Everything on the internet with my real name is a carefully crafted honeypot to prevent anyone from looking for my real accounts.
Ask HN: Real name vs. anonymous username – which do you use online and why?
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Re: Ask HN: Real name vs. anonymous username – which do you use online and why?
#72I always generate a unique username (and email address) every time I sign up. Except in places where I have to use my real name, like LinkedIn.
Re: Ask HN: Real name vs. anonymous username – which do you use online and why?
#73Real name (basically, I add "NY" at the end). Long story, get your hanky. I just find it's better to use my real name, and post stuff I won't regret. It won't hurt me, and can benefit me.
My concern is stuff that can get you in trouble can change. Jews in 1920’s Germany probably(?) didn’t think there was any reason to hide that they were Jews.
Valid, but, as I have learned, if someone really wants to find me, they probably can, unless I am willing to go to extraordinary lengths to remain anonymous, and I just don't have enough time, left on Earth, to warrant that.
Also, I kind of enjoy being the type of person that chooses not to go dark.
Re: Ask HN: Real name vs. anonymous username – which do you use online and why?
#74I use too many anonymous usernames. I've been meaning to get around to unifying them at some point.
But I don't recall the last time I used my real name (on something other than things like banking). It's a combination of an overabundance of caution (I'm almost certain that one user who threatened to report me to the FBI and swat me wouldn't go through with it, but I'd prefer peace of mind) and my uncommon, probably unique, first and last name combination.
Re: Ask HN: Real name vs. anonymous username – which do you use online and why?
#75I'd like to point out that "defend my privacy" is only one aspect. For me there's also a kind of 90s-internet-idealism about how forums should work, ex: 1. Good ideas or truths shouldn't rely on the credentials of the person talking. 2. Less information can allow more freedom of expression in a community. (For good or for ill.)
So on one hand credentials shouldn't matter but I've found for large online spaces the energy of wading through bad takes turns me away from communities which could otherwise be interesting. Like I wish I could filter comments for things like "has a degree in biology" or "is above 25" since while good ideas can come from anyone practically some people are much more likely to have useful insights than others.
IMO there's a system-design question on the difference between:
1. Verified to be X (e.g. degree in biology or over 25)
2. Claims in their user-profile to be X
In practice, #1 would be expensive and hard to enforce, while #2 will get you most of the way even though it's on the honor system. Especially if it isn't used as a hard-limit on participation but instead as a convenience to others, and if you can see history to identify people who inconsistently change their own profile.
That said, for some discussions what you want it something people are unlikely to have needed to codify before, like "actually owns the same MacGuffin 4000 that I do."
Re: Ask HN: Real name vs. anonymous username – which do you use online and why?
#76I think one aspect of it is 'how complicated is your life?' I know queer/trans folks who were always anonymous because they were in the closet in their early life and needed that to survive, but the anonymity allowed them to connect with others that felt as they did. There are also trolls like this, who want to be accepted in their 'real' life but basically they find pleasure in tormenting others which they do so ano…
> That said, I know an investigator who works for a law firm and they can pretty much unmask any name you throw at them to the real name, address, and other salient details. Which kind of weirds me out sometimes.
How do they do that?
Re: Ask HN: Real name vs. anonymous username – which do you use online and why?
#77Earlier quoted context omitted.
Hope you are no longer with that employer. That's aggressive action from them about free information.
No kidding, what an absolutely stupid thing to do as an employer. I (badly) want people who are so interested in the industry that they will research external information and write about it. The correct response for the employer should have been at minimum gratitude and encouragement. Threatening legal action falls under the old adage that "no good deed goes unpunished."
I had thought the same. My company is not US based and from a more authoritarian culture that does not promote critical thinking as much though. Unfortunately the hours, pay, and benefits are so good that I’ve simply learned to keep my head down and focus energy on things not work related.