Dangers of using your real name on forums?

Brett a

Brett a

~◦●○o0o○●◦~
Hi all.

The short version:

Am I putting myself at risk by using my real name/initial on forums such as this?

Why I ask:

I was considering signing up on one more audio forum and can't decide to keep using my real name (as I do here and at two other similar sites), or using an anonymous pseudonym. I'd prefer to keep using my name so that the others who move between forums can recognize me.

On a related note, I wish i could get wiped off some other forums I don't visit anymore out of this concern. But it seems V-bulletin is forever (at least when those mods don't respond to my inquires)

I found surprisingly little on the topic with about 10 minutes of web searching/reading.

:scratch2:






(note to mods: If this violates the "don't talk about other forums" rule, let me know. It's not my intention to get specific though)
 
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I never use my real name as a nick on forums... but people know and use my name.. that's OK.. .I just don't like to be found that easy though.. so someone would have to know my nick to look for me... now like in your case, a potential employer could find you a lot easier..
 
I only use my real name on technical forums that directly relate to my job, where I may eventually publish a paper or two. For stuff like this, it's usually a handle. For some forums, I use a fake e-mail as well.
 
On this forum it is IMHO quite alright. This is probably the best bunch of audiophiles around! We all help each other. I think being on a name to name basis with other AKers is great! My name is Kyle and I'm an audioholic.
 
Mike Gibson said:
I use my real name because it tends to remind me to watch what I say most of the time. I've seen more than a few who act larger than life while cloaked behind a handle. This is just my take on it. YMMV
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I've seen this argument for, and I think it's a noble one. Also, I can see there's no harm in using an alias.

I guess what I'm looking for is any proof or substantiated reason to avoid using our real names. Are there any known cases where someone has been victimized as the result of some random cyber-criminal pulling their name off a forum?

Seems from people who use their real and full names on forums (and there are plenty) that it's pretty safe. But is it?
 
I use an alias and a disposable e-mail address when responding to CL ads and things like that. I think this forum is pretty safe though, I'm not afraid to use my real name. I also think it's great to know someone on a name to name basis versus hiding behind an alias especially if you talk back and forth a lot on here.
 
I don't think it's risky in the sense of you being scammed or whatnot. It's not like putting a social security number out there. And for what it's worth, if someone REALLY is hell bent on finding me, they'll find me regardless.
 
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trhee said:
And for what it's worth, if someone REALLY is hell bent on find me, they'll find me regardless.
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Bingo. Regardless of how careful you are, all I would have to do is post somewhere on a forum that "Brett A's real name is .........and he lives at ......" and I have eliminated every bit of caution you may have used.
 
Brett a said:
I've seen this argument for, and I think it's a noble one. Also, I can see there's no harm in using an alias.

I guess what I'm looking for is any proof or substantiated reason to avoid using our real names. Are there any known cases where someone has been victimized as the result of some random cyber-criminal pulling their name off a forum?

Seems from people who use their real and full names on forums (and there are plenty) that it's pretty safe. But is it?
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Yeah.. Look up a group called the PLA or Phone Losers of America.. They are a bunch of morons from the area I used to live in..

They gave this girl I knew from IRC a hell of a hard time.. They knew how to social engineer.. THey had her phone turned off, her mail forwarded, and a bunch of other novel things.. .

I got mixed up in that ordeal helping her out... found their "leader" and got a few pictures of his house.. Had a friend that lived in the area another did, and he found Jefe's home, and posted up some pictures of that.. then I got a couple pictures of RBCP at a local 2600 meeting... amazing how they kind of disappeared from harassing her.. but it took a long time to make all that happen.. .Funny though.. the things they used to harass others, they gave away as clues to find their identy.. .

Some people have nothing better to do than harass people.. why even take a chance and use your real name?

Granted people could figure out who I am after a lot of stalking and research.. but they will have to work at it.. I'm just not gonna give it all away every time I post..
 
It all depends on how common your name is too.

Even if you're hesitant about using your real name, if my name was John Smith or Mike Williams, I would have zero worries.

Now, if my name is Abdul Akbar Mohammed or Tojiro Kurosawa, it might be "slightly" easier to find me. But again, my thoughts are, what exactly are you going to do with a name? I'm not a celebrity, I'm not involved in illegal activities and I'm a citizen and therefore have legal status. I've got nothing to hide and if anyone wants to waste there time trying to track down my phone number, the more power to them. Anyone who wants to find out information on me can easily find out with the right resources.
 
Supposedly there are around 150 people with my name in the US.. .I think I'll keep my last name quiet on the web.. Especially since one of them with the same name as me was convicted of murder.. Don't wanna be confused with that guy...
 
I don't mind using my real first name, but my last name is pretty unique, so I would be a bit more hesitant to use that as a handle.

I like the name vinyldavid.
 
Out of curiosity i googled "toby from **** Wi" and there was my name, address, and telephone number.. yeah it's not that hard to find me, but good luck finding my house, it's way back in the sticks. Google maps doesn't even know where it is :)
 
I'm not out there on the internet yet according to google. Might as well keep it that way to be on the safe side. Because of my son's line of work he says to keep a low profile.
 
I use my real name on every forum where I am a member and have for better than 6 years. I had my last name on one for about half that time and still use my last initial on all of them. I also disclose where I live. Just doesn't bother me I guess. The most negative (if you want to call it that) thing that happened was that I had a guy from oe of the frums call me early in the morning "guess who thi is?"...I dunno the Easter Bunny?...no it's ___ from ___ forum!:eek:

He's a pretty good fella but I really didn't solicit his call and he didn't politely ask for my number he found it by some means (I'll never know) and felt free to just call. I ignored most of his calls from that point forward and he went away. Had he asked for my number I would have given it to him without hesitation. I was most bothered by how he found my number and then felt free to use it without asking. A minor inconvenience at most.
 
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