Do You Use an Alias? / myLot

Canada

January 13, 2016 6:15am CST

Several years ago, I began writing on another social writing site (Bubblews), partially to stalk another writer. In order to maintain my anonymity, I adopted a pen name, chosen at random from two books on the shelf beside me. The name was not gender specific, although I made no secret on my profile of being a woman. After several months, my identity was revealed and I was known to several members of that writing site. They all respect my right to privacy and have been careful to never reveal my real name. Have you ever googled your name? Anyone who has your name can find out so much information about you. This is the reason, even my grandchildren have all been given aliases as well. My paranoia isn't overwhelming. I am aware that if someone really wants to find out who I am (my real name) it is possible to do some using clues that have been left along the way. In the meantime, I answer to the name Morley on any writing site I appear on.

13 people like this

14 responses

HanVanMeegerin

@HanVanMeegerin (1161)

• United States

13 Jan 16

@Morleyhunt why did you want to stalk another writer on Bubblews? How it happen that your identity was revealed?

3 people like this

Morley Hunt

@Morleyhunt (21744)

• Canada

13 Jan 16

Long story. It was not malicious stalking. If the person had done any digging they would have known who I was.

1 person likes this

Morley Hunt

@Morleyhunt (21744)

• Canada

13 Jan 16

@HanVanMeegerin there are several members of my family, scattered across North America that write on this site. When you write about your children and grandchildren, even changing their names starts to show some identifying characteristics. It was a family member I was stalking. ??

HanVanMeegerin

@HanVanMeegerin (1161)

• United States

13 Jan 16

@Morleyhunt thank you for the explanation, but how did your true identity get out?

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Boingboing

@boiboing (13153)

• Northampton, England

13 Jan 16

You wanted to stalk another writer? WHY would you do that - and an even bigger question, why would you now admit to it?

2 people like this

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Boingboing

@boiboing (13153)

• Northampton, England

13 Jan 16

@Morleyhunt there could be a few posts on this.

1 person likes this

Morley Hunt

@Morleyhunt (21744)

• Canada

13 Jan 16

@boiboing I might, down the road. At the moment I'm trying to stay out of trouble.

Morley Hunt

@Morleyhunt (21744)

• Canada

13 Jan 16

Long story.

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Juliaacv

@Juliaacv (51359)

• Canada

13 Jan 16

I know that there are some members who adopt an online pen name. I cannot blame anyone for doing this because of the insecurities providing your entire name provides to those that would go too far.

1 person likes this

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Juliaacv

@Juliaacv (51359)

• Canada

13 Jan 16

@Morleyhunt I agree 100%, I never use my last name nor will I ever refer to my maiden name because it affects too many people, and some of them may not be actual relatives but only people with the same last name. I don't even feel really comfortable with giving too many specifics regarding my location, my province is good enough I think, we are here to read and write, not snoop and ask right?

1 person likes this

Morley Hunt

@Morleyhunt (21744)

• Canada

13 Jan 16

I think I am better off with the alias because I often write about my children and grandchildren. It would not be wise to put them at risk for the sake of earning a few pennies.

2 people like this

HanVanMeegerin

@HanVanMeegerin (1161)

• United States

13 Jan 16

@Morleyhunt that seems smart.

1 person likes this

crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39509)

• United States

14 Jan 16

don't reckon i've e'er written with my real name. heck, e'en fb 'n my email aint'n my real name. wait...what's my real name?? hmm, gonna need to think'n that fer a bit ;) i aint fond'f this info highway thingy 'n the lack'f privacy. i e'en go 'round tryin' to put out fires with my lil aliases. to no avail 's new sites pop up'n 've lil regard fer ones outcries'f foul. play.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jan 16

There are plenty of people called 'Judy Evans'. I'm really common!

2 people like this

ingrid

@ridingbet (66854)

• Philippines

13 Jan 16

I used my real name in Bubblews, and here too. My FB account is not an alias, but my second name.

1 person likes this

Morley Hunt

@Morleyhunt (21744)

• Canada

13 Jan 16

My Facebook account is the only social site I use my real name.

1 person likes this

Morley Hunt

@Morleyhunt (21744)

• Canada

13 Jan 16

@ridingbet I have over 200 friends. About 100 are family.

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ingrid

@ridingbet (66854)

• Philippines

13 Jan 16

@Morleyhunt but previous to that, I inverted my name, so INGRID was DIRGNI. I was always friend-requested by my students when told them I will be their friend once we are colleagues. Recently, I had many students (now colleagues) I accepted their friend requests. so now, I have a huge number of 126 friends.

1 person likes this

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Jon

@Bomber109 (201)

• Australia

13 Jan 16

My brother and I used to do article writing work for many websites. We adopted an alias name (a combination of both of our names together) just for the fun of it!

1 person likes this

Morley Hunt

@Morleyhunt (21744)

• Canada

13 Jan 16

Do you still use this alias, or do you now write using your own name.

SLAVCHO

@SLAVCO (1)

• Macedonia

13 Jan 16

I don't now, I have my name

1 person likes this

BigDreamer

@kellyr634 (416)

• United States

13 Jan 16

I use an alias obviously! lol The question is - who in the world were you trying to stalk? :)

1 person likes this

Morley Hunt

@Morleyhunt (21744)

• Canada

13 Jan 16

Now that would be giving too much information. Might I suggest though, that someone was sharing some personal information and I felt it best to know what was being shared.