Yes. I've exclusively used my real name online since 1991.
Poll: Do you use your real identity on HN?
51–60 of 307 posts
Re: Poll: Do you use your real identity on HN?
#52definitely not.
Re: Poll: Do you use your real identity on HN?
#53I personally believe that an indicator of intelligence is the capacity to change ones mind when presented with new data. I don't want to be judged on past posts or comments, if it's possible that my mind has been changed, my opinion altered, etc. by new data or more thoughtful consideration.
Re: Poll: Do you use your real identity on HN?
#54For some reason I'm extremely hesitant to post things under my real name. I don't really care if people know my name on an individual basis (and it's not like I'm a high profile poster anyway), but I am squeamish about it generally, and feel too self-conscious to post anything if my name is associated directly with it. I've tried blogging under my real name and always went back and deleted everything, it caused me to…
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 I write here. On the other side of the same coin, I don't put any personal information in my profile.
[1] One of, if not my very first, comment's first comment was someone using my gender to denounce my opinion, which had me trying to figure out if I should start fresh again. For the most part this only happens in gender issues threads (where sockpuppets and new accounts run rampant), but this particular one wasn't. I wasn't sure if that attitude was going to follow me throughout my time here, but I've found most people don't even look at my username (as evidenced by being referred to as "he" in child comments).
Re: Poll: Do you use your real identity on HN?
#55For me, HN is a platform to discuss interesting things with interesting people and to expose myself to opportunities that I would otherwise not have. So yes, I do use my real identity.
Re: Poll: Do you use your real identity on HN?
#56I didn't realize anyone would not use a real identity on hn.
Re: Poll: Do you use your real identity on HN?
#57There are too many Steve Johnsons in the tech field, but I don't have a better pseudonym, so I try to make my real name count.
As a Jones, I feel you. It is almost impossible to find a good username or email address that is not already taken. My wife was formerly a Kokernot, and is finding she can no longer command first.last@gmail.com.
Re: Poll: Do you use your real identity on HN?
#58[deleted]
Re: Poll: Do you use your real identity on HN?
#59The question presumes the existence of a singular, unified "real identity".
Nevertheless, I answered 'Yes'.
Re: Poll: Do you use your real identity on HN?
#60My username is associated with practically everything I do online, and my real name is trivially discoverable from it, so I voted Yes. Although, Google+ seems unable to figure out what my real name is, even after uploading my driver's license (I found it ironic that in reply to my uploading a photo of my government ID, Google+ suggested that it would go better for me if I just used my legal name. Er, what?), so maybe it's not that easy. ;)