Why do people use multiple forum IDs when the name of the game is building credibility?

IF... and only if, I decided to use a different username for something - it would be to seperate my new "persona" from my main business model.

Example:

I do graphics - people know me for that...

So, it's possible to build a NEW brand for something else, and the new brand becomes synonymous with the new revenue stream.

If people asked, I'd tell them it was me...

Hi Karl,

True, that would be one good reason.

I'm glad you brought that up because all I can come up with are the negative aspects.

I know I've never found a reason to do this sort of thing, so it helps to know why others might do it.


Mary

maybe some people want to keep their niche a secret.

Mary,
I use two different names,but I don't think mine relate to your question.
I have 2 email addreses. One is my main one,and one is the one I use to sign up on all the "free" offers. which 99% of the time I instantly unsubscribe.
As far as more than one username on forums such as the warrior forum, it's my opinion that if you a person of integrity there is no need to use more than one, and most forums have a rule against it.
Back in the early days, everyone had usernames aka nicks with personal meaning, Here, at ebw, TonyB's forum and others, I was Majik, ,yet if I put out a product everyone knew my real name.
If some here would like to shed the light on any real legit reasons to have more than one username then like Mary, I'd like to hear them.

Karl,
I agree with Mary that might be one legtimate reason,but isn't most of our goals to build a solid reputation, and would you use the alternate username in the event that your other endeaver fails?
Example:Karl does awesome graphics. That new guy (insert otherusername) is terrible at sound recording.

Mary

I am sure there are lots of people who use different ID's in an improper way, but, like Karl, I tend to hope that genuine people would use a "pen name" for different niches, for example.

A famous example which springs to mind is George Eliot the famous English novelist (AKA Mary Ann Evans) - SHE may not have become so famous or even been taken seriously in her era (being a lady) if SHE hadn't used a male pen name.

Apart from that, I cannot really think of another valid reason for multiple usernames.

Just my thoughts . . .

Steve, you don't have to worry about me, I'm too blunt and honest to pull that off.

On the internet you can have as many personas as you want which is rather alluring. However, i think the majority of the people using several IDs are dishonest in some way.

Mary,
I can see the reason you believe multiple usernames are for shady purposes and you are probably right at least 90% of the time.

How about this example:
People using a different name in order to answer a question or statement on a forum. They want to give their REAL opinion about something or blast someone or something without revealing their true identity. Example: someone giving their opinion about their job or boss. (we have all read about current or potential employers searching and finding tidbits about employees and it resulting in bad things), from myspace, google,etc.

There was a recent post in which the op stated basically he was bugged and even harassed into helping with a launch of someones product. He was promised return help on his launch and was denied.
Most, if not all response was to take the high road and just forget about it.
Now, if what the op was saying was true and a couple other factors were taken into consideration, then I would have not taken the high road and would have blasted away at the guy who he helped.
I did not post at the time because I felt more thought was needed.
If I would have had another username--maybe I would have given my immediate response. I was already hitting the reply button--but decided differently.
I personally felt the guy needed a good raking over the coals.

I don't see any point in using more than one name on the Warrior Forum. But when article marketing, hellz yeah I use multiple user names. Frankly, if i have a good converting clickbank product, I don't want anyone else to know!

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your responses. I really appreciated the creativity, and positive reasons why people would possibly use more than 1 forum ID.

On a side not ...

I understand that a lot of people use different names on the Internet for many reasons. I have no problem with that. I've used a few names myself on various occassions in some special niches.

My concern however is right here in the WF forum, and others. I was mainly talking about forum IDs, not pennames and such. There is a big difference between using different pennames and diffierent forum IDs.

And yes, I do realise I may not have communicated that in my OP ... apologies if I didn't.

I know a number of people stated something about how I know these things, or recognize them.

The truth is, sometimes I catch them red handed because of specific info that is related to their IDs, and sometimes it's a lack of information too. I also share information with the people I network with, and them with me, about particular usernames. So it realy depends.

If everyone did their due diligence, they'd be able to spot them too. It's all in the posts. Maybe if we did this most people wouldn't get scammed as much.

Sure, there will always be those who fall thru the cracks, but I think the majory of them would be called out for it, and disappear.

Btw, I don't agree that it's okay to create another forum ID just to blast someone so they don't know who is doing the blasting. To me that doesn't wash.

I personally think that if people have something to say to someone in a forum like this, they should be man or woman enough to stand up and own it. If not, they are still hiding. What's the point in hiding behind another ID blasting one.

That's like being the bully on the block and getting your buddies to do the dirty work for you. Bt then again, most bullies are cowards aren't they?

Anyway, thanks again, and all the best ...


Mary


Btw Jay, let's hope you don't start speaking spanish lol. I won't know who you are then.

Hi Mary,

Allen Says gives some reasons why some would use different forum names in one of his eBooks. I can't remember which one right now. His reasons made sense to me at the time but I won't try to remember them as it was quite some time ago.

My point is there is nothing wrong with having multiple names as long as you are not doing it to scam anyone. Many of us know A Warrior or two who has two names. In the old forum I had two names. George Wright and GeorgeWright

A safeguard that we should keep in mind is that even if someone has more than one name, Admin and the mods know who it they are.

George Wright P.S. If Allen has since changed his mind on this subject or if my memory is playing tricks on me I'll stand corrected.

I think we all like to pen a few names for various reasons, at some point in our lives, hopefully for the right reasons...
List of pen names - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dave

Most use one ID with their name to build their cred,
and another ID or 2 for junk posting to get a sig file seen.
There's one in action at this moment if you look carefully.
Just do a whois of the domain in their sig file.

I notice the same thing and I believe it comes from fear and a lack of understanding.

The fear is because they are afraid they will be harmed in some way if someone knows who they really are, etc.

The lack of understanding is simply that they have not yet learned the value of branding yourself.

Personally, I have been being ME - lindamiller - for about 8 of the 10 years I have been marketing online, always including my personal contact information and. During the first two years I was trying to be cute or trying to have a different ID for every area of interest.

Now I'm just me... lol.. and always available to help those who are looking to grow.

Thanks for the subject. It is an important one for serious marketers to understand.

Many blessings.

Who is using more than 1 id here and how do you know?

I think people would want to know. I don't know why someone would have more than 1 id here. Surely not to post a wso, b/c the more known someone is, the better. Maybe they are trying to make their wso more well known by posting a fake review? Otherwise I don't know why.

Les,

lgibbons wrote:
Exactly!

That's my mian point.

What's the point in doing that, and are these people trustworthy???


Hey GW,
George Wright wrote:
This is true, and I know which one your ar talking about, but I'm possitive he did not mean it in the context that some people use this tactic for. At least not what I read in that product.


Sonora,

It happens more then people realise!

I've already answered how I know, and so did Les.

There are easy ways to finding out this info. Just do some cross-checking.

Btw, see GW's post above. He's on que.


Karl,

Karlwarren wrote:
Yup! It was that product.

And yes, this tactic does get abused like everything else ventually, hence the reason of the thread.

They aren't harmful when used for the right purpose.


IMChick (1st comment),

Hmm ... what can I say lol.


(Second comment) ...

I wasn't talking about PENNAMES or using different names other than your own.

I am strickly talking about having multiple forum IDs.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have used different names in specific niches, so I have no problems with it. People have good reasons to do so.


Mary