Welcome to The Conservative Cave©!Join in the discussion! Click HERE to register.
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
marym625 (664 posts) Tue Sep 16, 2014, 08:13 AMJust curious why so few people use their real names.I went to respond to a very kind DU email I received and couldn't even use a name to address the person who wrote it. It made me check my own profile. I do have the city I live in and my first name. I didn't have my last name but only because I didn't realize what showed up when I first registered for DU. I have updated it to show my last name too. I completely understand that there are circumstances that would cause a person to act with caution and use a handle. If you have a job that you can't give your political opinion, for example, would be at the top of the list. Maybe if you're a hacktavist. But even then, as long as you're not advertising that in posts, what's the point? Just seems odd to me that the majority of posters not only use a handle but don't put a name, even a first name, in their profile. This seems to be the reality of most social media, at least when political posts are the majority of what is posted. I have been online since the 80s. Have posted on and off in various social media sites since the early 90s. Though I have, on occasion, used "Marym625," like I do here, or other handles, like I do on twitter, "LiberalHDWoman" I also use my real name in my profile. Makes me think people are ashamed of their political believe. Sort of like being in the closet for LGBT people. I would appreciate any responses to this subject. real name--alleged--of primitive deleted so as to protect her privacy
brooklynite (16,720 posts) Tue Sep 16, 2014, 08:21 AM3. I maintain anonymity because of my political connections...I talk to a lot of elected officials, candidates and political people you read about in the news, and I'm not always comfortable talking about what they tell me if it could get traced back.
FrodosPet (2,234 posts) Tue Sep 16, 2014, 08:21 AM4. Unfortunately, there are people whose idea of political discourse is to try and damage othersThey will use that info to track down employers, friends and associates, etc. Then they will use lies and statements stripped of context to try and destroy others that they disagree with.
NYC_SKP (61,434 posts) Tue Sep 16, 2014, 08:23 AM5. It's the Internet, there are crazy people who would be willing to try to ruin a career.Many of us might not have a worry, but others might be public figures or otherwise hold jobs that could be jeopardized by the exposure of our political beliefs. It's not about shame so much as awareness of the evil that others might do. A certain website/board invests a remarkable amount of effort in identifying DU members. If a person here was, for example, gay or transsexual and held a job in public education, they might prefer that their identity on this board be kept private. It's kind of a big deal! I'm reminded of a phrase that I think relates well to the issue: "If you have nothing to hide then you won't mind being searched..." We might have nothing to hide, it doesn't matter, our privacy is still invaluable.
Paging txradioguy! Please pick up the red phone, Dragoon!
NHSparky too, and I dunno who else, how many else, although it's a large number.
I'm not buying the brooklyn primitive's excuse.He thinks it's okay to leak confidential and privileged information just because he has an anonymous online alter ego ?The only sure way to keep a secret is to lock it in the "vault".
I'm reminded of a phrase that I think relates well to the issue: "If you have nothing to hide then you won't mind being searched..." We might have nothing to hide, it doesn't matter, our privacy is still invaluable.
A certain website/board invests a remarkable amount of effort in identifying DU members.
Poor addled grasswipe Judy, after an nine-year investigation, has discovered that franksolich's real-world name is Bo Pelini.
On the national stage: Joe the Plumber
