Quote:
Originally Posted by ElCabron
I don't understand why it's not mandatory for people to put their name by every post, not just "opinionated" ones. Just add it to your tagline, or underneath your avatar. There are some guys that have been posting here for years and I still have no idea what their actual names are. If you really need anonymity, maybe a public forum isn't for you.
-Ryan
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There can be many legitimate reasons why a person chooses to not use their last name on a public forum. You just need to widen your mind about why. Here's some of my own:
- Name similar to a famous record producer who is currently incarcerated. I get emails or asked in person, although that is dying out which I assume is due to some of them are now either deceased or too young to know or care about his name. And you know, I am not a prison penpal (different than prison paypal option).
I get contacted because some people think:
- I am actually a serial killer (this is for people who can not distinguish between television and reality).
- I am a psychologist/author (there's many of them)
- I am a doctor (many of them too)
- I am a DDS (Hi Pete! Can I sue myself for performing my own unlicensed extractions?
)
- I am a Nazi hunter
- I am being pursued by Nazi hunters
- Permission to use "my" survey about Predictors of Job Satisfaction for Gay, Lesbian and Bisexuals" (not that there's anything wrong with that
)
I could go on.
- In the eighties when I lived in Manhattan I received a phone call from a woman, who looked up my name in the phone book, and told me she had a great time chatting (in person) with me the night before. I had a difficult and lengthy time convincing her otherwise. It was actually a great conversation because I could say anything I wanted with impunity. Coincidentally, I had a friend who knew the other Paul S, although my "twin" and I had never met. Eventually we just referred the wrong callers to each other's number. (And yes, I still remember her name but don't you be cheeky and ask me -- it's been tried before).
- I have a blog, now dormant, dedicated to my father, who was a journeyman cartoonist/animator. I am well known in that community with my last name. Eventually I had to turn on comment moderation (hi Leon!) because, among many other things, I kept getting people asking about how, after forty years, to get in touch with my sibling.
Soooo...anybody I've ever had dealings with on Net54 knows my last name. I Include it in my PMs and the return address on envelopes. B&L has it since I have cards consigned...please shill on my...
Maybe now you get a better sense of why I don't feel like inserting my full name in posts. It might keep me from registering a strong opinion but I like the peace of mind.
Pa.ul $p3(t.or
(There, you all feel better now?)