Should we use our real names on the Internet?

[mundame]

Robert Whit made an interesting point yesterday --- that someone's personal revelations didn't much matter because he is anonymous here, as most are. So the revelations aren't attached to any real name.

That James character who dropped in and out said he goes from forum to forum pretending to expound various improbable political beliefs, none of it true of him. He can do this bad and nutso thing because he's anonymous, of course.

There is a huge drive on right now by major commercial interests to change America's Internet habits to using real names. Companies want to know who we really are so they can collect more info and sell more to us and also to get us to be more responsible and non-criminal. For instance, Amazon puts up product reviewers' names up like it or not! They have a lot of trouble with people reviewing books, etc. who never actually read them but want to plug a relative's book, or it's the author writing 20 positive reviews, etc. They are trying to stop that.

Facebook of course is famous for trying to get real names. The custom may well change to real names.

The custom of using anonymous netnames dates from the earliest days of the Internet --- so people wouldn't be called to account for what they say, and so other people can't track them down and harm them.

A really bad unmoderated forum I was on for many years -- it was good and moderated in the beginning -- got into a cyberstalking thing as leftists got together to try to purge all the rightwingers on the forum. Boy, they had everything and had my family info, all of it ---- I left at once and never went back. Another person they stalked, they had his business web site and everything, were threatening his livelihood, which was indeed vulnerable, as he was a lobbyist. He left, too. They were still stuck with the rightists they hated most, and they're still there, but some of us are gone, so I guess it worked for them. Cyberstalking would be easier with real names.

I am conflicted about this issue. 50--50. What do others think?

[Marcus Aurelius]

Companies want to know who we really are so they can collect more info and sell more to us...

Right there tells me 'NO'.

[glockmail]

Not with guys like Virgil Bozeman hanging around.

[aboutime]

Robert Whit made an interesting point yesterday --- that someone's personal revelations didn't much matter because he is anonymous here, as most are. So the revelations aren't attached to any real name.

That James character who dropped in and out said he goes from forum to forum pretending to expound various improbable political beliefs, none of it true of him. He can do this bad and nutso thing because he's anonymous, of course.

There is a huge drive on right now by major commercial interests to change America's Internet habits to using real names. Companies want to know who we really are so they can collect more info and sell more to us and also to get us to be more responsible and non-criminal. For instance, Amazon puts up product reviewers' names up like it or not! They have a lot of trouble with people reviewing books, etc. who never actually read them but want to plug a relative's book, or it's the author writing 20 positive reviews, etc. They are trying to stop that.

Facebook of course is famous for trying to get real names. The custom may well change to real names.

The custom of using anonymous netnames dates from the earliest days of the Internet --- so people wouldn't be called to account for what they say, and so other people can't track them down and harm them.

A really bad unmoderated forum I was on for many years -- it was good and moderated in the beginning -- got into a cyberstalking thing as leftists got together to try to purge all the rightwingers on the forum. Boy, they had everything and had my family info, all of it ---- I left at once and never went back. Another person they stalked, they had his business web site and everything, were threatening his livelihood, which was indeed vulnerable, as he was a lobbyist. He left, too. They were still stuck with the rightists they hated most, and they're still there, but some of us are gone, so I guess it worked for them. Cyberstalking would be easier with real names.

I am conflicted about this issue. 50--50. What do others think?

You must know where I stand on this.

[jimnyc]

Just use a credible fake name. Everyone thinks my real name is Jim, but in reality it's Francis. But don't call me Francis, or I'll kill you.

[gabosaurus]

There is no good reason to use your real name, or give any information about yourself, on line.

Just use a credible fake name. Everyone thinks my real name is Jim, but in reality it's Francis. But don't call me Francis, or I'll kill you.

<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Zvj_Eunx3Ko" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>

[Abbey Marie]

Not with guys like Virgil Bozeman hanging around.

Lol, now that was funny.

[mundame]

There is no good reason to use your real name, or give any information about yourself, on line.

There is perhaps no good reason for each of us, but what about for the society? There is no question but that fake book reviews, in quantity, get put on Amazon. There would be less ....over the top verbalizations, let's say, if people knew other people knew who they really were and it could get to their spouses and employers. Would that be good, or bad?

I agree it wouldn't be an advantage for the individual, but would the enforced improved responsibility of real names be good for society?

Maybe the Internet went wrong from the beginning. I have often wondered about that.

[Abbey Marie]

There is perhaps no good reason for each of us, but what about for the society? There is no question but that fake book reviews, in quantity, get put on Amazon. There would be less ....over the top verbalizations, let's say, if people knew other people knew who they really were and it could get to their spouses and employers. Would that be good, or bad?

I agree it wouldn't be an advantage for the individual, but would the enforced improved responsibility of real names be good for society?

Maybe the Internet went wrong from the beginning. I have often wondered about that.

I don't think so, because so many people just suck. My decent and kind FIL once sent a letter to the editor of the newspaper explaining his stance on a local issue. They require your name and neighborhood before they will publish it. After it was published, he got a phone call from someone who just started cursing him out over his opinion. Poor old guy never sent another letter in after that.

[mundame]

I don't think so, because so many people just suck. My decent and kind FIL once sent a letter to the editor of the newspaper explaining his stance on a local issue. They require your name and neighborhood before they will publish it. After it was published, he got a phone call from someone who just started cursing him out over his opinion. Poor old guy never sent another letter in after that.

True...lots of crime novels detail the hostile, obscene crank calls everyone gets after any sort of news event hits them.

This is a good point, and it's why there are so many meanies and screamies even on a forum like this. They are your basic crank callers now appearing on an Internet near you! They call on the phone anonymously, and they post on the Internet anonymously. A comments section has become the norm on every news article ---- but the quality of the comments is mostly misspelled obscenities.


I think requiring real names -- and I think it's going that way, moved by the big corporations -- would improve responsible behavior in the same way that people are painfully learning that it isn't a good idea to post pictures of your drug party on Facebook while applying for a job.

But I worry about the danger, particularly to women. The sex stalking, the violence stalking, the identity theft as retaliation, and so on.

[aboutime]

There is perhaps no good reason for each of us, but what about for the society? There is no question but that fake book reviews, in quantity, get put on Amazon. There would be less ....over the top verbalizations, let's say, if people knew other people knew who they really were and it could get to their spouses and employers. Would that be good, or bad?

I agree it wouldn't be an advantage for the individual, but would the enforced improved responsibility of real names be good for society?

Maybe the Internet went wrong from the beginning. I have often wondered about that.

Okay mundame. So, based on your feelings expressed on this topic. How bout you be the first?

Tell us your Real Name, address, and if you feel so determined to learn about everyone else. How bout your Cell Phone number too?

This is what many of us call "Putting your money where your mouth is".

Ready to show us how dedicated you are to following your own suggestions?

[aboutime]

Where in the world did "MUNDAME" go. Both of us posted at the very same time. She's suddenly gone, and not willing to tell us her REAL NAME????

Go figure?

[Abbey Marie]

True...lots of crime novels detail the hostile, obscene crank calls everyone gets after any sort of news event hits them.

This is a good point, and it's why there are so many meanies and screamies even on a forum like this. They are your basic crank callers now appearing on an Internet near you! They call on the phone anonymously, and they post on the Internet anonymously. A comments section has become the norm on every news article ---- but the quality of the comments is mostly misspelled obscenities.


I think requiring real names -- and I think it's going that way, moved by the big corporations -- would improve responsible behavior in the same way that people are painfully learning that it isn't a good idea to post pictures of your drug party on Facebook while applying for a job.

But I worry about the danger, particularly to women. The sex stalking, the violence stalking, the identity theft as retaliation, and so on.

I guess using real names would inhibit some bad behavior, at least in those with some decency and shame. But the real bad guys will use it to their advantage, so I wouldn't be for it.

I do love the way you think about many sides of an issue, in ways most people don't or can't.

[tailfins]

Just use a credible fake name. Everyone thinks my real name is Jim, but in reality it's Francis. But don't call me Francis, or I'll kill you.

Lighten up, Francis.

[aboutime]

Lighten up, Francis.

lightenup.jpg