Why do we use username aliases on social media?

[Bill Ryan]

This is an Emperor's New Clothes question.

I wonder if anyone familiar with the history of social media knows the answer.

Why do posters on forums use anonymous usernames? And how did this start?

We all take it for granted these days, of course. But just consider it all for a moment.

When at a meeting, a social event, a party, or even chatting to someone on a bus or a plane, we introduce ourselves with our real names.

If someone says: "Hi, pleased to meet you, I'm John from New York", we don't reply: "Hi, I'm Galactic Warrior, and I'm certainly not going to tell you anything else."



How did this insanity all start? (And do think about it: I do understand all the personal safety thing, but a lot of this is just nuts. And it is indirectly responsible for a large amount of abuse and toxicity that's prevalent on the net, simply because it's so easy to hide behind a mask.)

If we on Avalon asked members to please post their photos and real names, just as if they'd met someone in person (at least their first names, as they're called by their friends) — who'd be comfortable with that? (Don't worry: we're not actually going to do this! But it's quite an interesting theoretical question.)

[Bob]

I would be comfortable with that - all my betatester members for the last 28 years have all used their real names, we insist as a matter of accountability.

[AriG]

My husband decided to open a social media account (twitter) but due to having to live in the matrix, could not be known to share the strong anti establishment views that he holds. He’s a Director for a major tech company. So he uses a photo of himself in an asbestos abatement suit (helping out at a charity site) along with a pseudonym. Having to earn a salary outside of the alternative world sort of makes it necessary.

[Ratszinger]

I wouldn't be bothered by it. All the names I go by on the net for contact are names, not screen names but names that actually appear on my birth certificate so I'm already out there.

[Satori]

I am operating on the premise that this forum is considered social media. If so, other than having opened a Facebook account about 6 years ago, out of shear curiosity (and which I rarely use), I have no footprint on social media. No Twitter etc... (I cannot even name other types of social media.). I use the avatar (I think that is the correct term) Satori, when I applied to this forum because, in my naivety at that time, I thought it was expected of us to have an avatar and not use our real names. I had come across that word, satori, and I like what it means.

I have always used my real name when I speak out on any subject, for or against, including 9/11. (The official conspiracy theory is a huge pure evil lie.). I have always believed "they" know who we are and it's a false sense of security to think there is any anonymity as to "the man." Any anonymity is as to other average people, so-to-speak, not the state and corporatocracy.

When it comes to communicating with others, I abhor people who hide behind their so-called anonymity to insult and harass others. That demonstrates a complete lack of integrity and is typically the work of cowards and deranged people.

Never say anything behind someone's back, or shielded by the mask of anonymity, that you would not say to their face.

My name is Stevan Douglas Looney. That is no secret.

[Hervé]

I think it started long ago, when authors chose catchy names as their "nom de plume"... like, who the hell remembers who Samuel Langhorne Clemens or François-Marie Arouet were?

[Mike]

Bill I couldn't agree more. I was just recently writing something about that here. We're always looking for ways to improve the forum, and I think that would be *the* way to do it. Would change the total dynamic of the place. The tone and manner in which we addressed other members and the way they addressed us would be quite different if our real names and photos were up...for the better I'm certain!

I've never understood the paranoia about that.

I do understand hang ups and insecurities and stuff like that. Vulnerability. Etc. I totally get that part of it. It's a very human thing to feel. So I get why folks elect not to post pics and names on that level, and I respect it... I just wish they'd find a way to get past it.

I just think all these usernames and avatars need smashing. It's not useful. I find it to be boring, personally.

Yes, it's true, I don't always have a pic of myself up as an "avatar". I mean, currently I have my 8 yr old self(or something like that). But I'm gonna put a relatively recent pic of myself back up(just so I don't look like a hypocrite)

[Valerie Villars]

As you all know, I went through some heavy duty targeting. I am no longer a member of "productive society" because of it. I have nothing to lose anymore. No job, no house, no child. Those are normal things one wants to protect. I was shocked to discover there are powers or technologies or people out there who know every single thing about you. That was one of the biggest take away's from being targeted. It also took away any fear I had. So, I am rather cavalier about my real identity. I was outed quite well and thoroughly. I realized I had been watched for years. You know, when you have nothing, you have nothing to lose.

I never do social media and can't even really text. My phones a flip so it's a pain in the neck to text, much less do capitals, proper grammar, punctuation, etc. This is the only social media I do.

However, I did have a wake up call with someone I knew from the internet recently. The thing is, this person had gathered personal information on me without my consent. Pretty creepy. However, I realize this can happen anywhere and anytime in today's world, so I just go for it. Here I am. This is my name and this is what I look like.

I had an avatar but a member was triggered by it so I changed it to a photo out of courtesy. If anyone is triggered by my photo, there's not a lot I can do about that.

The world is full of nefarious and underhanded stuff. Best to just be real. Maybe that is one of the only ways to combat it. I get less and less surprised by people and their motives every day.

[Mike]

Well said Val.

I'm sort of a private person. I don't want all my info out there for the world to read. But I regard providing my first name and a picture here as a courtesy, or a show of respect. It's the cyber equivalent of shaking hands almost.

I would never expect anyone to share their last name (tho I do salute everyone that does) ..but setting that and pictures of ourselves aside, I think providing a first name at least would be a nice start. I can't imagine what the harm might be in doing that.

[Patient]

We know that government agencies and the larger corporations can find out everything about us, but the average person who does not possess the tech knowledge will have a harder time.

There are average people out there that get their purpose in life by causing harm to others.

Also, if you are applying for a job or even a mortgage/loan, people will search the internet to find out more about you. If a potential employer was to read about some of the things that I have written about myself here in Avalon, their view of me could be greatly affected by that.

Sure, they should not judge me based on something that might have been written by another person who just so happens to have the same name as me - but many people will.

...and it depends on the forum itself. Some forums might be in line with a person's career and other's are not.

[Orph]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)


When at a meeting, a social event, a party, or even chatting to someone on a bus or a plane, we introduce ourselves with our real names.

Actually, I don't. I don't talk much, and I've always kept to myself. If we were to meet somewhere as total strangers, the most you'll get out of me is a simple "hi", and maybe a few yes and no's. I don't like people asking me personal questions. That's just the way I am.

Since Avalon is open to the public, I'll just keep my anonymity. If there were a way to have a separate avatar for us in the members only forum, perhaps I would use my real name and picture.

[Gemma13]

I don’t use social media very much – a few family chats and a few postings on the Facebook Community Group I work with.

When I signed up years ago it was to have intimate conversations/sharings with like minded people on personal/spiritual/metaphysical topics. I was happy with the anonymity, and still am; especially after seeing the awful effects of doxxing that some people have had to endure.

Having said that, I do support transparency. I wish we lived in a world where avatars only existed in fiction. But while we live in a world where sociopaths, narcissists and frauds will do anything to cruelly exploit others for their own self-serving gains and pleasure, I’m afraid I have to side with the protective value of avatars.

. . . unless it became illegal to use an avatar . . . then there would be tremendous power in transparency because the playing field would be levelled. And no more sock puppets, shills, stalkers . . . you name it.

[Bill Ryan]

Interestingly, this was Coast to Coast AM last night. (I've not heard the show: just read this synopsis.)

• https://coasttocoastam.com/show/2019/04/20

Abby Ellin is an award-winning journalist and a regular contributor to the Health, Style, Business and Education sections of the New York Times. She joined guest host Ian Punnett to discuss her story of being engaged to someone with a fabricated identity and how intelligent and savvy people are deceived by duplicitious and narcissistic predators, and how some people use lies and deceit to gain the upper hand over their victims.

[TomKat]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)
If we on Avalon asked members to please post their photos and real names, just as if they'd met someone in person (at least their first names, as they're called by their friends) — who'd be comfortable with that? (Don't worry: we're not actually going to do this! But it's quite an interesting theoretical question.)

The internet is forever. I will never post my real name anywhere for public viewing. Unless you wish to be a public figure, to do so is naive. The world is becoming less and less tolerant of individuality and diversity of opinion. I was naive in the early 90s but thankfully my name is common enough and it's buried in usenet databases that are seldom read or searched anymore. If someone wants to know about me, they'll have to get off their ass and talk to me, or hire a private investigator to follow me around.

Better questions: Why do people cooperate with technocrats who are getting rich setting up a surveillance society and an ultimate Hell on Earth? Why are they too lazy to go to an ATM and pay with cash? Why do they want everything about themselves available to the public? Why do they trust organized criminals in govt to protect them? Why are they too disinterested to read 1984, Brave New World and any history of the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany?

[Denise/Dizi]

LONG POST ALERT...

Hello, My name is Denise, (Username Diziblueyez, or "Dizi") That photo over there <---- is actually me, and it's fairly current..

I made my username because everyone else was using false names. Not going to lie? I followed the herd on this one.. The option came up to create my account and it said "User name".. I saw that everyone else used a name that was not their own, and I thought "ok, be creative"... But it is kind of ridiculous in my opinion. Half the time I don't even know if I am speaking to a man or a woman , for a truth website, this seems contradictory to me..

I suppose this is really the only site where I DON'T use my real name. Or a nickname that my friends and family have actually called me my entire life. But when I come online, I want my friends and family to be able to find me. Even if this site is for serious topics? I Still see my connections here to be social, and the members, my friends.. So I do like to use my real name, I think it shows I am a real person, with real feelings and thoughts.. And I am there, to be accountable for what I say. If someone decides they want to lash out, that girl in the photo is whose feelings will be hurt.. It adds a bit of accountability to interactions in my opinion.. And respect for one another.

I thought at one point, friendships were actually discouraged here.. I didn't have a clue what the site was all about, or really how it was defined, as it was so many things to me.. I had to muddle through.. I like that you're hitting on something so basic yet so profound, thank you for that.. The topic means a lot to me..

I came here to live, learn, grow, fall down and dust off and try again, and I celebrate that journey because I am living who I am, the last thing I want to do is hide behind fake images, that wouldn't truly represent why I am here....

I do use my real name in messages, all the time. I think it is just polite. And I want to know truly, the people I speak to.. as people.. Typing your conversations is cold enough as it is.. Adding my personal identity is really all I can do to personalize the interactions I have here.

I am not "Whistle blowing" so I don't have any reason to hide. I may change my user name to Denise if I can add (Dizi) at the end, I have grown fond of the nickname given to me, by my new friends and family here.. because that means people liked me enough to even give my username a nickname.. How do we change our username?

The ACTUAL TOPIC QUESTION lol.. (You said to put some serious thought into it...)

I don't know what started the "User name" trend? Especially on a site like this. Here we are "Vetting people" demanding proof, yet we don't even truly know who we are even talking to.. It seems rather silly we do that.. It almost seemed like that alone would start some conflict lol.. Perhaps openly, as one community, of individuals, not characters, we can move forward .. not just a site full of masks, but a united community proud to stand aside one another without barriers.. There is no shame in trying to develop, and expand in any way. As that is what we are all doing here together, only masked. May as well celebrate each other for the people we truly are, if your able to..

Meeting the Avalon members that I did recently, was profound in many ways.. Getting to know them as live people, with feelings, emotions, names, personalities.. It was wonderful.. Addressing them by usernames now, almost seems ridiculous.. For fun I almost wanna make my name something absolutely RIDICULOUS to say , Like "Fluffy Bunny Apple Juice" so they too, can see how ridiculous it is to call me anything other than who I am... Either Denise or Dizi , but either one is fine by me...

I understand why some feel they need to hide their identity for certain purposes, but I hope the rest? Come out and say hello as themselves.

[Constance]

Posted by Diziblueyez (here)
How do we change our username?

Hi Denise

Have you seen our FAQ?

The moderators will be pleased to do that for you, and it only takes a second. Just send a PM to all or any of the mods asking for your username to be changed.

[Daozen]

We use aliases because people can be brutal with doxing and outing people's personal info and past.

See the first reply to this OP here, which was edited by a mod and must be staff approved. I can't believe mods let this go.

https://projectavalon.net/forum4/show...or-Story-Here-

https://projectavalon.net/forum4/show...=1#post1286715

[ThePythonicCow]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)
Why do posters on forums use anonymous usernames? And how did this start?

We all take it for granted these days, of course. But just consider it all for a moment.

When at a meeting, a social event, a party, or even chatting to someone on a bus or a plane, we introduce ourselves with our real names.

If someone says: "Hi, pleased to meet you, I'm John from New York", we don't reply: "Hi, I'm Galactic Warrior, and I'm certainly not going to tell you anything else."

Consider this:

• I'm Paul from North Texas. (That would not identify me at all.)
• I'm ThePythonicCow from planet Earth. (That uniquely identifies me on the Internet, and has since 2001.)

That's why I chose an unusual forum name, and continue to use it across dozens of forums. It makes me far less anonymous, not more so.

[pigsy2400]

My Avalon ID is based off an AI in the "Deus Ex" computer game universe as is the profile pic.

I think what we have to remember is that there are people that are going to troll that are going to want to hide behind a username etc and remain anon. What we have to remember is that I suppose it only applies to those people that decide to troll when people like this are discussing why.

There are others that are interesting in some alternative / fringe topics that quite simply cannot let that be known in their professional careers for fear of ridicule etc. I can think of one "ufologist" that would fit that category for example.

In terms of the field of Ufology and fringe areas of interest like that, I believe that remaining anon is important. I don't want to sound all tinfoil here and I never would have thought that the IC keeps an eye on forums and discussion threads until I and others came across them doing just that. Would you knowingly and wittingly give your Identity to an alphabet agency on a plate?

I didn't use to care.. now I do and hell no!

Oh....and most places ask you to create a nickname in the sign-up process, so its your fault Bill

[Praxis]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)
This is an Emperor's New Clothes question.

I wonder if anyone familiar with the history of social media knows the answer.

Why do posters on forums use anonymous usernames? And how did this start?

We all take it for granted these days, of course. But just consider it all for a moment.

When at a meeting, a social event, a party, or even chatting to someone on a bus or a plane, we introduce ourselves with our real names.

If someone says: "Hi, pleased to meet you, I'm John from New York", we don't reply: "Hi, I'm Galactic Warrior, and I'm certainly not going to tell you anything else."



How did this insanity all start? (And do think about it: I do understand all the personal safety thing, but a lot of this is just nuts. And it is indirectly responsible for a large amount of abuse and toxicity that's prevalent on the net, simply because it's so easy to hide behind a mask.)

If we on Avalon asked members to please post their photos and real names, just as if they'd met someone in person (at least their first names, as they're called by their friends) — who'd be comfortable with that? (Don't worry: we're not actually going to do this! But it's quite an interesting theoretical question.)

Bill most kids actually have a gaming handle they go by, think like long haul truckers and ham radio people have a handle on the radio, instead of their real name when gaming. I do and it is generally the persona I use when online.

That is why most people my age(33) or younger do it. (at least this is my guess) . Why: We value privacy.

If I were forced to reveal who I am on this site I would probably stop using it. Now, someone who has been paying attention could certainly figure out who I am on here as I have left too much identity. But that at least takes leg work.

Part of why I dont like this Bill is it takes away the Du ceremony(In German, you dont call people with you until you have an official little ceremony where now you can call each other you(du)) that I can choose to have with people.

There are people on here that I have PM with and have given my real name, at least first name. I feel this is a form trust you give someone. So if you know my first name I probably like you.

Finally, it would be irresponsible to force this policy on a website such as this. This should be a safe place for people to share and seek help about intense and extraordinary experiences. Even encouraging people to use their real name would force would be whistleblowers and seekers to make a choice or start off with a pseudo real name just to not stick out for the normality of the board.

I would gladly tell Bill my full name, but as for the rest of yall . . .