Pseudonyms

Perhaps you have been reading the political arguments regarding whether to continue to allow internet users to have pseudonyms. The idea is that when someone comments with a nickname, they might be more irresponsible, more apt to say dishonest or mean things. There has been some discussion about forcing all people with blogs or any space on the internet to use their legal names.

I have followed the discussion because here in the blog I do use a name other than my legal name. When I first went online, which was 1996, most everyone used nicknames. I thought about it and quickly the name Rain seemed the right choice given where I live and my own interest in nature. Sometimes, because someone else had Rain first, I have to add some nnnnnnnn's but I always kept it as close as I could; so that whenever I do anything online, others would know it was me. That is helped by places that give a place to put my blog URL.

Back then I didn't know my actual first name was regarded as a sexy name (since it happens to also be the name of a porn star). When I chose my nickname, I took one that didn't advertise something I wasn't delivering as well as a name both men and women use.

It didn't seem sneaky to me to use the name I adopted. I grew up with writers and movie stars who often didn't use their real names. When I get to knowing someone, then I tell them my 'other' name and even am open to meeting them; but here, not sure how I would feel about being forced to use it.

Because I liked the name Rain so much, I took it for my art and writing. In that world, nobody cares; but I might find eventually that I cannot use it here.

This comes up now because the other day, when I wanted to comment on a blog, I was blocked and the reason given was I was using a nickname. Now that writer has every right to do that; but if I had chosen to use my real name to comment there, it'd not match this blog and although I have no reason to not trust that person, I think it would have become confusing. I opted to not comment.

Although I frequently use photos of myself, the farm, my home, and Farm Boss, I would be hesitant to use my full name wherever strangers could be reading enabling them to find my address and phone number. If the laws do change, I will have to think long and hard whether to continue blogging. It's too late for me to quit using my photos but it might be why many, who might even use their own name, never did.

I don't know how many of you came online during the time of the chat rooms but you learn fast then that there are some weird people out there whether they use their real names or not. Nicknames have a protective aspect, but I understand that they also have that other side which enables people to hide behind them.

Although I allow anonymous comments here, as in I don't require a nickname or real name, most do use nicknames, names that return again and again so that anybody who reads them knows their philosophy. For the ones who use what appear to be real names, I would generally have no way to know if they were real or not.

So what do you think? Should nicknames be blocked online; and do you consider it risky, for those of you who you use photos and information about your life, to put up your full name for whoever might come along?

(The photos are a few of the seven big oak trees that are around the farmhouse. I love them in every season but find them particularly beautiful when they are bare of leaves with their wonderful, gnarly shapes. They are huge, very old trees with a history that has seen much. I hope they last many more years-- even though they give me a lot of exercise every fall when those leaves start to fall.)