Poll: Do you use your real identity on HN? • Hacker News Board

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

#281

Post by theorique » Fri, May 17, 2013, 3:34 PM UTC

cupcake-unicorn wrote: post #163

vinhboy wrote: post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I especially like what you said about making your facebook 100% public to rid yourself of the illusion of privacy. I agree. If I am going to put something online, I expect it to be in the public domain. I do however try to keep all my online identities, although all real, separate. For example, I don't link my reddit account on my facebook. It's like having different groups of friends, you don't want to force them to…

Or delete your Facebook, and make an account just for following pages. I did it a year ago and I never looked back.

Delete Facebook, lawyer up, hit the gym ...

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

#282

Post by MrMan » Fri, May 17, 2013, 3:35 PM UTC

alanh wrote: post #231

MrMan wrote: post #159

I don't want to be tempted to use my posts here or elsewhere to try to make money or gain social credibility. I don't particularly want to know who else is posting either. I am not trying to monetize my internet presence, best to stay pseudonymous if not anonymous.

Interesting! Sounds like we have different dispositions. For me, making money is a much more conscientious endeavor. (It’s spending that is automatic.) I think my main motivations here on HN are to learn and to inform — although maybe I’m just saying that to further my personal brand ;)

i love the content and the interactions on HN, but I also love the fact that I enjoy distance from the tech world per se. best keep it that way. I can't smile my way to greatness, I know my limitations.

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

#283

Post by neoyagami » Fri, May 17, 2013, 3:44 PM UTC

half-yes, if you google neoyagami my name appears almost first

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

#284

Post by rcourtie » Fri, May 17, 2013, 3:49 PM UTC

exodust wrote: post #233

simonsarris wrote: post #70

Yes, and for almost[1] all other things on the internet for that matter. "We should try to be happy, if only to set an example." -Jacques Prévert I try to be as open and plainly honest as possible, and I think using my real name keeps me from being inflammatory, and I think it also keeps other from doing the same to me (at least a little). Put another way, I think using real names makes an atmosphere of more empathy…

Your argument falls over the moment someone using their real name is inflammatory. We shouldn't need to show our drivers license to qualify or validate our sincerity in any interactions, online or in person. "He used his real name so it must be true" is not something we will ever hear. Your name is "simonsarris", okay, so I barely noticed. It's a handle, and it might be real or made up. As a reader of your comment it…

I don't think he meant that if anyone used their real name online it would automatically make them sincere, I think he meant that since he was using his real name it kept him in check because he cared about his reputation or whatever.

Less about how other people view him and more about making sure that he didn't do anything that would tarnish himself. As opposed to the freedom you would feel behind anonymity to do things you wouldn't normally.

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

#285

Post by [deleted] » Fri, May 17, 2013, 3:51 PM UTC

exodust wrote: post #233

simonsarris wrote: post #70

Yes, and for almost[1] all other things on the internet for that matter. "We should try to be happy, if only to set an example." -Jacques Prévert I try to be as open and plainly honest as possible, and I think using my real name keeps me from being inflammatory, and I think it also keeps other from doing the same to me (at least a little). Put another way, I think using real names makes an atmosphere of more empathy…

Your argument falls over the moment someone using their real name is inflammatory. We shouldn't need to show our drivers license to qualify or validate our sincerity in any interactions, online or in person. "He used his real name so it must be true" is not something we will ever hear. Your name is "simonsarris", okay, so I barely noticed. It's a handle, and it might be real or made up. As a reader of your comment it…

[deleted]

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

#286

Post by mnicole » Fri, May 17, 2013, 4:14 PM UTC

graue wrote: post #102

mnicole wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ditto. Deciding to use a variant of my name here was something I went back and forth on (partly because I didn't want it associated with me at all, partly because I didn't want it to be gendered [1]). Ultimately I decided that I wanted to be able to take credit for posts where I write about usability/design/anything else I feel qualified to speak to, even at the expense of potential employers reading the rest of what…

> One of, if not my very first, comment's first comment was someone using my gender to denounce my opinion That sucks. I hope they were downvoted into oblivion, but either way, I know that kind of thing happens on HN and I wish HN were better than that. I'm sorry that happened to you.

Thanks. I'd spent a good chunk of time on the initial post itself, so I opted to just see what the community did instead of responding to it. Thankfully, it was downvoted quickly and two people responded to him directly about it.

In another post when I said I didn't want kids, I had about 5 replies insinuating I was risking my future happiness/purpose and I'd regret it in my later years. So.. there's still room to grow.

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

#287

Post by diminoten » Fri, May 17, 2013, 5:57 PM UTC

michael_h wrote: post #270

diminoten wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd delete Facebook if it weren't so damn useful...

Honest question: What about facebook do you find useful? I hate that I have to preface a question as being sincere to ensure that it isn't read as an insult, but here we are.

Friend communication and scheduling.

Facebook has an unreal level of penetration into my friends, literally no other app is so widely used. It's not the best at any of the things I use it for, but it is the single most reliable way to schedule events and communicate with people I know for the least amount of effort.

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

#288

Post by teksquisite » Fri, May 17, 2013, 5:59 PM UTC

I use the first word of my business name on HN (and many social media sites) - so my biz could identify me, but - they only end up with a biz address or a PO box. I use another (undisclosed) Linux distrib. name for other down under sites. For subscription sites, I generally use disposable email addresses that will never lead back to my real identity. Ironically, my Google identity is my real name, but - I never conduct searches about anything personal or that leads back to me (such as she buys Charmin toilet paper - sheet on her). So for the most part any Google algorithmic activity would classify me as a guy. (All tech or infosec related). I've learned to lie to Facebook about anything personal and refuse to use chat or Facemail.I find FB useful to keep tabs on family - and I never air any dirty laundry.

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

#289

Post by patrickmay » Fri, May 17, 2013, 8:00 PM UTC

michael_h wrote: post #270

diminoten wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd delete Facebook if it weren't so damn useful...

Honest question: What about facebook do you find useful? I hate that I have to preface a question as being sincere to ensure that it isn't read as an insult, but here we are.

My kids are on it. They use Facebook Messenger more than SMS.

Of course, they also use SMS, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Kik as well, so I have to have all of those on my phone.

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

#290

Post by patrickmay » Fri, May 17, 2013, 8:05 PM UTC

simonsarris wrote: post #70

Yes, and for almost[1] all other things on the internet for that matter. "We should try to be happy, if only to set an example." -Jacques Prévert I try to be as open and plainly honest as possible, and I think using my real name keeps me from being inflammatory, and I think it also keeps other from doing the same to me (at least a little). Put another way, I think using real names makes an atmosphere of more empathy…

It turns out that a real name policy does not improve online behavior: http://techcrunch.com/2012/07/29/surprisingly-good-evidence-...

Personally, if I'm going to go to the trouble of eviscerating someone in text, I want to put my real name on it and take credit. Then again, I grew up with Usenet when flaming was an art form. (You kids get offa my 'net!)