Why do many people not use their real names on this forum?

Maybe its just me but I don't understand why some people don't use their real names on a forum like this.

I can understand it this for some forums but for one that discusses Bible software I just don't get it. I can also understand if your name has already been taken too but I know that is not always the case and last names could also be used. I can imagine others will say that it has something to do with protecting your privacy.What's there to protect discussing Bible software?

I'm sure I'll get all sorts of "funny" answers to this question which I don't mind but I really am asking a serious question.

For instance in another thread called "Logos and Duel Monitors" the following was said. I'm quoting it here because I didn't want to hi-jack that thread with my question.

Kilroy and Silent Sam are the same person..

There are a few folks that do this. Why? Not sure. One person, that I know of, has actually been observed posting under the wrong user, deleting that post and then posting the exact same message under a different user.

So, why not your real name? I'm sure I'm about to be educated.

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Rich DeRuiter

Maybe its just me but I don't understand why some people don't use their real names on a forum like this.

For some folks the issue is one of privacy. This is not a private forum. Anyone can view any post, you only need to sign up to post or reply to a post. That's not an issue for me, but for some it is. I know people who refuse to have anything to do with Facebook for the same reason.

For others, I suspect that it's some sort of way of adopting another persona, or making a statement about something that is important to them personally.

I suspect other reasons, and folks may chime in about why.

Personally, I consider it a non-issue. If someone wants to log in with 5 different assumed names and have a discussion with themselves, as long as they stay within the guidelines, it doesn't bother me. Catholic bashing, Calvinist bashing, Arminian bashing, Pentecostal bashing, or [famous person] bashing - now that bothers me. Stupidity does to, but I usually let that slide. [;)]

Matthew C Jones

Online culture (and the accompanying dangers) are good reasons not to use your real name in most forums. In the world of Logos those reasons are really not so prevalent. Most user monikers are just having fun with it while a couple may actually be a single person with multiple IDs also "having fun" by being naughty. (Logos is able to track these type of things.)

My specific reason is more for the inherent characteristics of a "Super tramp." (traveler, happy wanderer, bohemian type.) If I just went by my name, Matthew C Jones, nobody would have any idea of my non-traditional personality. I mean, what precisely is a "Matthew C Jones" like?

That's my nickel's worth. [*-)]

DMB

Obviously you don't say really stupid things like DMB does . Problems with not reading the question and confidently giving a non-answer. Reading the question, and confidently giving a non-answer.

And of course, worst of all, having my real name encased in the stone-like 'literalist' moniker. I don't know about you, but whenever I write, I'm not writing literally but figuratively. Really.

Rosie Perera

I can imagine various reasons:

Some people live in countries where it's illegal to practice Christianity (or to share the gospel) so they need to use pseudonyms for their own safety.

Some people might have public roles in real life (e.g., pastor at a large church) and the nature of questions they ask on the forums might be something they don't want the people in their real life to stumble upon, e.g., it might reveal what they're planning to preach on this Sunday which might be still somewhat unformed and tentative; or for whatever reason they just prefer to keep their real life and online identity separate.

Some people are ultra concerned about privacy so they use pseudonyms in all online forums as a matter of practice. Or else they feel no particular need to reveal their real life identity here, and there is no requirement to do so to use the Logos forums.

Some people might have established an online presence already elsewhere under a pseudonym and use the same one here for consistency.

Some people have lurked for a while before joining, and have seen others make harsh comments about various theological positions, so they prefer not to reveal who they really are in case others strongly disagree with them (we aren't supposed to be taking sides theologically on these forums anyway, but it happens, and sometimes unavoidably or inadvertently, as when recommending resources from a certain theological viewpoint).

Some people may have had to change their names because they'd gotten a bad reputation on the forums and wanted a fresh start.

Some people might think it's amusing or fun, or it's a joke about their avatar or some such. Halo Hound, Super Tramp, etc.

Some people enjoy being trolls and stirring up trouble on purpose.

The user known as Silent Sam (who may or may not be the same as another user) exists almost exclusively (I don't think I've ever seen him post anything else) to post scowling messages of the format " Hmm HHHMMMmmm~~~ Hmm " when he thinks a thread has gotten out of hand. Perhaps his alter-ego was scolded once too many times for saying something he shouldn't have on the forums, and now he wants to point out the times when other people apparently get a pass for doing the same thing. I dunno. But he's a constant and relatively harmless presence here. And yes, he does serve a purpose to remind us to keep away from theological arguments and other wastes of bandwidth.

JT (alabama24)

Maybe its just me but I don't understand why some people don't use their real names on a forum like this.

I do it for privacy. I don't really mind most people knowing my name, but I don't want it to be easy for anyone to find out too much about me either. If someone was motivated enough, I am sure they could.

FWIW - I don't know for sure, but I <think> I know the name of your wife, how many kids you have, the schools you attended, and your job title. At least I know that information about someone with the same name as yours. This took me about 2 minutes to find by adding a single word in front of your name on Google.

Jack Caviness

I mean, what precisely is a "Matthew C Jones" like?

Probably a person with a very strange personality, but also having a beautiful wife [:D]

DMB

Well, Alabama, we don't think you're 24. Plus you already told us you don't live in Alabama. So that narrows it down a lot. Just a couple of additional details and we'll have it nailed.

JT (alabama24)

Some people might have established an online presence already elsewhere under a pseudonym and use the same one here for consistency.

That is the case with me. I have been using the moniker "alabama24" since at least 2001. I root for the Crimson Tide of Alabama (American College Football) and needed a forum name for a board which prohibited the use of real names. "Alabama" was already taken. I tried "Alabama12," where "12" represented the number of championships Alabama had won at the time (they are up to 15 now [:D]), but it was taken too. I doubled 12 and was victorius with "alabama24."

I don't think I would have chosen "alabama24" if I had known I would have been asked to be a forum MVP, but people know me by that name now so I have stuck with it.

JT (alabama24)

Just a couple of additional details and we'll have it nailed.

I live at times in the state of confusion.

Room4more

Maybe its just me but I don't understand why some people don't use their real names on a forum like this.

I do it for privacy. I don't really mind most people knowing my name, but I don't want it to be easy for anyone to find out too much about me either. If someone was motivated enough, I am sure they could.

FWIW - I don't know for sure, but I <think> I know the name of your wife, how many kids you have, the schools you attended, and your job title. At least I know that information about someone with the same name as yours. This took me about 2 minutes to find by adding a single word in front of your name on Google.

And if I log in via the company i can just about read your financials....not wouldn't that be a tizzy read.....

I mean, what precisely is a "Matthew C Jones" like?

Probably a person with a very strange personality, but also having a beautiful wife

And oooohhhh man is my Bride - BBEEAAUUTTIIFFUULL!!!!!!!!!

David Paul

Obviously you don't say really stupid things like DMB does . Problems with not reading the question and confidently giving a non-answer. Reading the question, and confidently giving a non-answer.

And of course, worst of all, having my real name encased in the stone-like 'literalist' moniker. I don't know about you, but whenever I write, I'm not writing literally but figuratively. Really.

Denise, I think someone has hi-jacked your account, because this is the first post in 4 years that makes any sense at all. [:D]

[;)]

Bruce Dunning

Well, I have to say that you guys have not disappointed me with your answers. I expected this type of response which is good for a smile or two. You folks crack me up. That's one of the reasons I return. [:)]

Silent Sam

But he's a constant and relatively harmless presence here.

[^o)] HHHMMMmmm~~~ [^o)]

Lynden O. Williams

HHHMMMmmm~~

It's good to hear from you Sam.

Rosie Perera

But he's a constant and relatively harmless presence here.
HHHMMMmmm~~~

Oh, does that mean you're disagreeing that you're relatively harmless? [;)] Or that you're constant? OK, I'll concede. You're only intermittent. And you're more than just relatively harmless, you're completely harmless. Usually. [:)]

EDIT:

I just thought of another reason. Some of us are addicted to the forums and some of the addicted ones might be posting here while at work and all other times and might not want their employer and/or family to know they are doing it... On the other hand, when they chose their forum name, how did they know they were going to become addicted?

John

Maybe its just me but I don't understand why some people don't use their real names on a forum like this.

So, why not your real name?

Good question. And while you are at it, maybe Logos could require your address and phone number in your profile too ... that way we can all look each other up and be friends. And there is also no reason why we couldn't all post our social security numbers too, is there? Just in case someone has the same names? After all nobody here has anything to hide right?

Yes I am being stupid [H]

Forums on the internet have traditionally been anonymous. A forum where real names are required and verified may keep out a few troublemakers but will also keep out many people who simply choose not to become involved. For example, if I have a simple technical question about Logos software, is it worth making a permanent record of my question and conversation that will be available on Google for the rest of eternity? Many people choose not to ask a question on a forum simply because an email address is required to create an account on many of them. Requiring a real name makes the decision even harder.

abondservant

Being from a generation that has pretty much always had computers (built my first one at 5), I can vouch for just how easy it is to track people over the internet... For instance, once, someone called the police on us from a borrowed mobile phone. The call was unfounded. She had been asked to quit going on our property and letting our animals out (a trick she was known for while admitedly consuming mushrooms of the psychedelic variety. We had to have a hard conversation - told her if it happened again, we would need to ask the police to pay her a visit - this only after we had lost two animals (same incident) as a result of her tresspassing.

So the officer paid us a visit - was a friend of my cousin (who is also a cop), and gave us information that would be publicly available should we go to the station and ask for it - IE her name, and the name of the person whose phone she used.

Within 20 minutes I had the womans address, her phone number, her rap sheet, what school(s) she'd attended, her profession, pictures of her, her child, her single marital status... Of course we didn't DO anything with the information, we just wanted to know who it was... The rest of the information came with some quick google searching. Turned out to be exactly who we thought it was (we never knew the womans name... before that, but had seen her out with the horses, rabbits, ducks, chickens and so forth.

Considering I don't have the resources of a government, or something along those lines, I suspect there are those who either ARE missionaries, or whom are planning to become missionaries that must protect their identity.

Plus there are the security conscious pastors, people who use the same name across all the internet sites the frequent (another dubious practice), general cooks and weirdos, and people who for whatever reason just prefer to be known by a moniker (know a few people in my church that prefer to be called by a nickname...). All in all its not a bad security practice from a computer geeks point of view.

Personally, I just prefer using a moniker online.

Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)

Keep Smiling 4 Jesus is a variation of Philippians 4:4

Paul was in prison when he wrote: Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, Rejoice !

Χαίρετε ἐν κυρίῳ πάντοτε· πάλιν ἐρῶ, χαίρετε.

Keep Smiling [:)]

Rosie Perera

Also, just because this is a forum for (presumably) Christians using Bible software, not everyone who comes looking here will be Christian necessarily. Some might have other nefarious purposes; first there are the spammers (mostly dealt with now), others might possibly be atheists stalking to find people to start up a flame-war with, or perhaps criminals looking for who has a really nice computer they might like to come steal sometime (someone started a thread a while back where a bunch of us were bragging -- or complaining -- about our machine specs).

So yeah, there are reasons to be cautious online in any public forum, no matter how lofty the purposes of it might be.

It seems that Canadians use real names. Well, it looks that we are so heavily influenced by an appeal to honesty of "Murdoch Mysteries"...

Room4more

It seems that Canadians use real names. Well, it looks that we are so heavily influenced by an appeal to honesty of "Murdoch Mysteries"...

Here's a good example, from his post's [past to present] I can determine a few thngs:

He is Canadian and may or may not live there;

he may or may not have fund's: BA-bachleors, BTh bach.Theology, MA Masters, MTh Mastr's Theology. - each of which are not cheap.....

If he doesn't have the funds, he may or may not work for or be employed by someone/church who does, either that or he is in hock up past his hair.

Have a fairly quick and w/in two year computer system.....he had to write a few thesis' and do some church work/study, at least a three year program of implementation - progress - case study - results...

He would have to have a strong[influential, community based, credentials] Mentor.

With these little tid-bits, it would be enough to start an investigative quiry..\

Just an example....

abondservant

With one google search, and one link clicked Janusz, I found out the following:

[...]

Edit: Mods redacted my post... But lets just say I found your clearance level, where you have been, and are going to school, other pictures, the company you work for, your profession(s) - everything. Including information about your genetics.

Might want to lower your digital profile a bit...

abondservant

ALL of that was available to me because:

1. I knew your education history (simply the letters after your name)
2. Your picture was the same at linked in.

The rest of it was publicly available on linked in.

If I can find it, any one can.

David Paul

Janusz, do you mind confirming the last four digits of your credit card for me...I have some Logos resources to purchase.

[:P]

P A

[;)]CIAFBIMI6[;)][H][H][H][H][H]

[H][H][H][H][H]

007

Ralph Hale

It seems that Canadians use real names. Well, it looks that we are so heavily influenced by an appeal to honesty

And Humility [:P]

Robert M. Warren

Also, what about guys who are so ugly, they won't use their pictures [8-)]

Bruce Dunning

Also, what about guys who are so ugly, they won't use their pictures

How can you even tell if it is their real picture? [:O]

abondservant

Also, what about guys who are so ugly, they won't use their pictures

That made me chuckle.

If you are coming to the Logos forums to pick up MEN, based upon their avatars, then I have a bible study we should go through

. ***cough Leviticus 20:13 Cough***

Robert M. Warren

If you are coming to the Logos forums to pick up MEN, based upon their avatars

Whoa! ... nothing that complicated. I mainly have in mind not frightening others.

Lynden O. Williams

You only post what you do not mind others knowing about you. That is why I use my real name.

Bruce Dunning

You only post what you do not mind others knowing about you. That is why I use my real name.

[Y] I agree.

JT (alabama24)

You only post what you do not mind others knowing about you. That is why I use my real name.

Others (including companies) post things about me that I might mind others knowing about me... which is why I don't use my real name. [;)]

David Paul

LOL...look, bait!

Rosie Perera

LOL...look, bait!

I am guessing k. e. is a spammer. I doubt that's actually his real name. Just a random post, seeming to contribute to the thread but there only for the purpose of posting a link to some software he's trying to market.

Another new spammer is up to the same trick tonight:

http://community.logos.com/forums/p/64968/471897.aspx#471897

JT (alabama24)

Looks like both spam messages were deleted.

Bruce Dunning

Looks like both spam messages were deleted.

These ones were far more "tricky" than what we have had in past days.