Your real name?
By BunGirl
@BunGirl (2638)
United States
January 25, 2007 5:32pm CST
Recently, on a discussion board where I am a member, several people insisted that we should all go by our real names. These folks were loud enough about it that the moderator even said that everyone should include their real names in their profiles or on their signatures. Personally, I am just not comfortable about this. I don't like to hand out any more of my personal info on the internet than I really need to. Yes, I trust the people I chat with on this particular board, as it is a small group and I feel as if I know most of them, but I also know that anyone who wants to can read the messages there. You have to be a member to post, but guests are welcome to read, and there are often several guests listed in the "who's online" section. What do you think? Are you comfortable using your real name in discussion boards on the net?
24 people like this
123 responses
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I think using a real name should be a personal choice for everyone. There are psychos out there, and you never know what could happen. My real name isn't hard to find, but that's me. It's not right out there, but it is findable because I have some professional stuff online and real names are needed for that. But I respect everyone else's right to complete and total privacy if they want it. No moderator should ever make anyone reveal personal, private information.
3 people like this
@Xixanatola (683)
• Portugal
25 Jan 07
yes i also think using or not using the name in the chat is a choice off the person
2 people like this
@stvasile (7306)
• Romania
25 Jan 07
I don't agree using the real names.
If someone joins a forum or a discussion board they should be informed from the start on the obligation of using real names, and the rules they agreed upon joining must not be changed.
If they try to make the members of that discussion board use real names, maybe they're not worth your time.
@ShadowWalker (969)
• United States
25 Jan 07
If a discussion board was trying to force me to do something I was against then I'd quit going. There's a reason why all of us use usernames. I like being anonymous as possible when I'm online as possible. Not that I have anything to hide. It's just like the anonymity. Believe the opinions I give you on this board are mine are truly mine and if you met me in person you'd hear the samething I stated here on the board.
@brettbum (304)
• United States
26 Jan 07
I'm shocked, are you telling me that your real given name is not BunGirl?
Well, you just lost all credibility with me on MyLot, hurumph!
@bonks427 (33)
• United States
26 Jan 07
I don't like the idea of using my real name. I think it's too personal. Not to mention that in today's society you really don't know what someone would do with your real information. Too much identity theft and things of that nature.
@AskAlly (3625)
• Canada
26 Jan 07
Just my first name I am fine with. I would not include my last name though. The internet can be creepy. I don't think it is necessary to share any info on any message board if you don't feel like it. I think the nicknames are more fun anyway.
Take BunGirl for instance. Why would you nickname yourself that. Do you work at Subway? Are you a baker? Do you have nice buns? Don't answer any of there questions because it would take the mystery out of it. I don't really even want to know, but it makes it more fun to me.
2 people like this
@wesderby (178)
• United States
26 Jan 07
I definitely think it should be a personal choice, not a mandate.
I admit, I use my real name in most places...Even my username is just my first and last name suqished together...I figure, I'm not listed in the phone book, so I'm not worried about some nut who's offended by something I say trying to find me. :)
Then again, most of the groups I participate in are groups like this, or small niche message boards where we all pretty much know and trust each other...But yeah, I think it has to be a personal choice whether or not you reveal your real name.
@darckj (885)
• Philippines
26 Jan 07
me too, i am not comfortable seeing my name..
even here in mylot.. it is just that, i don't want people to know my real identity [hey, i am clark kent].. okay, they'll know me by what i am blogging in here, they'll know me by my views.. but i do not want them to know who i am.. that is why i do not post my picture in here too..^^
2 people like this
@kgwat70 (13387)
• United States
26 Jan 07
I would not feel comfortable putting my real name out there as that is a good way for people to be victims of identity theft. It is not safe to put real names out there on the internet due to all the things that go on and people stealing personal information or stalking a person. Using a nickname or something would be better or intials.
2 people like this
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
26 Jan 07
No, I am not comfortable with giving out my real name. Period.
If the moderator is wanting you to post your real name, tell the moderator that you are not comfortable with doing that. And if they insist, I would leave that board.
I do not think that I should have to leave my real name anywhere on the web.
And if I do for any reason, then it must be for genealogy research. And that is it.
I wouldn't do it!
2 people like this
@forjosie (1544)
• Indonesia
26 Jan 07
the choice is up to you...
If you comfortable to using your realname, why not?
it's just only name and was not your credit card number...:D:D:D
I am using my daughter name, because I looking for some extra money just for her.
So I always used forjosie (for_josie) every I joined any forum or paid program.
@queenajasmina (449)
• United States
26 Jan 07
I feel that the made up names on the profiles are what make websites like mylot so fun. You can be whoever you want to be. U don't have to have your real pictures or even have your real name. I would not feel uncomfortable using my real name on here, but having the nicknames that people actually recognize u by on the net is GREAT! I sometimes go on other money making sites such as payposter, and associated content and I recognize the names from here and I go, Hey! I know them! Well, I don't actually know them but do know who they are online. It is a good time.
2 people like this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
26 Jan 07
I give out my real name pretty rarely online. Usually when I do, it's because I've become pretty close friends with the person or people involved.
One of the obvious reasons for this is security. Another very simple reason for it is that I like my online name. It has a specific meaning and a specific history for me.
If a person I am chatting with or posting on forums with tells me to call them by their real name, I will do so. If my relationship to them is such that I would share mine, I do. If it means a lot to them to call me by my real name, they may do so. Honestly, however, unless we are talking on the phone (in which case my real name is likely easier for them to pronounce) or in person, I'd rather just be called "Lecanis".
2 people like this
@fuuhoouji (67)
• Philippines
26 Jan 07
For me personally, I wont reveal my real name here. I mean its already enough that we gave this info when we were registering. I dont think its not that important to give our names. Ive we made friends to some members, then we can give them our identity through personal messages.
2 people like this
@MidnightRane (5)
• United States
26 Jan 07
I don't really have a preference, but I don't agree that it should be required to use your real name.
Everyone is entitled to their own privacy, and discussion boards should respect that. If I HAD to use my real name, I wouldn't even bother signing up.
2 people like this
@dreamsncharms (1340)
• United States
26 Jan 07
I don't agree with using real names either unless the person chooses too. I think people should respect others privacy. I would drop my happy little bum out of that discussion board. I too was a member of a group. A yahoo group and the mods were getting pretty overbearing asking for real names in our profiles or we would be kicked out. I was kicked out. :)
1 person likes this
@BunGirl (2638)
• United States
26 Jan 07
Well, they're welcome to kick me out if they want, but I don't think they will. The moderator probably didn't think about what she was asking when she posted that everyone should do so. Since it hasn't made it into the official rules, I'm just ignoring it for now.
@wildguy2 (1349)
• Canada
26 Jan 07
If I was forced to list my name it wouldn't mean it would have to be my real name....I could put any name I wished unless the moderators dug into my personal info and had my real name posted in my profile, and if they did that I would have them shut down for breach of privacy....unless stated when you sign up to a program, they are not allowed to release any personal info about an individual.
1 person likes this
@sylviekitty (2083)
• United States
26 Jan 07
Well, it's one thing if you just use like a shortened version of your name. Let's say your name is Patricia. And you are fine with people calling you Pat. It doesn't necessarily meant that anybody is going to know that you're Pat So-and-So from such-and-such a city, whose kids go to such-and-such high school, etc. You know? On the other hand, If you ever end up in a situation where somebody you know ends up on that board, and you have said something insensitive about them or somebody the two of you know, they might be able to figure out exactly who you are. And that can cause a problem. So I think if you want to use a "fake name", go for it!
1 person likes this
@shatman (727)
•
26 Jan 07
im quite happy to give out my real name, have no problem i mean what is anyone going to do with it? im steve wakelin so there you go my real name, sort of proves that im comfortable doing it. i dont see why people dont trust others, its the foundation of relationships
@dreamsncharms (1340)
• United States
26 Jan 07
I think it's nice that your so trusting. In this day and age people have good reason. If someone on here does not like you and is a lunatic, now they have your name and already know you prob live in Manchester. Please be careful.
1 person likes this
