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.)
14 comments:
Interesting, I hadn't read anywhere about banning nicknames. I wonder where that is coming from? When I first started commenting on blogs, I used a pseudonym. I chose the name of song I loved: Rexroth's Daughter. After a while, though, I wanted to just use my real name. The name I use on blogger is my first and middle name. I do use my first and last name on Facebook. I can't imagine how any "entity" could require people to use their real names. How would they know?
I think it is silly to try to require real names for the internet. You could easily make up a name and there are too many predators out there that may take advantage of that system.
Like you I started at the chat rooms in 96 and some people used their real first name and some people used a nickname. My cousin that has been a computer scientist since the mid 70's changed the spelling of his first name for logging into the main frame computer back in the day so that it would be harder for people to steal his account and hack into the system.
As you know, I use my real name and location. I don't have a problem with people using a nickname, though. I do object to anonymous. They are definitely hiding and quite often are rude and ill mannered and seem to feel free to be so because no one knows who they are..
Some annonymous messages are generated stock comment as though they had not read my blog. And others are very nice. I just moderate all comments. I don't mind using my own name because once in a great while someone wants to buy my art work. On these comments, Google just used my selection of a name. I didn't know I xould use my real name when I first stated the blog and have no reason to change my comments to my real name. In fact I may be more open about my real opinions using a pseudonym.
I think you should be able to use whatever name you so desire. I am naive enough to believe that people wont want to know anymore about me than I put up. If I go someplace that wants me to register to comment, I tip toe quietly away and dont comment. I know your real name, but I had no idea it was a porn star connotation....I told you I was naive!
Hi Rain . . . When I think of Oregon I visualize a soft rain falling on a grey and misty day. My sister lives in a houseboat off Sauvie Island just outside Portland. When my wife and I visit we often enjoy that sort of non-stormy rain while sitting on their river porch and feeding the ducks. In other words the mental image is pleasing. I vote that you keep it.
Dixon
ShadowofDiogenes suits me. A few of my online friends know my real name, but I like the anonymity in general.
Like you, I started using a nickname in chats and I will stop blogging if I can't use a nicknname. With all the nutcases here in cyberspace, it's insanity to do otherwise.
Here in the Land of Blog, I use the name I use for writing -- it's a combination of my name and family names and my friends here in the blogosphere know that. LOL
Almost all writers, authors, actors and stars etc., use pseudonyms (pen names if you prefer) so how would THAT work.
Some of the bureaucrat types are just plain stupid. In any event, unless it's for fraudulent purposes, you can legally call yourself anything you darned well please! (For instance, I think the use of "Santa Claus" or "Barack Obama" might be considered unreasonable).
I haven't heard anything about consideration being given to banning the use of nicknames. I use my real nickname, what my friends call me. I've not worried much about others getting my ID and doing ill with it but I usually don't mention the names of my family, other than my wife.
My blog has been going for almost 5 years now. For a short time I did activate that thing where Commenters had to key in letters & numbers from a graphic display but I dropped that as many just didn't bother to leave a comment. The idea with it is it will stop the comments place on blogs by software where they are usually selling something but not really reading the blog. I guess it helps.
I do have the Blogger option of them sending me comments as soon as they are left to my email address. Yesterday I got a comment that was left on a blog post I'd made in Feb 2006 that was just a linkable list of sources for Viagra. I knew about it just minutes after it was left so was able to go to that post and delete the comment. Unless I start getting way too many of that type of thing, I'll probably just stay with that.
I've never been involved in chat rooms nor Facebook and the like. Part of the problem is I just don't want to spend that much time doing that. I do belong to Classmates and I guess something called Plaxo, although I am not at all active in Plaxo.
I found a solution to those spammers who post on old blogs, Dick. You can set up moderation only for blogs older than a week. That way they come to my email and I just reject them. Unfortunately I ma starting to get a few on the current blogs and if that expands beyond being easy to delete, I would have to do the letter thing. I also don't like doing that but I have found before that if I set it up for a month or so, they go away and I can take it back off.
I hadn't head about any move to ban nicknames. I like the one I chose for my self and I think there are a lot fewer with my nickname than with my legal name. I have to wonder how all of these control freaks expect to enforce such a ban.
I like those oaks. When I was single, my holiday greeting cards were always B&W etchings and often of trees. They just always caught my eye as very attractive, stark in a strikingly beautiful way.
When I came to the Internet and finally began commenting occasionally, I wasn't desirous of using my real name strictly from a privacy point of view. Then, once I created a "Web name" I came to like it -- just one short word. I really wouldn't like to have to change to my real first name, though over time quite a few have come to know it. For a variety of reasons I have gradually ceased to try to keep it under wraps, because that became impossible. I've come to think we're just deluding ourselves to think that if anyone really wants to know who we are, they can probably quite easily find out on the Internet.
In answer to your question, I think we should be able to use a "Web name" or nickname if we choose. I suppose I can live with it if they choose to make using our real names a requirement. But, does that mean somebody is going to be checking to see if we really are who we say we are? I have a problem with where that could lead.
I hadn't read about banning nicknames either. I'm definitely opposed to requiring us to use our real names. It's just so darned easy now to take someone's name, research it, do a Google Earth search, and end up with an address. Even using a nickname isn't "safe," but it makes me feel a hair more protected.
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