Question of the Day, July 8, 2010

[Shjade]

While I have to say it would depend somewhat on the purpose of the forum in question, my default response is no. Generally speaking I post on forums that have to do with fiction, fantasy and games and do so using names relevant to characters active in those settings (in most cases the same username). My opinions on the latest class changes in Random MMO or the possibility of applying values from Generic Fantasy Series to Hypothetical Scenario don't have much bearing on my real life. I'm quite happy to maintain distance between these things.

 

[revjay]

If anyone gave two shits I'm sure I've referenced both my real first and last names here at one point or another but to just plaster it on every post? Not really into that, no thanks.

 

[JBGigas]

Jose Barrientos. There, thats my real name, and I bet NOBODY really doesn't give a shit.

 

[DuX1112]

Wait... Facebook isn't a forum? =|

 

[Jory]

Never.

Oh wait

 

[unoleian]

Sure, I'll plaster my face on here in a stupid video with no problem, but for some reason the name thing is a bit of a hang-up. Dunno why. Go figure, though!

 

[Mariena]

You can see my real name in my profile, facebook, etc. Haven't had a stalker problem yet.

Heck, my "nickname" is actually my first name..

 

[bassdrum]

As much as I love all of you guys, I'm keeping my name private. After all, I don't want any of you showing up at my house in the middle of the night.

Even though I would trust the Escapist more than most other sites (because the vast majority of this community is actually intelligent and reasonable, other than me), I still wouldn't be comfortable posting with my real name. Besides, the masquerade license afforded by a name other than my own (in other words, the anonymity of the internet) makes me more willing to post my opinions without fear of them coming back to haunt me in reality.

I think that if you want to put your name up, that's fine, but forcing people into it is a pretty dumb and unsafe move.

 

[Reverend Del]

I started here by linking to my Facebook profile, so it'd be a return to what once was. I see no problem with using my real name. My internet persona is my real persona. The only reason I use this handle is because it syncs with everything else I do online. That said I've been Del for the last twenty years and ordained for the last five, so Reverend Del is as much me as my real name is anyway.

 

[PhiMed]

I don't really understand how it will accomplish what they're intending. They want to stop flaming, but people are just as likely to get their username/ip address banned as they would their real name. All it takes is vigilant mods, and those are required in either scenario. That's just as permanent, just as difficult to circumnavigate, and (if Blizzard is to be believed) just as unlikely to result in a lapse in security.

I just don't see the upside here for anyone. It won't do the good things they claim it will, but it might do the bad things they claim it won't. Who is this for?

 

[Mr. Gency]

It depends on the forum. I'd be more comfortable using it here than, say, gamefaqs, But I don't like the potential for abuse it has. People would only need to google my name to find my facebook acoount, and from there, personal information about me.

I agree. Though, I got lucky with Google, I Googled my name and and went through two pages without finding anything related to me.

 

[Zing]

Well I only have my first name on my profile, so that kinda proves it. Then again I trust this community enough to link my facebook profile. The Blizzard community? Fuck no.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Too risky. Facebook is the only place on the web I'm truly me and I don't really need Facebook.

I'd rather keep Redlin5 and ******censored******** seperate.

I'm not prepared to give up my offline life however.

 

[Aura Guardian]

I wouldn't mind.

 

[Necrofudge]

If it was a name shared by hundreds of other people (Frank Smith, Bill Johnson, etc.) then I would have less of a problem with it. However, that is not the case so no, I wouldn't.

 

[WorldCritic]

Hell no, even when a site tells me to use my real name I use an alias anyway.

 

[martin's a madman]

I already do, granted it's not my FULL name.

 

[Drexlor]

No, I don't usually give my real name on the internet but I'm not paranoid about keeping my secret identity.

 

[Nouw]

My current username is my first initial and last name, so it wouldn't be a big jump for me.

Awesome Avatar on a completely offtopic note.

Ontopic: Theres a lot of people with my real name so I wouldn't mind. Besides, Koreans are assumed to be Gods in RTSs so I'm all good!

 

[Kwaren]

My name is Brian Wilbur and I support using real names in forums.