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Author Topic: Why hide behind a Alias?  (Read 19587 times)

Offline theoman

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Re: Why hide behind a Alias?
« Reply #45 on: November 03, 2011, 02:25:37 am »
Hiding behind an alias? 
Not feeding data miners is more to the point.

Many of us prefer not to have everything we've ever written on the internet out there for anyone with a search engine to see - forever.  It kinda throws a wet blanket on the joking around with friends aspect of an informal forum.

On this forum, trolls get the message pretty quickly.  We're a friendly lot, and trollism is highly discouraged.

If you have a burning desire to know someone's name you can always send them a PM.

+1

I have no problem with anyone on here knowing my real name, it's the rest of the world I'd like to keep it from (or make it a bit more difficult for). I'm a member of a private forum that has my name all over it. I have no problem with that. This one is just a bit too public.

Offline theDarkSide

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Re: Why hide behind a Alias?
« Reply #46 on: November 03, 2011, 06:29:51 am »
I don't know.. I like having an alias. I dare you to find out who I am! :)
I always thought your forum picture looks like Kevin Smith.

My alias represents my love of two things, Star Wars and dark beer, mostly stouts.

I also like Abba but I thought "dancingqueen" would be a little odd for a forum name  :D
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Offline bluesman

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Re: Why hide behind a Alias?
« Reply #47 on: November 03, 2011, 06:33:20 am »

No worries Martin.  We still think you rock.  You bring a lot of good stuff to the table!


+1

Hope you aren't offended by any of the remarks. There's obviously some strong feelings on this one.
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Offline davidw

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Re: Why hide behind a Alias?
« Reply #48 on: November 03, 2011, 08:20:28 am »
This post has convinced me to change my user name from my real name to an alias. I am a wanted man in Australia, after all . . .
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Offline bo

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Re: Why hide behind a Alias?
« Reply #49 on: November 03, 2011, 08:22:33 am »
This post has convinced me to change my user name from my real name to an alias. I am a wanted man in Australia, after all . . .

I'm using my nickname and thinking of doing the same thing.

Offline 1vertical

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Re: Why hide behind a Alias?
« Reply #50 on: November 03, 2011, 08:27:11 am »
Just seems like sound practice on the internet, where everything is archived for life and searchable.  You slip up once and your post on rec.arts.sf.starwars about Luke Skywalker's lovers is there for God and everyone to read until the end of time.
+1
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Offline rjharper

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Re: Why hide behind a Alias?
« Reply #51 on: November 03, 2011, 08:50:45 am »
This forum is one of the friendliest and helpful I've seen.  On some forums, trolls and folks trying to start a flame war hide behind their anonymity, but here we seem to be able to keep that kind of thing down.  I don't care if I dont know the real name of majorvices, or punatic, or tubercle, or weaz or bluesman, or euge, or whoever else (and I know many of you like me have your name in the signature), because I know that when I see a post from a handle I recognize, I'm getting good advice, or sharing a good story, with a friend in the hobby.  If there's a troll from a new user with an obscure handle, ignore and move on...

Offline beersk

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Re: Why hide behind a Alias?
« Reply #52 on: November 03, 2011, 09:15:37 am »
Well, I just think that an alias is as good as a real name.  A name is just a label.  What matters most is who the person is, the information they bring to the table, the personality they present.  I act the same way on this forum as I do in real life.  It's very easy to say things on the internet that you wouldn't in reality, but I try to think of these forums as if I'm friends with all of you guys and act as if I would if we were all in a room or bar hanging out.  Sometimes I'm crude, sometimes I'm loud, sometimes I'm goofy, sometimes I don't say anything at all.  That wouldn't change if I knew your name or not.  If I met you in person, I'd still connect you with your alias, whether it is your real name or a made up name.  It's just a label.
« Last Edit: November 03, 2011, 09:19:30 am by beersk »
Jesse

Offline a10t2

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Re: Why hide behind a Alias?
« Reply #53 on: November 03, 2011, 09:20:37 am »
As far as I'm concerned, I don't feel that anyone that can't reveal their name can expect to be taken seriously.  Why would a reader assume that if someone is not willing to stand behind what they say, that they should be believed or taken seriously?

What do you have against someone being able to choose their own name? If someone doesn't like the name their parents chose for them and goes through the process to legally change it, do you take them less seriously?
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Re: Why hide behind a Alias?
« Reply #54 on: November 03, 2011, 09:27:12 am »
I met SiameseMoose at AHA this year, but I have no idea what his real name is.  Aside from calling a grown man SiameseMoose, there was no impersonality or other downside to using a handle.

And I agree with most of the other posters here.  If you want to know my full name or drop by for a homebrew if you're in town, just ask :-)

Offline Jimmy K

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Re: Why hide behind a Alias?
« Reply #55 on: November 03, 2011, 09:40:33 am »
This post has convinced me to change my user name from my real name to an alias. I am a wanted man in Australia, after all . . .

What are they going to do? Send you to Australia?
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Offline Slowbrew

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Re: Why hide behind a Alias?
« Reply #56 on: November 03, 2011, 10:08:26 am »
I've always figured using an alias on a forum was like using the aliases we use in other parts of life.  My alias servers the same function as "Dad", "Honey" or jacka$$ depending on the situation.   ;D 

My alias helps define me and my outlook to people who don't know me and will most likely, never meet me.  Hopefully "Slowbrew" doesn't make you think I'm a couple lines shy of a complete program but rather that I take my time and patiently produce really good beer.  It also ties into the name I hung on hobby brewery, The Slowly Losing IT Brewery.  Named during a particularly bad time in my career as a way to keep me focused on finding what comes after "IT".

It also keeps my (sometimes) uninformed or not completely thought through rants out of my next job interview.

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Offline tomsawyer

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Re: Why hide behind a Alias?
« Reply #57 on: November 03, 2011, 10:14:45 am »
Here's my alias story.  I started messing with internet hunting forums, and was worried at the time that some over-zealous PETA members might see fit to come after me.  Paranoid, I know, but beng a novice to the web at the time (quite awhile ago), I thought it better safe than sorry.  After that I just kept using TS and its become sort of a pen name.  Kind of like Mark Twain.  I've often thought of switching to my real name but never seem to get around to it.
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Offline weithman5

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Re: Why hide behind a Alias?
« Reply #58 on: November 03, 2011, 10:52:18 am »
, do you take them less seriously?

to be honest, i have trouble taking anyone seriously ;D
Don AHA member

Offline James Lorden

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Re: Why hide behind a Alias?
« Reply #59 on: November 03, 2011, 10:53:39 am »
Aside from calling a grown man SiameseMoose, there was no impersonality or other downside to using a handle.


I do think it's goofy when people call up the Brewing Network and use there "screen" name... "Hi this is Butsniffer from the forum..."  It sounds so ridiculous.

I want to go on record as saying that the aliases don't bother me.  

Also want to say that I really appreciate everything that you say on this forum Martin, you are one of my favorite contributors.
James Lorden
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