Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Eddy Matthews on 23 January 2007, 23:51:02
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Again, maybe it's just me getting old and grumpy, but surely I cannot be the only one who HATES handles?
I can fully understand why they are used to create an account on a forum, especially if you have a very common name such as John Smith, but why is it that people won't at least sign their messages with their real name?
I refuse to call someone "TheBoy" (or whatever, I'm not picking on him in particular!), giving your christian name at the bottom of a message isn't a lot to ask surely?.... If I desperately needed help and wanted to phone a member of the forum, would you expect me to ask for "TheKidFromThe MegaForum"? If you did, all I can say is that I wouldn't call!
Okay rant over ;)
Regards
Eddy
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I kind of agree with you Eddy.
For some, the use of a nom de plume / handle is simply habit born of a need to remain partly anonymous on t'interweb. Try searching on your full name in google or some oter search engine and you will probably be surprised what it returns.
I'm perhaps being over suspicious or ignorant, but I am aware that automated programmes or 'bots' can and do search forums for identifiable things such as names, telephone numbers or registration numbers.
I generally sign my posts with 'B' as opposed to Broocie simply through choice and speed. I certainly would not consider posting my surname on an open forum, whether my suspicions are well founded or not. Its simply my perception of internet security or awareness.
No doubt someone elese may think otherwise!
B
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Each to their own I guess. I don’t really want my name plastered all over the internet & prefer some anonymity.
Stan & Ollie :D
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Heres the 3rd link in a google search....
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=il&vol=app%5C1999%5C5970387&invol=3
B
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I can understand the arguement that you don't want your name pastered all over the internet, but all I'm asking for is a christian name - It then makes the forum a much more friendly place surely? I'm not asking for anyones full name, address and phone number, just a christian name!
And Bruce, your link does sort of give credence to your arguement, apart from two things - First the surname is spelt incorrectly, and second I'm in England not the USA - But that's going off the whole point of my original posting.... No offence intended!
As I said in my original post, maybe it's just me getting old and grumpy? Hey, I've even taken up listening to Terry Wogan (Sorry! SIR Terry) on radio two each morning!
Regards
Eddy
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Eddy - no probs. :y I am a grumpy auld fart as well. :'(
I simply did a very hasty Google search to try to try to show a point. I know where you are and that the spelling was close!
Surely 8/10 for a quick attempt.... :-/
Nowt wrong with Terry Wigwam, other than he is a blethering idiot sometimes..... ;D
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As long as you switch off when Ken Bruce comes on; that's OK :-?
Actually most of my friends call me Bo, sometimes I'm a little taken aback when they call me by my name!
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I quite like having a username. I didnt get to choose my real name, so now I can choose whatever name i like. I do think it is habit tho and also I think real names are exchanged through the PM facility after a certain trust has been established.
Anyway, my name is Rob, pleased to meet you Eddy ;)
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Yeah, I'm pleased to meet you too Eddy, and can understand the validity and intentions behind your argument. Likewise I can also appreciate the argument posed by the others. Based on this particular forum, I do not think that it could be any friendlier, or more helpful, if we all used our real names. I have no objection to using my christian name (obviously) and the numerics are simply to create a unique reference (nothing to do with a sad and lifelong love of Rush, and of course the Starman!!)
I guess it all boils down to choice, and the fact that the web is a place of infinite possibilities, where within reason, we can be who we want to be. Creating a handle is simply to create the web based version of ourselves, and although I know that some members here do actually know other members personally, it gives us an air of mystery to a certain degree. But thats only at face value, and we all know you should never judge a book by its cover......
Sorry, rant now over :-X
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Things are often more complicated than they might on the surface appear...
(Hi Eddy, I'm Max.... and yes, i drive V6's )
if you hang around places like this often enough, and long enough, one gets to know what people's names are... at least in terms of the first name anyway.... either someone signs it once in a while, or someone else, having met them for real, accidentally uses it in open forum, or a half dozen other innocent ways.....
There are many reasons given both for and against anonymity and the choice of whether or not to use "handles" , some of them commercial, some of them personal, some of them a matter of safety.
in fairness , this place is , while undoubtedly great, and really friendly, and populated by people of taste, ... still really rather "small" in terms of internet forums....
there are other forums i frequent , some for fun, some on a professional basis, some just to stay in touch with colleagues and friends.... that have in excess of 50,000 registered users..... and that is still in specialist areas.... still not talking about things like msn and yahoo chat rooms and the like.... with literally Millions of users....
Now, while I'm fairly comfortable with them all knowing who I am..... I MIGHT be much less enthused by the prospect of them knowing who my daughters were......
just using that as an example....
not everyone is comfortable with divulging personal information in the presence of complete strangers... nor is it currently safe of advisable in many ways...
so the habit of the "Nom de guerre" or Handle, is one that is often the rule rather than the exception... and in some cases is really the only sensible answer.... I do not use my full name in forums on the whole, although i am referred to by people by it, in those forums... and sometimes in print... on a professional basis.... but i don't go running around waving it on every post I make... in every forum i frequent....
in principle, i'm in favour of everybody using their real name ALL the time..... as along with that, goes a measure of accountability.... and in dire circumstances, perhaps legal redress, BUT... it's never going to happen... so some measure of self protection makes a lot of sense.
BUT there is also another side to it.... with the "handle" we can build a persona that is one we might not really be able to present in public.... one who can, for example admit to speeding.... taking acid, smoking dope, shagging groupies, and all sorts of other things that aren't necessarily considered "kosher" by normal society in public, but , for the sake of argument, when admitted to by a musician... aren't completely unexpected... but if you were an accountant instead... you might not want the partners and wife to find out.... so you hide it under an assumed name...
there are much darker sides to that as well.... and i'd hope no one here actually is in that place....... but the Scare stories have their basis in fact, and it's something all right thinking humans should be aware of, and for parents and the like, being aware and on guard is the only option.
i've just realised i'm starting to waffle...
but you take my point i hope....
Nice to make your acquaintance .
best regards
Max
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Not trying to be funny but why would you want to plaster your real name as you can send it through Pm and email if needed, so to me I find it easier to just use my user name and my real name as and when I choose to, as many others have said its down to personal choice how you identify yourself on the site.
Just my personal opinion ;)
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My name's Rod and I'm 6'4"! Go figure!!!
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No surprises what my name is....... ::)
Nice to meet you Eddy. Imust admit that I was a bit naive when I joined this forum because I'd never used one before so I automatically assumed it was the "right thing" to use you're real name - hence bob.dent. However, I don't have any problem with members using "handles" to remain a bit anonymous if they choose - as said in other replies, you usually get to find out peoples first names via PM's or meets etc. Having since looked at many other forums, there are very few where people use their real names and I guess it can be a bit of fun inventing a "handle" for yourself.
Cheers
Bob
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My daughter is affectionately known as Chops and I'm her Dad. ;)
No hidden intent.
Mark
(surname withheld for security reasons)
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My christian names Auto and my surname is Addict ;)
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My christian names Auto and my surname is Addict ;)
Nice one Barry ;)
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My christian names Auto and my surname is Addict ;)
Nice one Barry ;)
That's OK Mr Dent ;)
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My christian names Auto and my surname is Addict ;)
Nice one Barry ;)
That's OK Mr Dent ;)
Touche! ;D ;D
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I use my real name out of habit because every forum I joined Martin had gone.
Basically all you can find from my name is what cars I have had!
Any forum where discreation may be required I use a user name, either initials based or first name based.
I used a completely silly one for a forum specialising in avoiding FPNs.
As to discreation any PC hardware or software site, in case I say anything incriminating, (my software is all legal but I don't want someone putting 2 & 2 together and geting 47).
Say anything about burning software and people get techy, even if it is backing up photos or buring DVDs from my own material.
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Eddie, It's a pleasure to have you on here. :y
I prefer first names at least, but as said before there are pro's and con's for using your real name in your user name. Once you have been on for a while you do get to know peoples first names just by reading the posts.
Give it a while and see how you feel then.
Bye the way .... have a guess at my first name? ;D
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Handles are a reality for at least 3 reasons
1. It is a login - therfore likely to be duplicated in a large forum, Dave Smith 12 as a name would be tedious for Dave and his twelve namesakes. Most companies adopt anonymous user ids to prevent people guessing the owner and using knowledge of the person to guess the password, if you know Daves wife and kids' names you stand a fair chance of guessing a lazy password.
2. Using your full name (first and surname) will easily reveal your email address, a quick poll to see who likes which ISP will tell you the domain, then it is likely that the email will consist of first.sur at the ISP. There are plenty of robots searching forums to glean precisely this information.
3. Not everyone wants to be identifiable - when you first join a forum you have no idea how friedly a place is. there was a recent report on the BBC of a guy, who having had an argument on a chat room, was traced from information he had posted over time and was assaulted by the other person, 3 blokes, baseball bats and knives.
Not likely here, but at the end of the day, after you have been around a while, you know most peoples real names anyway.
I'm sure Jaime wont be offended by your post ;)
Merv
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thing is we all have freedom and must appreciate the choices made by others so each to there own. If someone wants a handle or wants to use their real name - its there choice and frankly not any of my business.
By the way i`m Markie my surname stars with C.
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I see the "handle" thing as a bit of fun. If i am contacting another forum member via PM then i give my proper name, as you would feel like a bit of a tit phoning the house, the wife answering, and having to ask for the Barge Captain. There are a few on here who know my real name, and most who don't, but whether you use a pseudonym or your real one, your reputation is built on your on-line knowledge and behaviour. Would you think any more or less of me if you knew that I was christened Wurzel Maurice Dagwort?
No, didn't think so ;D
Just my two peneth worth.
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By the way i`m Markie my surname stars with C.
damn, and i always thought you were an IEC Mains lead called Mark.
\
learn summat new every day//// :y
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I see the "handle" thing as a bit of fun. If i am contacting another forum member via PM then i give my proper name, as you would feel like a bit of a tit phoning the house, the wife answering, and having to ask for the Barge Captain. There are a few on here who know my real name, and most who don't, but whether you use a pseudonym or your real one, your reputation is built on your on-line knowledge and behaviour. Would you think any more or less of me if you knew that I was christened Wurzel Maurice Dagwort?
No, didn't think so ;D
Just my two peneth worth.
I think your christian name is The.........
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By the way i`m Markie my surname stars with C.
damn, and i always thought you were an IEC Mains lead called Mark.
\
learn summat new every day//// :y
indeed you do i've just learnt theres an IEC Mains Lead :-/ ;D
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I refuse to call someone "TheBoy" (or whatever, I'm not picking on him in particular!)
Good! ;)
Although we may all be friendly here, remember we currently have 9000 pages stored in Google's cache and info may be obtained...
On the interweb thingie, I do like to keep an element of anonymousity for my own security, esp with the info gathering bots out there.
Besides, I look at a handle in the same way as a playground nickname... ...I have no problem being called TheBoy done the phone (it happens a lot ;)) or on here. Again, like any other name/nickname, people shorten, so in my case many just refer to me as TB. So, please, do not worry about referring to me as TheBoy, TB, miserable git, Jaime, idiot etc etc, I will answer to all... ;)
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So, please, do not worry about referring to me as TheBoy, TB, miserable git, Jaime, idiot etc etc, I will answer to all... ;)
So where do I start :D
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So, please, do not worry about referring to me as TheBoy, TB, miserable git, Jaime, idiot etc etc, I will answer to all... ;)
So where do I start :D
I'd avoid 'miserable git' BoBo or you could be a newbie by midnight :y
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So, please, do not worry about referring to me as TheBoy, TB, miserable git, Jaime, idiot etc etc, I will answer to all... ;)
So where do I start :D
I'd avoid 'miserable git' BoBo or you could be a newbie by midnight :y
:-X
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So, please, do not worry about referring to me as TheBoy, TB, miserable git, Jaime, idiot etc etc, I will answer to all... ;)
So where do I start :D
I'd avoid 'miserable git' BoBo or you could be a newbie by midnight :y
:-X
But if you're good and try really hard you could be a Baron by midnight :y 29 to go.
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So, please, do not worry about referring to me as TheBoy, TB, miserable git, Jaime, idiot etc etc, I will answer to all... ;)
So where do I start :D
I'd avoid 'miserable git' BoBo or you could be a newbie by midnight :y
:-X
But if you're good and try really hard you could be a Baron by midnight :y 29 to go.
No chance, just had to disappear, my companies internal security guys came in for a chat, I'll be flitting in & out!
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Well, what can I say guys.... I do understand the reasons for using handles, but I still prefer to refer to someone by their given christian name - I told you I was old fashioned in my thinking! ;)
I use my real name through choice, but I'm really happy to see that my posting wasn't taken in any negative way and everyone has responded in a really pleasant manner, even if they still didn't want to give out their christian name - I respect their reasons for keeping it private.
I know spambots crawl all over every website out there - I run two myself, so I know what it's like! But I keep myself private from them by other means - first a spam killer so I don't have to read the endless porn, gambling, and drugs rubbish that everyone gets via email, and more importantly still (at least to me!) I don't store ANY personal info on my computer - No bank details, no address or phone number etc etc... If the hackers want to get into my machine they can (providing they can get past the firewall and the antivirus software etc), but they won't find anything of any use. I won't even use a credit card online - I'll pick up the phone and order if necessary.
Once again, thanks for the polite responses, much appreciated...
Regards
Eddy