Why don't people disclose their identity in myLot?

It totally depends on if you feel comfortable!

I don't think there's too much worry. I keep my true identity hidden (though some know it) because I'm a college professor, and some of the things I say here are not "PC" enough for many college campuses. Also, I don't want my relatives reading what I wrote when I'm kvetching about their weirdnesses. MyLot is its own little world to me.

There's no need to be concerned. Some people are happy to use their real names and real photos here, others prefer to use an alias and an image as an avatar. It is not necessarily that they have anything to hide but some people have various reasons for using a nickname. What you should never do on a site like this (or anywhere on the public Internet) is to post personal details such as your street address, email address or phone number. Apart from the fact that that is forbidden by the guidelines (for your own security), you do not want just anyone to have those details.

I don't have anything to hide or any reason to hide so I don't. I use my real name, photo and location here.

Well I just like writing under a pen name because then I can be more "open". I don't really want my family seeing what I post because honestly I don't want them knowing some things about me! I just feel like it's easier to be open about things when I write under my pen name.

I used my real name and real picture for months after joining. I only changed it last month because I like to change things around. It wasn't because I was scared or have anything to hide.

One of my friends here said she doesn't want her family and friends to know what she's been writing on mylot that's why she hides her identity here. Others just want to keep their animosity for the sake of safety from the dangers of internet life. I was naive when I joined mylot never thinking people could stalk me and find out almost everything about me. However, I don't mind much. If you can see, I have my real picture right up in my profile.

The people that own myLot do not disclose their real identity.

Just to be safe just hide your identity, it's so hard if someone copied your identity and do illegal things.. so it's better to be safe than to be sorry.

Most people do reveal themselves after a while even if they don't show a picture or use their real name.

It's entirely a personal choice - I don't think there is any danger from using your real name or photo. I use flowers from my garden as my avatar just because I like them. I keep it because I think it's easily recognisable. I'm not trying to hide - I've put several pictures of myself on various posts.

I think it gives us more freedom to speak as we think. Most people would not use their real name and address because there are crazy people in the world.

For better interaction it is better to disclose who we really are. However, some choose to reveal nothing! I go more than half way and write about me in my posts and responses. I do not even know the gender of few I interact with. Age could be a touchy matter for few but other basic details will help. Some may have some hesitation and we have to appreciate them - siva

I love my privacy, so I give out as little information as I can. Of course, I leave out the small things that are necessary for interaction.

It is a matter of preference, but it's also a matter of safety. I rarely ever disclose who I am outside of my pen name to anyone until I've gotten to know them for quite a few years. Too many times there have been people who freely gave information about themselves over the Internet, and the next you know, those people end up kidnapped, robbed, raped, killed. This happens especially to teenagers and people who are new to the world wide web experience. I would prefer if someone I just met gave me a pen name and not their real name. I don't need to know what city they're from, or even which country. I don't need to know anything personal about that person, because it's not my business. Keeping one's identity hidden protects the person, and there is no shame in it.

I don't thinck that...but who knows?

I have my reasons, I have been on sites, using my name and someone goes to fb, to try and friend you and get in your business. I was on a community were there were two hatefully women, bullying the others, so in the event I see them, they use the same names and avatar, I like to avoid them. So for some they don't mind their name out, for me, it isn't going to happen, I don't even feel anyone needs to know wht city I live in. I have seen a lot of crazy things on the internet and did have someone bothering me, so I prefer not to be in that situation again.

You can change your name if you want to, there's no pressure to reveal your real self. @Yuki makes a good point though about keeping online activities and real life separate. Do what you want to, but don't expect others to reveal themselves on here - it is just not that big a deal. You either do or you don't.

I think the profile pic, the name, where you live these things does not matter to mylotters or mylot "only ideas matter"and is it wrong to choose a fancy name. Well I don't think so. Its great that people here can discuss everything and get responses on their ideas or views unlike facebook where good profile picture is must to gain attention and don't feel insecure to share profile pic or name because that does not matter much

I do not know if this safe or not. But I used my own photo on my profile pic and my true location :)