Would you ever use your real name as your username?

I'm ok using my first name but I would feel uncomfortabe using my whole name as my username. It would get picked up in search engines and I wouldn't feel quite right about being so open about personal things if I knew everyone could realise it was me. Those close to me know my username as I've used it for many years in internet but I think using my entire real name could lead to privacy problems. I would have done as you did if I had made that mistake.

unless you can tell me a proper reason why i should not then i allways will as i have.

I use my real name on mylot…Sudipta, I am more comfortable with it. Since I am not using my pix or of my family or not giving any other details, I feel safe enough. But I like it when people here respond to me as Sudipta or Sudip or Sudi…even Suds

No, I won't use my real name as the username. It is not because it's not safe. It is because my real name is simple and you can find many people with the same name. So I must add a number or extra words so that I can sign up an account. This is why I have to use a special nickname as my username so that I don't have to worry about this account has been registered. I love China

I never use my real name, rather I made up a name I use for everything.

Yes. This is my real name.

It is mixed, if I am writing online to my peers, I am me. If I am using some site where money is involved, it is a made up username. Many people have had their identities stolen, because they left a trail that was too easy to follow. Same username and same passwords on multiple websites, the site gets hacked, the criminal now has their username and password for every site they registered at, in other words the user made it so easy for someone to steal their accounts, someone did.

I always prefer to use my username when registering with social networking sites. it is better that way than giving your real name to avoid getting your name used by other people who have other motives.

I have never used my real name as my username ever I believe. I think it wouldn’t be that risky to use your first name at least but I never like the idea of using it. hehehe.. well it’s actually my chance to use another name aside from being addressed by my same name.

I made that mistake once of signing up with my real name for a free website account, I did not realise that on sign up that my name would be the website address. I think in this day and age the less personal info you give out the better, a lot of information you supply online is searchable by anyone for example facebook. I think you are right, most people feel more comfortable being anonymous, for that reason I shall reamin "The mysterious Zone lol.

i don;t use my real name in any website. i don;t like to reveal to anyone my name . so i give other name or shortcut name as username in any website. i don;t feel comfortable in revealing my name in any website.

I don't understand the concern for privacy. You're listed in the phone book by your real name aren't you? You own property under your real name, don't you? You rent an apartment using your real name, right? Why should you be any different online?The fact is, you don't have privacy online. I don't need your real name to find out about you. You leave an imprint every time you log on. Yes, I use my real name. I run a business online so using any name other than my real name wouldn't make any sense. It wouldn't build trust. No one is going to do business with poetwarrior or largemouthbass. People want to do business with real people so running an online business in your real name is absolutely essential. There is another reason to use your real name. Concerned about privacy? How about your reputation? What if someone you get angry decides to publish reputation damaging information about you online and they use your real name? If a member of your church or your child's enemy's parents decide to write information about you that is incorrect and damaging they will likely do it anonymously, but your real name is used. But if you are proactive about using your real name in your activities online and a future employer or a potential creditor performs a search for your name then they will find the information that you put there - the good stuff. I think everyone should have real name information associated with certain websites online for reputation management reasons. Pick the sites where you are just there to hang out and let your hair down and use a fake name or an alias at those sites, but pick a few where your real name is used and make good use of them as reputation building tools.

There is enough fakes in our world now, and usually they are the problem people. What have you got to hide and if you do hide then what are you hiding? If someone plays with you we have laws that take care of that kind, just ask anyone who sends a virus and gets caught if they like the horrible torment of a jail cell? Well, go ahead and commit an illegal act if you know it then you will suffer for it. If you are ignorant of some crime then you most likely will be exonerated but chastised for sure. I hate identity theft and if it were up to me then they would most surely suffer a jail sentence. I say be honest and keep it honest and open for conjecture and all is well in the watchtower. Do not be ashamed of whom you are unless you are some kind of shameful person already and just hide yourself from others with excuses. Floyd

My user name is always made up though if you know me on one site, you'll know me on another. It is a security issue. Too many people take what isn't theirs and giving them information like that is like asking them to take what's yours. I'm glad you are deleting that account. Keep as much of your personal information private as you can.

It's a real nickname but I like the anonymity of this place, really. I don't know. If a user were to guess who I was by my postings, I have nothing to be ashamed of. I mean, obviously, he/she already knew me that well in order to guess.

Personally I don't like giving my full name to websites, if only necessary, but sometimes it's good to so the person who is adding you or wants to add you, knows a bit about you. Yeah it's a security thing with me as well (: I would do the same, and I know how it can be upsetting.

This is my real name and phone number..^^

This is my real neme and phone number..haha^^

I don't see a problem with using your real name as your username for certain sites. Social networking sites, such as MySpace or Facebook, are the kinds of sites where it's fine to post your real name. Isn't that their purpose - to find friends and network with other people? It's also fine to use your real name in your email address - just know who you're giving that email to. Even on other sites, like forums/community sites, I think it's fine to use your real name too. I think the threat of being hacked and being a victim of identity theft is too exaggerated. If you keep your personal information (location, age, SSN, phone number, address, etc.) off the internet, private, or only where they're supposed to be, then your really don't have much to worry about. If you take different security measures - like using different passwords on different sites, using HTTPS to access important sites, etc. - then you can use your real name as your username worry-free.

I don't see a problem with using your real name as your username for certain sites. Social networking sites, such as MySpace or Facebook, are the kinds of sites where it's fine to post your real name. Isn't that their purpose - to find friends and network with other people? Even on other sites, like forums/community sites, I think it's fine to use your real name too. I think the threat of being hacked and being a victim of identity theft is too exaggerated. If you keep your personal information (location, age, SSN, phone number, address, etc.)off the internet, private, or only where they're supposed to be, then you really don't have much to worry about. If you take different security measures - like using different passwords on different sites, using HTTPS, etc. - then you can use your real name as your username worry-free.