Anonymity.

[rhythmaning]

When I started writing this journal, I was moderately concerned about anonymity. We all know the internet is a scary, scary place, after all.

So I think I followed frankie_ecap’s form of using people’s initials to protect their identity. (I think she had her own reasons and habits for doing this, and it seemed to work.) Even the cats...

There are some people I asked explicitly if I could use their name – their first name – for specific posts. (I tend to ask friends if I am posting something about them which might be private, as well.) Whenever I have done this, they’ve been happy about it.

I was thinking about this today. I was having lunch with three people who are former colleagues (and whom three people on my flist know; but two of those haven’t wandered by in the last six months). And I was thinking about writing something about it – and juggling with four different initials. It just didn’t work for me.

I reckon that I may well start using first names for people I see, just because it is easier. I can’t see that it causes any harm, and it may make sense – and even help.

I’ll stick with LJ user names anytime I write anything about someone with an LJ account (but hey, I may not even know!); but otherwise, I’ll just stick to first names. So, so much easier.

Comments

[unblinkered.livejournal.com]

I tend to use nicknames for non-ljers, but probably not so much due to reasons of paranoia and more because I have a feeling it's easier for my flist to follow who I'm talking about...give them a descriptive name (SportsGuy, f'rex) and it's easier to keep track who I'm talking about. :D Although there must be a certain element of anonymity about it too...I only seem to use real names when they're pretty common (such as John). As to my own name, I go by Blink exclusively online...but that's because my real name is so unusual I'd rather not have it connected to my online persona!

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

One of the friends I had lunch with has a pretty unique name (or so I thought), so when I was thinking about this, I googled her first name. Nine pages - and not one reference to my friend. Although I did find out that she is the goddess of love and freedom! (I really must share that with her!)

[unblinkered.livejournal.com]

Well, luckily the name isn't that unusual in Germany so a straight google for my first name won't get you far...but my full name and an idea of what I do and where I live will!

[pshtaku.livejournal.com]

likewise, if you google my full name, you get less than a page of results - and all me!

[f4f3.livejournal.com]

I had the same initial problem with K recently - as my friend he'd probably have been spelled out in full, but as a refugee from Frankie's journal, K he will stay.

I do like the semi-anonymity I get on-line, but am pretty lazy about extending it to friends who aren't on line.

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

F (ha! See, there I go!) uses K in RL, too (or she did when we worked together), so it kind of makes sense.

[f4f3.livejournal.com]

Lucky I'm not going out with K anymore then. Kay, that is...

[deililly.livejournal.com]

This is sort of how I wound up with names like Vampire Auntie, Mr Chicken, Sister Bob and Static in mine. Nicknames can actually be kind of fun for recurring characters in your lj life I find. Also easier to keep track of rather than the nightmare of initials especially people who are thoughtless and have the same ones curse them!

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

If I had the kind of imagination to come up with humourous names, I'd do that too! (Unfortunately, though - I don't!!!)

[deililly.livejournal.com]

Well they didn't start off that way I have to admit. I didn't even intend them as funny to start with! They mostly grew into their nicknames from various incidents I lj'd. Wait and see and I imagine a few might happen in yours :)

[psychochicken.livejournal.com]

I do worry about mentioning people without their sayso, but probably more out of fear of misquoting or misrepresenting them. Thinking back, I suspect the only non-LJ'ers I talk of regularly are my mate Caz (not real name, but really what I call him) and my boss, whose name will never appear here for obvious reasons.

[nicnac.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I do the same, but never use last names. I also agree with f4f3 about taking cues from other people - stitch_witch's partner is always S on her journal, so he is on mine.

[pshtaku.livejournal.com]

I started off trying to be completely anonymous, but gradually things have slipped in, like where I live, and what I do for a living. I'd rather people weren't able to guess who I am, but I think they could work it out if they wanted to confirm it was me...

I try to be sensitive to other people's anonymity requirements, as I can imagine how frustrating it would be to be "outed" accidentally or not!

[parthenia14.livejournal.com]

I tend to use initials only in my journal, for everyone, although I don't usually change them unless i'm being very rude.

If I'm being rude I give them a full first name that's like their real name.

I never use LJ people's real names in here and I try not to add much identifying detail, partly beause in identifying other people you sort of identify yourself.

What's weird is describing to an offline person what an LJ friend said that was funny/amusing/sad. In that case I'll use their real name, not their LJ name, but I struggle to remember because some of my best LJ friends are more their pseudonym than their real name, if you see what I mean.

And honestly, referring to f4f3 is a nightmare. Poor guy. At least he'll never know that I get it wrong and call him F43.

Oops.