I think as many of the staff can attest, I'm a relatively reluctant and private person to a degree (yes, I've loosened up over the years A LOT - people can now take my picture without me glaring at them like they're paparazzi, for example, but is my facebook a completely open book to the world? No it is not. ). I think the main issue comes down to lack of perceived choice and control in the matter when it comes to 'taking away' something that users have grown accustomed to having in the first place, or providing reasonable alternatives for those people who cannot feel any type of comfortable using their real name online. It is a tricky slope, and I see a lot of "it isn't a problem for me, so it's fine" that goes around with these type of discussions - which discounts a lot of people with real stories and real issues, and is frankly, a bit insensitive.Virgil said:On the other hand, a ton of people do provide their real name online on a regular basis. They put them into web forms, put them in their emails, post them on their blogs, on social sites, and in forums. All of our staff put their real names into their profiles, if that's not their username to begin with. We also require our writers to publish under their real names, unless they have a professional reason to use a pseudonym.
My problem is with the reverseal, people here could probably track me down but I liek it here and Ive never felt that threat. Its more people with my real name tracking down the alias I use that worries me.Bigeyez said:What I find extremely funny about this thread is that many of the people commenting here have their names listed in their Escapist profiles. (As do I) In some cases they have both their first and last names and lo and behold viewing their profile shows me the first and last names of all the people they have befriended on the Escapist (as long as they've filled out that section in their profile).....hmmm doesn't that sound EXACTLY like the system people are complaining that WoW is trying to implement?
Oh I completely understand you. And in this day and age where an employer can potientially fire you because of some comment you made on some random forum 5 years ago it is a bit disturbing to think that even on the internet you can't really express yourself or your ideas anymore.Epitome said:My problem is with the reverseal, people here could probably track me down but I liek it here and Ive never felt that threat. Its more people with my real name tracking down the alias I use that worries me.Bigeyez said:What I find extremely funny about this thread is that many of the people commenting here have their names listed in their Escapist profiles. (As do I) In some cases they have both their first and last names and lo and behold viewing their profile shows me the first and last names of all the people they have befriended on the Escapist (as long as they've filled out that section in their profile).....hmmm doesn't that sound EXACTLY like the system people are complaining that WoW is trying to implement?