"real" names versus names

[kalmn]

i didn't used to get why people might not want the name they use online to be easily attachable to their legal name.

due to various things going on in my life at the moment, i now totally get it.

i get it so much that i'm screening comments to this post, i tell ya.

i think that people's names, of whatever form, should be able to be traced back to them, by people in the community where they use that name. but that's different from "easily attachable to their legal name".

eta: if you're okay with me unscreening please say so.

Comments

[pyrzqxgl.livejournal.com]

When I started using BBSes in the early '80's I was definitely very taken with the idea of anonymity being a powerful force for good, that let people who had been abused or harassed or silenced or what have you speak freely, learn to stand up for themselves and what they believe in, or talk about their problems, without worrying about people coming after them, and so on. Later they might get more and more out as they found their voice, learned from others, made friends, etc., but yeah, there's a lot of power in having a safe space to take that first step in in the first place.

Which doesn't mean I would think that bad behavior from anonymous posters should be tolerated, or that all forums should be open to anonymous posters.

Unscreen if you like ...