Anonymity

Why be anonymous?

from JoeUser Forums
I've done the internet thing now for many years. Back in 1988 even I was trolling the university network systems, using it to connect to CompuServe and other locations. Prior to that I used local and long distance BBS's via the Commodore 64 and a *gasp* 300 baud modem. As a result of my long and storied use of the 'net, I've seen a lot of pseudonyms.

I've come to question the use of pseudonyms. I can see two big reasons for using them: privacy and pretending. Privacy needs I can understand somewhat. Particularly if you have a unique name like "Xavier Barton" which can be found easily. However, the John Smith's in the world cannot be reasonably Googled for.

Pretending. Hmmmm... I'm having a harder time with that one. I suppose it could be for some people, but I'm at that stage in my life where I want to drop pretention. I am the real me, even if I don't know who that is all the time. I won't deliberately pretend to be something else and I will tend to question anyone or anything that does not seem authentic.

Authenticity - ahhh, now there's a topic for another entry :)

*John Mull*
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Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
I know there are other people with my name in the world, but I don't have to worry about there being any other Bakerstreet on the sites I visit. Never seen another one yet.

Screen names aren't always pretense, they are about individuality. We didn't choose our real names. Most people I know make no secret of their real name, and people use their screen name anyway. I prefer it. To me when someone I don't know uses my real name online it seems like they are trying to be more personal. That isn't always welcome.

So, maybe it is like an informal "mr" or "ms", i.e. being informal and keeping your distance at the same time.

To me, Bakerstreet is more individual than Auguste Hall. No different than nicknames. When I was young I don't remember my freinds and I calling each other by our names, there was always a nickname for everyone. At one time I was "beanhead" for some reason. Might have been a bad haircut.

Anyway, I think people are thrust into an environment with millions of other people the moment they step out onto the internet. The name their momma chose for them just doesn't seem to be enough for many. I think a lot of us would rather be known for who we are, instead of just who we are, ya know? Anything is better than JohnSmith922924, ugh.
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