real name. It was chosen in the days when nobody used their real name on forums.

This discussion is like what, 30+ years old?

And even older if you count other forms of communication.

Looks like YouTube is trying to force people to use their real names. I'm not a fan.

This discussion is like what, 30+ years old?

And even older if you count other forms of communication.

That's a big 10-4 good buddy.

I've often wondered this too I always use my real name and don't know how it would introduce security issues but it looks like I'm in a very small minority. I never use post my "real" email address on forums I have a separate junk email account.

I once signed up for a site that allowed you to play boardgames online used my real name there was a box that allowed you to upload a small icon or avatar. I had never done this before but had just been editing some photos so I uploaded a photo of myself. People thought it was hilarious I played two games in a row where people commented on it before I decided to draw up something else to upload.

It's because in the early days of the internet, all the kids on the bulletin boards thought of themselves as "1337 haxx0rs" or something equally moronic.

This trend has carried on to the present day.

There is no security threat whatsoever in using your real name, people just like to be silly.

Many of them also don;t want to own up to their expressed opinions.
-Kle.

Have always used my RN except back when I ran three
BBS's.

As for security issues, what Parzival said.

Anyone with $$$ can get info – just ask any PI.
A screenname here points to information, limited, yes,
but a starting point.

Nothing to hide, not much to steal, so why bother with
a screenname ??

There is no security threat whatsoever in using your real name, people just like to be silly.

Just Google "identity theft". You'll soon understand why it's not silly.

It's not the criminals I'm worried about. It's that petty person in human resources that does a google search on you looking for stuff they don't like.

I dunno…
My real name is Richard, and I like Disney, so overlap the two, and voila!
Never even really thought about it too much.

It has only taken me a short while but I have already found the following information about Mr Hall online:

full address
telephone number
birth year
name of about half a dozen of his close family.

With a bit more effort (and only a small financial outlay) I would be able to obtain enough information to initiate an identity theft …

And you wonder why I'm paranoid …

Back when the number of domains handing out email addresses to the newly internetted masses was small, the possibility of multiple "JSmith" users was pretty high. Ironically, the handful of super-sized web email providers that are now the norm has maintained this state. You can be JSmith4591, or you can use a handle. I've used this handle for 20 years, and see no point in changing.

I used to use my real name but switched to a pseudonym. The whole issue of trolling etc makes me laugh because 99.99% of the time some anonymous pseudonym is getting upset at what some other anonymous pseudonym has written. What a joke. Bunch of sissies.

I use my real name for most things I do. Nothing worth stealing.

On TMP and lots of other places I use CorSec to help identify who I am. On here is gets rough some times because a lot of us are industry people and not everyone knows who you are. So say Extra Crispy rattles on about how he carries X,Y,Z and I'm totally lost as to where to buy those items or who this dude is. (sorry to pick but I needed an example and your name was close :) ) I try to sign anything commercial with my website info and a lot of others do that as well.

As for CorSec well that origin story is based on a pack in college with my best bud. We where in a competition and needed a "company" name so being nerds we wanted something Star Warish but not very obvious. After the competition we said if anyone makes a company then they need to name it CorSec Engineering.

I use my real name for most things I do. Nothing worth stealing.

So you think your identity is not worth stealing?

So you think your identity is not worth stealing?

He's never had the IRS show up on his doorstep asking about taxes on that second job he was working at the meat packing plant in Denver.

I used my real name for years and it's still my email address. But I figured I should switch over to a handle on web sites. My handle came from the latin words for blue and light, because I built several gaming PCs in a row that had blue lights in them, and in the group I did LAN parties with, I was the only one that bothered with lights, so I was the blue light guy.

I use my nickname as its my website name and therefore unique. My real name is Pete Jones but I know of at least 6 in the town where I live, there are 2 of us I know of in wargaming and people always get us confused.

My wife did object when I tried to Christen my son freewargamesrules jnr though!

I can see her point – that's more of a middle name really.

I use my real name in some places (not much point being on LinkedIn with a pseudonym) and a handle in others.

I used to take the approach of 'real name everywhere as who cares', but these days I am more cautious.

So you think your identity is not worth stealing?

Of course it isn't.
Besides, using your real name here doesn't tell anyone anything that matters.

Using you name and social security number as your username might present a risk.

OTOH, using your credit card online exposes you to almost infinitely more risk than either of the above, and I bet you all do that.
-Kle.
-Kle.

In my case, it's just a fun (and slightly ironic) handle, as my real name is Patrick and I'm not especially large, at least not by gamers' standards ;)

The name started when I built a couple DBA camps for some friends and signed off an email with "Pattus Magnus, Architect to the Caesars". It was about the time my wife and I were watching HBO's Rome and the pompous names amused me. I liked the ring of it and started using it on fora.

Aside from the (legit) identity theft issues, I think the other main reason people want to remain anonymous is so something they post doesn't come back to haunt them, as Rubber Suit Theatre alludes to. Which is equally legit, there's always the possibility that someone can be taken out of context, or posts something they later wish they hadn't. If someone has an axe to grind they may look around. On TMP the editor can wipe out those posts on request, but I can see why a nickname helps to feel secure, just in case.

For myself, I make it a point never to post anything I wouldn't be willing to say to someone in person. I get the impression the vast majority of people using TMP also think before they post – nastiness in threads seems to be the exception rather than the rule. I think that's a credit to the Editor, who put together rules about posting and enforces them, without that it could become a verbal 'lord of the flies'!

I am Spartacus!

So you think your identity is not worth stealing?

Of course it isn't.
Besides, using your real name here doesn't tell anyone anything that matters.

Did you notice how much personal data about you I was able to find rather easily? ( see previous post above). You provided me with agood start by telling us here on TMP your real name and the state in which you live. I'm well on the way to stealing your identity (not that I'm going to of course). The only thing I haven't found yet is your birthday, but that can be obtained quite easily in various ways.

You might find this makes salutary reading:
link

Using you name and social security number as your username might present a risk.

Yes it certainly would!

OTOH, using your credit card online exposes you to almost infinitely more risk than either of the above, and I bet you all do that.

I would disagree that it's "infinitely more" risk. Stealing crdit card credentials is but one element of identity theft.

It was this or "urbane gorilla"

I just like the icon and I will be starting a business soon and want to associate the name with myself. Not hiding from anything or anyone, just a medieval junkie!

Allen

In my case it's nothing to do with paranoia, and I understand that there are many other ways to mine identity and financial details etc. I don't have a presence on most social media sites, and I basically don't wish to be harassed any more than I am already by the multitude of scams and direct marketing etc approaches that I get through simple email technology alone.

I just googled my name and found out I was the top spot in the results (editor resume – Linked In), but I can assure you I am not the Russ Lockwood with the Twitter Feed…or the lawyer, or Spectrum guy, or spa/fitness director, or the leadership school…

I did once find a Russ Lockwood Polka Band, but that's not me either. :)

As for the photos on the Google results page, the one with the book cover for Wally Simon's More Secrets of Wargame Design -- that's mine. The 20-something with the volleyball at the beach is not me, but could have been 30 years and 30 pounds ago. The elder gent at the table could be me in about 30 years… :)

I used to have an alias, but that was back when CB radios were hot.

Russ

I generally agree with those who do not use their real name on line in groups etc. Security is a big concern. I sign all my postings here and Yahoo groups and a few game specific groups and work related groups as I always have since the late 1990s. More a habit for me and if an employer wants to see what I have posted on line it is no big deal to me. I write a lot on Modern and SF community boards and I have no issue with them seeing what I write. That said I do not do Facebook and have no plans to do so.

VR
James Mattes

No Facebook or Twitter for me. Linked In for professional resume and TMP, Yahoo groups, some blogs, and a few other sites for hobby.

Russ

What makes you think this isn't my real name?