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Forum usenames; Why?
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- Lifer
- Posts: 8665
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:20 pm
- Location: Spaldingski
Forum usenames; Why?
Why do we have forum 'usernames', not our real names? Is it a way to be anonymous, so we keep our private lives separate?
Seems a little bit 'dubious' to me. It seems like we have something to hide IMHO.
I am wondering if it a throwback to the old days when the interweb started so as to protect people from whatever evils were out there. With all other social media; facebook, twitter, etc, you have your own name, so why do forums still persist with the username?
Just me thinking out loud, of course.
I just find it funny to interact with a person called '1678Z4bullet', or 'ivormassiveZ'.
I do it too. My name is not Pondrew (obviously). My name is Andrew.
Seems a little bit 'dubious' to me. It seems like we have something to hide IMHO.
I am wondering if it a throwback to the old days when the interweb started so as to protect people from whatever evils were out there. With all other social media; facebook, twitter, etc, you have your own name, so why do forums still persist with the username?
Just me thinking out loud, of course.
I just find it funny to interact with a person called '1678Z4bullet', or 'ivormassiveZ'.
I do it too. My name is not Pondrew (obviously). My name is Andrew.
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
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Onlinesp3ctre
- Site Admin
- Posts: 7493
- Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:29 pm
- Contact:
Forum usenames; Why?
I guess there are lots of reasons... here are a few:
- Don't wan't the boss (at work) to know what you are into, or how much time you spend on a forum in work time
- Don't wan't the boss (at home) to know what you are into
- Don't want to be stalked
- Don't want anyone knowing you are an active member of the <whatever> fetish forum
- Don't wan't the boss (at work) to know what you are into, or how much time you spend on a forum in work time
- Don't wan't the boss (at home) to know what you are into
- Don't want to be stalked
- Don't want anyone knowing you are an active member of the <whatever> fetish forum
If you are looking for low cost UK insurance, visit our official Z4-forum insurance scheme
- Mr Tidy
- Legend
- Posts: 24060
- Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:18 pm
- Location: North West Surrey
Forum usenames; Why?
Back in the late 80s a mate of mine started racing Saloon Stock cars on the Spedeworth ovals and a mate of his gave everyone a nickname and that's when I got the Mr Tidy one. Everyone connected to my mate knows me that way, more than know I'm actually Iain.
I'm not actually that tidy, but compared to most of the stock car crowd I was!
Perhaps slightly unkindly my racing mate became Mr Spinney.
I'm not actually that tidy, but compared to most of the stock car crowd I was!
Perhaps slightly unkindly my racing mate became Mr Spinney.
Last edited by Mr Tidy on Sun Mar 13, 2022 11:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
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- Lifer
- Posts: 8665
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:20 pm
- Location: Spaldingski
Forum usenames; Why?
I guess that would have made sense 20 years ago, but with the explosion of an 'online presence', it seems a little outdated. everybody on mainstream social media gives their full name.sp3ctre wrote: ↑Sun Mar 13, 2022 11:27 pm I guess there are lots of reasons... here are a few:
- Don't wan't the boss (at work) to know what you are into, or how much time you spend on a forum in work time
- Don't wan't the boss (at home) to know what you are into
- Don't want to be stalked
- Don't want anyone knowing you are an active member of the <whatever> fetish forum
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
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- Lifer
- Posts: 8665
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:20 pm
- Location: Spaldingski
Forum usenames; Why?
I get that and my 'username' is from a similar theme. But nowadays it seems a little outdated to be known by a (frankly silly) name which means nothing to anyone else except you and your close friends, or just made up nonsense like 'Z4forever'
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
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Onlinesp3ctre
- Site Admin
- Posts: 7493
- Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:29 pm
- Contact:
Forum usenames; Why?
Not sure I agree… would you be happy if pornhub showed your name rather than your username?Pondrew wrote: ↑Sun Mar 13, 2022 11:35 pmI guess that would have made sense 20 years ago, but with the explosion of an 'online presence', it seems a little outdated. everybody on mainstream social media gives their full name.sp3ctre wrote: ↑Sun Mar 13, 2022 11:27 pm I guess there are lots of reasons... here are a few:
- Don't wan't the boss (at work) to know what you are into, or how much time you spend on a forum in work time
- Don't wan't the boss (at home) to know what you are into
- Don't want to be stalked
- Don't want anyone knowing you are an active member of the <whatever> fetish forum
If you are looking for low cost UK insurance, visit our official Z4-forum insurance scheme
- MikeyH
- Lifer
- Posts: 4946
- Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2021 10:57 pm
- Location: Devon
Forum usenames; Why?
Yes I found it clumsy replying to someone called B21 when replying to his heart breaking story about his family in Ukraine so I called him Peter because others did. But then I felt I had broken forum protocol and felt uncomfortable about that as I had never met him. Very difficult but as my name is Mike and my ‘username’ is MikeyH it is only my surname that is hidden and if I get called Mike or Mikey that’s fine. But yes these long meaningless numbers do seem strange to me also.
Now, Sterling grey Z4 2.2 with cup holders, stubby aerial and sport seats. Roadsters ‘cause they’re great with the roof down.
Ford Anglia, Red Sprite, a few MG midgets, MGB Roadster and yellow Ford Capri, all gone many years now.
Ford Anglia, Red Sprite, a few MG midgets, MGB Roadster and yellow Ford Capri, all gone many years now.
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- Lifer
- Posts: 8665
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:20 pm
- Location: Spaldingski
Forum usenames; Why?
No idea what that is TBH. Please enlighten me?
Just to confirm I am not having a pop, just find it odd that grown ups are still using silly usernames when addressing other grown ups in a 'community'. It isn't here specifically, it's something that has been the norm on forums for years.
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
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Onlinesp3ctre
- Site Admin
- Posts: 7493
- Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:29 pm
- Contact:
Forum usenames; Why?
Yeah, I was just making a point though that there are hundreds of different types of forums… fetish… medical issues… etc etc, where people would prefer anonymity. I’ll bet if I put a profile field for “real name” and made it optional, that very few people would actually fill it in.Pondrew wrote: ↑Mon Mar 14, 2022 12:43 amNo idea what that is TBH. Please enlighten me?
Just to confirm I am not having a pop, just find it odd that grown ups are still using silly usernames when addressing other grown ups in a 'community'. It isn't here specifically, it's something that has been the norm on forums for years.
If you are looking for low cost UK insurance, visit our official Z4-forum insurance scheme
- sw4nny
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1713
- Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2013 12:14 pm
- Location: Barnsley
Forum usenames; Why?
Hi Andrew ,my alias is Geoff.
E85 3.oi titan silver,Maldives blue E85 3.0i gone but not forgotten
- dr_john
- Lifer
- Posts: 3422
- Joined: Sat Dec 03, 2011 4:20 pm
- Location: Barrow Upon Soar
Forum usenames; Why?
I’m happy using a ‘nom de plume’ on forums, I want feel relaxed chatting informally as if in my local pub, where few people know my full name.
Also I pick my forum names to suit the forum, for example I’m on an electric guitar forum where my username reflects rock music.
Also I pick my forum names to suit the forum, for example I’m on an electric guitar forum where my username reflects rock music.
Sapphire Black G29 2.0 MSport with Technology pack
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- Member
- Posts: 74
- Joined: Thu Feb 20, 2020 4:29 pm
Forum usenames; Why?
It's because you've all got s**t names in real life.
Kind regards, Long Rod Von-Hugendong
Kind regards, Long Rod Von-Hugendong
- buzyg
- Legend
- Posts: 26605
- Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 6:11 pm
- Location: Cornwall
Forum usenames; Why?
When you first join a forum you don't know if it will be a safe place for you and your views. So an Alias provides anonymity. I'm all for that. People that get to know regular forum members soon find out their real names.
I seldom use my given name on the internet. I use BuzyG pretty much every where I am able to. Facebook even through me out because I would not provide sufficient detail. Their loss. If people who know me come across BuzyG. They can hazard a guess that could be me. In exactly the same way as if they came across my given names on the internet. I don't use any other Aliases, so I guess it is more a nick name anyway. It hides nothing once a person knows me.
I seldom use my given name on the internet. I use BuzyG pretty much every where I am able to. Facebook even through me out because I would not provide sufficient detail. Their loss. If people who know me come across BuzyG. They can hazard a guess that could be me. In exactly the same way as if they came across my given names on the internet. I don't use any other Aliases, so I guess it is more a nick name anyway. It hides nothing once a person knows me.
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- Member
- Posts: 417
- Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2019 11:01 am
- Location: Christchurch New Zealand
Forum usenames; Why?
Forum user names can or may be perhaps an alter ego or doppelganger identity of the poster. Allowing this persona to express him / herself in a way that the "real" poster may not be comfortable doing in real life. After all our social interactions on the internet are quite abstract. Really
Neither BTZ461 or other registration numbers that I use on assorted car forums would get onto Facebook. Fortunately.
Neither BTZ461 or other registration numbers that I use on assorted car forums would get onto Facebook. Fortunately.
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- Newbie
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Mon Dec 23, 2019 1:30 am
Forum usenames; Why?
quite true.
i use "engine killer" because i really did blown my peugeot's engine a few times