Comments on: Anonymity Of Blogging

By: Mitch

Mitch — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:55:26 +0000

I’ve always wondered about that picture and now I get it. lol On forums, you pretty much have to use some kind of pseudonym to get by; sometimes those things can get nasty for whatever reason. I see that as something totally different than blogging, but maybe it’s not. If everyone had to use their own names, people would behave better, that’s for sure.

By: Khaled

Khaled — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:40:55 +0000

I can see why some people use a pseudo name if it can be damaging to their career to express views that may go against their employers views. I use my own name and its less confusing If I post on blogs, but on the forums I use, I often just use a nickname, but anyone wishing to see my real name only has to click on my profile and its there to see. When it comes to a picture of me Im not so keen on that so use a picture my daughter drew of me which I quite like.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:48:33 +0000

Thanks for getting into the conversation, Jake. My real first name isn’t Mitch either, but it’s what everyone calls me, and I’ve called myself since I was 13 years old, so there you go. There are few Mitch Mitchell’s in this world born with that name; even the most famous one, the drummer for Hendrix, was really named David, I believe.

Still, I have my name here and everywhere else, my picture’s there on the right with the parrot, it’s on my main business website, and probably only on my finance blog might some people get confused, unless they decide to look at the About page, which I hope they do from time to time.

By: Jake

Jake — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:31:36 +0000

Over at my blog, I don’t have a problem if folks know who I am… and as you may or may not know, Jake is my nickname, but I state my real name, Jeff, is all over the place…

I do have some sites that I just use Admin or something different because of a certain forum that likes to screw people over that use that script…. but like you said, it’s not too hard to figure out!
.-= Jake´s last blog ..Internet Marketing is Full of Surprises! =-.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:24:24 +0000

Good stuff, Rummuser. You know, one point about anonymity is what’s coming out of Iran these days. These people would be risking their lives if they’d had to use their real names. I know there’s a place for anonymity, so I don’t condemn that at all. But it does make the overall question harder to decide upon.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:23:02 +0000

Thanks for your opinion, John. I actually believe I could do it, but what would be the overall point? Years ago I had a vanity blog on one of those “diary-blog” sites, with an assumed name, and I basically ranted about the news of the bad; the bad news. It actually helped me get some of that stuff out of my system, I have to admit. And I never personally attacked anyone, which I thought was pretty good also. In the end, though, it was just for ranting; I felt weird trying to add anything personal to it, and I kept trying to go out of my way to make sure I never gave up anything that would lead back to me, mainly because of my business blog.

In the end, I realized that anonymity might have its place, but if my blog writing really wasn’t going to produce anything except “I agree” or “I disagree”, then it was taking away from my primary goals, which are to inform and share, and of course potentially make money in some fashion down the road. so, I write here, and I’m keeping it real, and having a heck of a lot more fun.

By: Rummuser

Rummuser — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:36:02 +0000

I use a psedonym as you can see here. But it is no great secret that this is my pen name and if you care to investigate, you will get my real name in double quick time without any help from me or anyone else. This pseudonym is to reflect what my blog tries to do, present my musings. Me being a man with the name starting with Rum.

This is not to hide anything. This is to keep my blogworld intact for it does for me.

I have a rule which is our family one handed down from many generations, which has been handed down to my son too. If you cannot do something openly and preferably at home, do not do it. I would include writing/blogging in it.
.-= Rummuser´s last blog ..Do Indians Celebrate Fathers’ Day? =-.

By: John Dilbeck

John Dilbeck — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:50:25 +0000

Good morning, Mitch.

You bring up an interesting topic. I’m not sure I have anything useful or interesting to say about it, however.

A few years ago, I made the decision to be open about who I am and it would be very easy to find me, should someone want to do so.

Maintaining privacy while publishing on the Internet seem to be conflicting goals, and I’m not sure it’s possible.

But, I won’t tell anyone how to behave, except when they’re participating on my sites.

I have one community social networking site where I recently instituted a real name policy. Now, all members must use their real first and last names or I’ll delete their accounts.

I was tired of people wanting to advertise on the site, but not take part in the conversations.

There were some objections, but they’ve been dealt with, and now I think all of us on that site will have a better experience.

Other than that, I guess each of us gets to decide for ourselves.

Act on your dream!

By: Deneil Merritt

Deneil Merritt — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:43:48 +0000

I have read a few blogs were its best for the blogger to their privacy. I think in those cases where there legitimate reasons for the blogger to have their privacy. Then I think they should be able to do so.
.-= Deneil Merritt´s last blog ..Flashback Monday – Recap Of Last Week Posts, Blog Updates, Resources, & Latest News =-.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:21:27 +0000

Hi Althea. You know, I’m totally with you on those people who spout all kinds of garbage. My first introduction to what I’m going to call the modern internet, back in 1996, was newsgroups, and I couldn’t believe a lot of the hateful stuff people would say. I knew that most of those people wouldn’t have dared say that stuff if someone was standing in front of them. I hate when people hide behind anonymity to be nasty towards others.

On the other side, if one were trying to protect themselves from harm, and were posting items under an anonymous name, is it legitimate and safe to force them to use their real names? True, blogging and writing anonymously might not be the best agent for changing their lives for the better, but if it was how they needed to begin so they could progress later,… I’m just not sure.

I guess my biggest problem here is that I know I can’t decide to have it both ways. I’m just not sure which one I hate, or fear, most for others.