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Forum usenames; Why?

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Ian J
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Forum usenames; Why?

Post by Ian J » Mon Mar 14, 2022 7:21 am

Pondrew wrote: Sun Mar 13, 2022 11:20 pm
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.
Some of us do use our real names
MikeyH wrote: Sun Mar 13, 2022 11:54 pm 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.
I am active on a number of forums and have been for many years and this is the first one where members call each other by their given names and not their forum aliases which is normally deemed to be against forum protocols

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Forum usenames; Why?

Post by flimper » Mon Mar 14, 2022 8:19 am

Because my username is far more interesting than my real name
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Forum usenames; Why?

Post by enuff_zed » Mon Mar 14, 2022 9:28 am

Never really dabbled in forums before this one.
Whilst lurking I noticed there were not really any real names and assumed it was the accepted norm to create a user name.
I just decided to make mine something with a bit of a play on words. Many conversations end with "enough said", and since I joined and started collecting E85s some some would say I now have enough zeds. So I kinda think it fits.
I do realise though that it seems odd to address me as 'enuff', so you can all call me Martin, except Pondrew: still 'Sir' to you. :D
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Forum usenames; Why?

Post by flybobbie » Mon Mar 14, 2022 9:40 am

Put down real name, look up to see if a director, your name and address appears.
OK could just use first name.


First forum i entered was for gpz900 motorbike some 12 years ago or more. Some good links to parts suppliers.
Hadn't a clue what a username was or could be.
So just used the fault on the bike...bigendgone.

Bit of a clue in my forum name.
Last edited by flybobbie on Mon Mar 14, 2022 9:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Forum usenames; Why?

Post by Gazhyde » Mon Mar 14, 2022 9:48 am

See how well it works on places where you have to use your real name, like Facebook. I get all sorts of people I'd rather forget I'd ever met in "real" life trying to be friends with me. Even worse, family members. That said, my forum name I use everywhere is fairly obvious....
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Forum usenames; Why?

Post by obewan » Mon Mar 14, 2022 10:29 am

Gazhyde wrote: Mon Mar 14, 2022 9:48 am See how well it works on places where you have to use your real name, like Facebook. I get all sorts of people I'd rather forget I'd ever met in "real" life trying to be friends with me. Even worse, family members. That said, my forum name I use everywhere is fairly obvious....
Very easy to create a fake/anonymous account :wink:
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Forum usenames; Why?

Post by Nick W » Mon Mar 14, 2022 10:51 am

well I'm not falling for that one. I shall keep my name secret.
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Forum usenames; Why?

Post by sp3ctre » Mon Mar 14, 2022 10:52 am

Nick W wrote: Mon Mar 14, 2022 10:51 am well I'm not falling for that one. I shall keep my name secret.
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Forum usenames; Why?

Post by Zedebee » Mon Mar 14, 2022 11:30 am

flimper wrote: Mon Mar 14, 2022 8:19 am Because my username is far more interesting than my real name
“Flimper-spec” wouldn’t have quite the same ring to it if we used your real name. :lol:
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Forum usenames; Why?

Post by N4LLY » Mon Mar 14, 2022 3:14 pm

N4LLY as its my reg'

Regards

Mr. Nally

:wink:
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Argyll Andy
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Forum usenames; Why?

Post by Argyll Andy » Mon Mar 14, 2022 3:41 pm

N4LLY wrote: Mon Mar 14, 2022 3:14 pm N4LLY as its my reg'

Regards

Mr. Nally

:wink:
I live in Argyll and my name is Andy :hattip:

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    Ole gits rule
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    Forum usenames; Why?

    Post by Ole gits rule » Mon Mar 14, 2022 3:56 pm

    I am just a miserable old git but we do rule
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    Post by True-Blue » Sun Mar 20, 2022 4:34 pm

    Mr Tidy wrote: Sun Mar 13, 2022 11:31 pm
    Perhaps slightly unkindly my racing mate became Mr Spinney. :lol:
    Did he live in the woods? :?

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    Forum usenames; Why?

    Post by mmm-five » Sun Mar 20, 2022 7:42 pm

    I just one of the identities I created for online activities 20 years ago.

    I don’t have a different one for most forums, so you’ll find me using the same in Pistonheads, M5Board, M3Cutters, etc…and I’ve kept it so that people can trace my activity…and check my posts for contradictory claims when I’m selling something, or claiming VMAX speeds on autobahn or skiing pistes.

    The reason for not using my full name should be obvious…It’s unique, so I’d rather not every Tom, Dick or Flimper could easily find me, my address, my family, my employer.
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    Nanu
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    Forum usenames; Why?

    Post by Nanu » Sun Mar 20, 2022 7:52 pm

    We arrived last at the lunch today at this weekends meet in the North Pennines. We were greeted as Mr Nanu and Mrs Nanu until we introduced ourselves as Mel & Annette. Cover now well blown :spy: :bag:
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