Who are you?

You know who I am... as do my other friends here at JU....

Yes. You are an exception to the rule.

Yes. You are an exception to the rule.

I'll take that to mean that I am special!

I have my screen name, and sometimes I've used my real name on my posts.....hey, if
people aren't reading me, then they haven't seen my real name.

That's all I go by though.

That's it exactly: the "screen name"'

I first heard of the concept when AOL started business in Europe. Many people thought that a "screen name" was a typical Internet concept, when in reality the Internet was real names until AOL.

A "screen name" should not be a second personality, I think.

So who are you? Where do you live? What do you do?

I dont reveal my real name, altho many here know it.  That is for reasons of what I post at times (not political, the personal).

Dr. Guy. I know. But it's still sad.

Reply By: Andrew J. BrehmPosted: Wednesday, December 28, 2005That's it exactly: the "screen name"'

So who are you? Where do you live? What do you do?

It's like I said, if people are reading my blog, they already know my real name, they know where I live
and that I'm retired from transportation business.

Excellent!

Dr. Guy. I know. But it's still sad.

So is my ex.  But there is not a lot I can do to get rid of her, since I still have 2 children that I love.  She is more than sad.  She is a nut job!

I was under the impression that there are crazy, psycho people on the internet who if they have too much personal information, they will track you down and chop you into small pieces.

I have my screen name, and sometimes I've used my real name on my posts.....hey, if people aren't reading me, then they haven't seen my real name.

I echo Trudy. I also have put information out about myself, where I live, my last name...
While I do like all you JU people, and I have corresponded with some, and know others personally, I am just not comfortable putting my information out there for all the Internet to see.
I'd rather just be singrdave, or just Dave, if you don't mind.

'I realise that many regulars here believe they have very good reasons for not telling the world who they are. But I also think that many of these reasons are not very good, compared to the principle of standing up for one's own opinions and statements.'

This kind of comment appears quite frequently. I would simply point out that nobody is breaking any JoeUser rules (in word or spirit) by refraining from revealing their names, contact details etc. Furthermore, as Dr. Guy points out above, while you may think it 'sad', on the internet it is generally a very sensible precaution not to reveal your personal details to all and sundry.

So Andrew, if you want to give the world a direct line to your door, go right ahead. Other people have their own reasons for maintaining a degree of privacy, and it is not your place to say whether or not these reasons are 'good'.

I am just not comfortable putting my information out there for all the Internet to see.

There is the fact that Ju is google-able.  We must understand that our reading audience is not only the fine people here, but anyone with an internet account, bacteria included.

on the internet it is generally a very sensible precaution not to reveal your personal details to all and sundry.

I don't think so.

I reveal only those personal details that can also be found in a phone book. Anybody can find me in the Dublin phone book, even on the Web. Googling just makes it simpler. I assume that those with evil intentions don't mind many difficulties.

So Andrew, if you want to give the world a direct line to your door, go right ahead. Other people have their own reasons for maintaining a degree of privacy, and it is not your place to say whether or not these reasons are 'good'.

Maintaining "a degree" of privacy is not the same as not telling anybody anything.

Millions of people maintain a degree of privacy even though their names are known, in the phone book, on their doors, on the Internet, or in news papers. If your audience finds out your name, you have not lost all your privacy. Any such claim is ridiculous.

And whether it is a violation of rules or not I do not care. It is my place to ask people who they are.

BUT IT IS NOT YOUR PLACE TO TELL ME THAT IT ISN'T OK FOR ME TO DO THAT IN MY OWN BLOG.

So go away!

It is NOT sensible to talk without revealing one's identity; not unless you have specific personal reasons or fear of a totalitarian government or other group. It's rude, not sensible. And whatever the reasons are, it is certainly sad.

In an ideal world, I would know whom I talk to.

You do.

I do not fear the bacteria enough not to reveal my name. Particularly since every name not revealed makes those who had to reveal their names better targets.

I prefer to be called LW rather than Sabrina while online, if it's all the same to you. Other than that, pleased to meetcha!

Ah, here we go. I knew your name was Sabrina. Pleased to make it official.

I liked the pictures of your new dog. Excellent stuff.

I was under the impression that there are crazy, psycho people on the internet who if they have too much personal information, they will track you down and chop you into small pieces.

There might be. But we all know crazy people don't use phone books. They also don't target whatever complete stranger happens to be in the house next door. They find a target, travel to the location, and chop them into small pieces.

Such piece activists are widely feared.

But I have been using my real name on the net for ten years or so and I have never been chopped to pieces, not once. If I ever will be, I would be surprised to read in the paper that my killer knew my name.

There might be. But we all know crazy people don't use phone books. They also don't target whatever complete stranger happens to be in the house next door. They find a target, travel to the location, and chop them into small pieces.

YOu did not have the misfortune of marrying one of them!

A "screen name" should not be a second personality, I think.

I agree. My name is...drum roll please... Angela Marie, and my birthday is on the 8th day of the 8th month. I think for the most part people have been taught to use their real names cautiously, cause you never know about those

psycho people on the internet who if they have too much personal information, they will track you down and chop you into small pieces.

For that reason, my last name is none of your business

I'm a certified Russian Linguist (thanks to the US Army for squandering a million dollars on me!), I've been a slave to Corporate America making big bucks, but now I'm a simple housewife and mommy to a cute little boy. I look just fine without any makeup. I don't have much of a brain, but I'm working on it.

I don't worry too much, perhaps I am just very naive.

My real name is Brandie, which pretty much everyone on here already knows. Some know my last name as well. I live on an Army base on the island of Oahu (Hawaii), and many on here know my address as well, lol.

I'm a stay-at-home mom and the wife of an Army medic. I share lots of personal details in my blog and tend to be very open on JU.

I like to know about the people I correspond with on here, and I consider myself a very trustworthy person, and one that is safe for others to share personal details with. However, I do understand the reluctance of some to open their lives up to the big, bad internet, and I respect that.

If I get to know someone personally, great. It makes my experiences with them deeper and more enjoyable. If not, well...I can still laugh at their funnies and appreciate their brilliant thoughts and get pissed off at their ignorance, hehe.

LW, I realise some people have good reasons to remain anonymous. You guys are not who I was referring to.

I also know more about you than about, say, "Furry Canary", and have an idea about the person I am talking to when I speak to you.

It is however very doubtful that a full 90% of JoeUser posters have such reasons. I believe most are just not very personable.

As for the idea that I have no right to ask people I talk to who they are... I can only say what they used to say at the London School of Economics:

Pfft to the lot of them!

My real name is Brandie

Nice to meet you, Brandie. And thanks for what your husband is doing for us!

I doubt if many could even tell ya whether FC is male or female. I know I cant.

The ultimate privacy. People don't know who she is or what he does. People barely talk to him/her.

My JU name is my first name and initial of my last name. No mystery there.

I am Amy. I live in Texas. I am currently doing home daycare but am studying to pass my RPR test so I can work as a court reporter. I have three wild boys. One husband who is in the Navy and not around enough. A sheltie named Bingo. Not enough friends and I need to go load my dishwasher.

I can only say what they used to say at the London School of Economics: Pfft to the lot of them!

and I guess that "pffft to you back" would be the standard response at London School of Economics? Hmm... whole lotta pfffting going on!

While I agree you have the right to ask, I also think that they have the right not to answer for whatever reason. Even if it is simple comfort and not life and death. It's not like your signing some kind of contract that requires full disclosure (I hope).

and I guess that "pffft to you back" would be the standard response at London School of Economics?

It's a cultural thing. I don't think Americans know. It was a radio show "I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again".

Why does everything become about rights and rules?

I simply ask people who they are and what do I get? Somebody informing me that I have no right to ask and a few others telling me that they are under no obligation to answer my question.

What has the world come to?

That's the sort of reaction you expect in a totalitarian regime. People refer to authority (JoeUser rules), won't tell anything unless they have to, view with suspicion anybody who doesn't act that way, doubt that it is my place to ask (how could it possibly not be?). It's weird.