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!