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Poll: Do you use your real identity on HN?

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: Poll: Do you use your real identity on HN?

#111

Post by kaybe »

snprbob86 wrote: post #42
untog wrote: post #26

Yes. I wish I could change my username, though- I used it on a whim when signing up for what I considered to be a dummy account at the time. Woops.

I too thought it was a dummy account & now really wish I could change my user name to be my real name. I don't really care about the Karma, but every time I've tried to create a new account & start over, I get an error about too many new users.

This made me curious, so I tried myself.. and now there's a new account with your name. Ups. Check your email, I sent you the login information, it's yours. (Sorry.)

Re: Poll: Do you use your real identity on HN?

#114

Post by SeanLuke »

benjohnson wrote: post #4

I use my real name as a way of keeping myself accountable as I've noticed that I'm much more inflammatory when under the guise of a pseudonym.

I specifically do this as well. And I've done a bit of a test. While I only occasionally post under my real name on reddit, I always post under my real name on HN. And over the last year or more, it's been clear, to me at any rate, that I am much less of a jerk on HN.

Re: Poll: Do you use your real identity on HN?

#115

Post by ereckers »

I use my real name, but on the internet I don't even consider my real name the real me. Most stuff I've got out on the internet is sort of my marketable persona even though the name does point to me (if that makes any sense). I don't troll too much, and with alias' I find I waste too much time trying to "correct" the internet, so it's much quicker and succinct just to post under my own name.

Re: Poll: Do you use your real identity on HN?

#116

Post by gyepi »

Yes. I think of the Internet as a public space and moderate myself accordingly. As a result, there's no reason for me to use pseudonyms. This policy does have the effect of limiting my participation in public conversations about sensitive topics like religion, politics and other social constructs but the same thing happens INRL anyway.

Re: Poll: Do you use your real identity on HN?

#118

Post by quackerhacker »

stfu wrote: post #37

I'm in an endless loop with my self arguing if I should be more open about my identity on the internet. But in the end I value the ability to post and say whatever comes to my mind higher than the ability to promote stuff.

Reading your comment.....love your handle(lol) NICE!

Re: Poll: Do you use your real identity on HN?

#119

Post by rjd »

I don't use my personal name anywhere except linkedin, specifically for business reasons on all accounts. Even Facebook I use a pseudonym. Over the years I've done a lot of contracting for big business and government agencies, often requiring background checks security clearance. No way I'd endanger my access to those contracts by exposing anything personal anywhere.
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