Given that I was once telephone-called at my home by a man whose only connection to me was a UseNET discussion, so that he could yell at me about how stupid I was being online, I understand people's desire to keep their legal identities separate from a use name in any particular community. (I mean, I've also been stalked by two different ex-boyfriends, so any reason at all for wanting to be someone else is okay with me.) Nevertheless, except for LJ and an early, short period on AOL I've always used my legal name online.
I also understand the concerns of people who are trying to evaluate a person's arguments and consistency, but this would be an example of the ad hominem fallacy. Either their arguments are supported by facts or they are not, regardless of their legal name or use name.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2009-03-03 10:56 pm (UTC)I also understand the concerns of people who are trying to evaluate a person's arguments and consistency, but this would be an example of the ad hominem fallacy. Either their arguments are supported by facts or they are not, regardless of their legal name or use name.
(Okay to unscreen).