I wish people were more public • Hacker News Board

Re: I wish people were more public

#41

Post by Telaneo » Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 5:29 AM UTC

tehjoker wrote: post #36

jay_kyburz wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been posing online with my real name since the 90's because if forces me to self sensor. I don't say things on the internet that I wouldn't say to people in the real world who know where I live. I think the internet would be a lot nicer place if people were held accountable for the things they say and do.

this was the idea being sold in like 2011 or wherever the real names policy was implemented in social media. we can now confidently say it doesn’t work and also deprives people of privacy unfortunately

It works fine for people with some level of common sense, decency and desire to not be seen as stupid/extremists/whatever other negative adjective. Unfortunately, these are not universal human traits and desires.

Re: I wish people were more public

#42

Post by AndrewKemendo » Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 5:29 AM UTC

jay_kyburz wrote: post #31

nospice wrote: post #17

If you're on the internet long enough, I think you learn that openness has plenty of downsides. You indirectly interact with tens of thousands of people and in that set, there will be people who don't wish you well, sometimes for reasons you can't even grasp. In the 1990s, I used to put my phone number in my .signature file. I've come to regret that. In the 2000s, I participated in relatively large online forums unde…

I've been posing online with my real name since the 90's because if forces me to self sensor. I don't say things on the internet that I wouldn't say to people in the real world who know where I live. I think the internet would be a lot nicer place if people were held accountable for the things they say and do.

This

I stand behind my words and that’s part of my social identity and there’s an imperfect record.

It’s social ledger that has an incredible memory tied to my mortal label. Good bad ugly and just plain wrong.

Re: I wish people were more public

#43

Post by llmslave2 » Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 5:29 AM UTC

A lot of people are talking about the downsides and I get it - for me it's about authenticity. I think it's really lacking in today's world, and if you don't feel comfortable sharing on the internet (which is fair!) at least do it irl. We need more real human connection and people being themselves!

Re: I wish people were more public

#44

Post by SXX » Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 5:32 AM UTC

phkahler wrote: post #33

jay_kyburz wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been posing online with my real name since the 90's because if forces me to self sensor. I don't say things on the internet that I wouldn't say to people in the real world who know where I live. I think the internet would be a lot nicer place if people were held accountable for the things they say and do.

>> I think the internet would be a lot nicer place if people were held accountable for the things they say and do. I agree. I've often advocated for zero anonymity by default. Everyone traceable by anyone. The thinking is that bad behavior (threats and such) could be reported. There was enough pushback to make me rethink that. People will still make threats when you know who they are - less often but they will. Offli…

The problem with no anonimity is that not all people are rational even if they're dont have shizophrenia or something worse.

You can be a small guy doing your small thing and sharing it online. Unfortunately you never know when and why you gonna become a supervillain in eyes of craze.

Re: I wish people were more public

#45

Post by cgriswald » Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 5:32 AM UTC

jay_kyburz wrote: post #31

nospice wrote: post #17

If you're on the internet long enough, I think you learn that openness has plenty of downsides. You indirectly interact with tens of thousands of people and in that set, there will be people who don't wish you well, sometimes for reasons you can't even grasp. In the 1990s, I used to put my phone number in my .signature file. I've come to regret that. In the 2000s, I participated in relatively large online forums unde…

I've been posing online with my real name since the 90's because if forces me to self sensor. I don't say things on the internet that I wouldn't say to people in the real world who know where I live. I think the internet would be a lot nicer place if people were held accountable for the things they say and do.

I agree with your last paragraph but “real names” isn’t a solution. Instagram comments are filled with people saying awful, stupid things using their real names, faces, and enough information to find their locations.

Additionally I’d say this to your face. Pseudonymity isn’t about disowning word and actions.

Re: I wish people were more public

#46

Post by SXX » Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 5:35 AM UTC

hellouruguay wrote: post #14

Until someone evil uses all that to investigate you or do something against you...

You dont even need anyone evil . Might be just dumb and misinformed by AI news slop that people of your kind are evil, dangerous, etc. Whoever you are.

Re: I wish people were more public

#47

Post by esseph » Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 5:35 AM UTC

Telaneo wrote: post #41

tehjoker wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

this was the idea being sold in like 2011 or wherever the real names policy was implemented in social media. we can now confidently say it doesn’t work and also deprives people of privacy unfortunately

It works fine for people with some level of common sense, decency and desire to not be seen as stupid/extremists/whatever other negative adjective. Unfortunately, these are not universal human traits and desires.

A person of character is normally inflexible enough to inevitably make enemies.

Re: I wish people were more public

#48

Post by cgriswald » Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 5:38 AM UTC

Telaneo wrote: post #41

tehjoker wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

this was the idea being sold in like 2011 or wherever the real names policy was implemented in social media. we can now confidently say it doesn’t work and also deprives people of privacy unfortunately

It works fine for people with some level of common sense, decency and desire to not be seen as stupid/extremists/whatever other negative adjective. Unfortunately, these are not universal human traits and desires.

No one in my real life would consider me anything other than kind, giving, and rational. I share things with them I wouldn’t say online. Even Kyburz admits to self censoring. That doesn’t mean I’m an extremist or even wrong. To some I’m a nazi, which is absurd. To others I’m a filthy pinko commie, which is equally absurd.

Re: I wish people were more public

#49

Post by esseph » Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 5:38 AM UTC

phendrenad2 wrote: post #38

Most of the people disagreeing seem to be forgetting that public doesn't necessarily mean using your real name. We used to have vibrant communities full of people with names like "claxxon" and "zerg". claxxon knows about cisco networking and zerg knows about the best punk bands in the chicago area. Their real names? Not needed, wanted, or relevant, and we're offended you even asked, noob!

That use to be useful in a time where it was much harder to instantly de-mask those handles.

If you're trying to make a name for yourself and you're social long enough, you'll eventually have a decent sized footprint on the internet. Sites and services get breached all the time.

Re: I wish people were more public

#50

Post by nospice » Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 5:39 AM UTC

jay_kyburz wrote: post #31

nospice wrote: post #17

If you're on the internet long enough, I think you learn that openness has plenty of downsides. You indirectly interact with tens of thousands of people and in that set, there will be people who don't wish you well, sometimes for reasons you can't even grasp. In the 1990s, I used to put my phone number in my .signature file. I've come to regret that. In the 2000s, I participated in relatively large online forums unde…

I've been posing online with my real name since the 90's because if forces me to self sensor. I don't say things on the internet that I wouldn't say to people in the real world who know where I live. I think the internet would be a lot nicer place if people were held accountable for the things they say and do.

> I think the internet would be a lot nicer place if people were held accountable for the things they say and do.

Then I think you've been very fortunate (or sheltered). It's really not about accountability in any rational sense: it's not that I want to be a secret Nazi. It's that when you interact with enough people on the internet, you will probably encounter at least one person who isn't nice. Someone who gets upset not because of what you say, but maybe simply because you're "not worthy" of the attention of others. Who feels humiliated because you politely corrected them about some minor detail. Or maybe who just flat out misinterprets what you're trying to say.

Again, in a circle of real-life friends, this is rare. But in a sampling of 10,000 random strangers, even the nicest person will probably have one sworn enemy.

And yeah, I get it: anonymity shields the bad guys too. But on balance, I think there's a lot more good than bad when you look at pseudonymous content on the internet.