Why don't people use their real names on message boards?

[MauraDay]

Sorry, this may be a topic for the Superbar -- feel free to move it if so.

I recently changed my name from indymufan to my real name & face, and it made me curious about this question.

No big deal, but was just curious as to the reason -- protecting identities? Is it easier to criticize a screen name? Just what's always been done? More fun to be a screen name?

[Sir Lawrence]

I do use my real name.
Although some here use my nickname:  Sir Larry.

[warriorchick]

I don't use mine because I don't need other Scoopers googling me or creeping on my Facebook and LinkedIn profiles.  I have already caught at least one person doing this.

I have revealed my identity to a few Scoopers over PM and I have referred to my real first name in posts a few times.  I have shared enough information about myself that you could figure out who I am if you are really hellbent on knowing.  But I am going to at least make you work for it.

[MUCam]

I don't use mine because the username affords me a much greater level of anonymity when acting like a pompous, entitled a-hole.

[Golden Avalanche]

I don't use mine because the username affords me a much greater level of anonymity when acting like a pompous, entitled a-hole.

Ditto.

[CAGASS24]

A poignant and probing question - there are pros in some circumstances, and negatives in many others - been a problem ever since the early days of the internet when chat rooms were all the rage, and likely in other mediums before that - really an existential question - in the last 25 years its been possible for folks to have two conceptions of themselves - the real and the digital - sadly people are paying less and less attention to their incarnate selves and their relationship to the physical world - what that's doing to our brains is perhaps getting even less attention -  

[bilsu]

Whether I use bilsu or Bill Portz, most posters still would not know who I am.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

I'm proud of my past work at Ziggy's and Ziggymania.

Besides, who do you think gave Ziggy the line "you like-ah the small breast?" for every order of chicken?

[mr.MUskie]

I don't use mine because the username affords me a much greater level of anonymity when acting like a pompous, entitled a-hole.

+1

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Whether I use bilsu or Bill Portz, most posters still would not know who I am.

Who's Bill Portz?

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Who's Bill Portz?

An insider???

[4everwarriors]

Just for y'all's info, F*ckin's real name is Jack Mehoff.

[frozena pizza]

indymufan's real name is Maura Day???  Not what I would have guessed.

[warriorchick]

On a related note, I know that a lot of Scoopers have changed their usernames in the last few weeks.

For those of us who might not have been paying close attention at the time, would any of you mind letting us know what your old name was?  I like keeping all the pompous a-holes straight in my mind.

[wadesworld]

Just for y'all's info, F*ckin's real name is Jack Mehoff.

Thanks for pointing that out, Ben Jerkin.

[Hards Alumni]

Sorry, this may be a topic for the Superbar -- feel free to move it if so.

I recently changed my name from indymufan to my real name & face, and it made me curious about this question.

No big deal, but was just curious as to the reason -- protecting identities? Is it easier to criticize a screen name? Just what's always been done? More fun to be a screen name?

Oh, you're a female.  Didn't know.

Like others have said, my name is an offshoot of my surname.

[Silkk the Shaka]

An insider???

THE source?

[mr.MUskie]

indymufan's real name is Maura Day???  Not what I would have guessed.

I thought she was originally MikeDeanesGlasses.

[reinko]

Oh, you're a female.  Didn't know.

Like others have said, my name is an offshoot of my surname.

I was thought you were a male stripper who specialized in dancing at college reunions.

GET YOUR DOLLARS READDDYYY FOOORRRRRRR HAAAARRRRDDDDSSSSSS ALUMNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!

[keefe]

I am Col. Barry McCochinhar.

Liberating, actually.

[wadesworld]

I am Col. Barry McCochinhar.

Liberating, actually.

Well done.

[frozena pizza]

I always wonder if Melissa Smooth is a real name.  Doubtful.

[mu03eng]

It's an interesting question, especially since I don't use a username for the Scrambled Eggs podcast.

To be honest, I do like not knowing who people are because to a certain extent it frees me from biases I might have had that aren't relevant to a basketball conversation.

As an example, I knew one poster here in college and thought he was just the biggest annoyance and idiot.  As a result whether he has cogent points or not I tend to dismiss them out of hand.  Is that my problem, absolutely, but I like being able to divorce "real life" from the MU basketball stuff here.

[Skatastrophy]

I like my anonymity. I don't trust any of you with my personal information.

Bunch of creeps.

[Sharpie]

Sharpie. Formerly morecowbell. Better know as Dennis Reynolds in the real world.

Not too worried about people knowing my real identity when posting about MU ball.