Why do you use or dont use your real name on warrior ?

I partly agree with activetrader. I am from India and people won't feel comfortable calling my name. These are not common names.
So I prefer using my goal as my name here. I want to win as a IM. Warrior helps me a lot. so iam heretowin..

That is complete BS,
I don't use my name on here but it doesn't mean that i am intending on doing anything dishonest or not going to own up to things i say and do.
My name is in my profile if people want to see it so what difference does it make what i use in a forum.
It should be up to each individual what their preference is and not just follow the heard because they are told to

That is a good point. I didn't think of that.

I agree Dana. Although I think everyone should choose for themselves what they are most comfortable with, I decided that for me it was best to use my real name. I want everyone to know upfront who I am to avoid any misperceptions.

I am using a pen name for the same reason - never to give a hint to anyone on my IM activities.

For a long time I used my offline nickname as my forum name (bkay).

I now use my middle and last name online but have a few pen names I use for various niches.

To me, someone trying sell products here (as in WSO or Classified sections) is wise to have their name listed at least in their profile. Some forum names clearly fit the niches the member works in.

Nothing wrong with using a forum name, a first name or nickname. The ones I dislike are the cutesy, ridiculous or silly names as they make me want to ask "what are you - 12?". Actually, that may be the case....

kay

I, too, use a nickname here (the same nickname I use on several other forums), simply because you never know who you're dealing with online, and I'd prefer my full real name not be broadcast to people I don't know, who may use it for nefarious purposes.

However, the picture I use is a real, genuine picture of me. Plus, if anyone asks me what my name is, I'll be more than happy to give it to them (and, as many of you have already found out, it's Stephanie). And, if anyone is interested in doing business with me and wants to know my full name beforehand, it doesn't take much searching to find it. Just follow the links (the link in my signature takes you to one of my websites, where there are links to samples of my work online, including Associated Content and EzineArticles pieces I've written, which have my first and last name in the bylines).

Basically, I'm being guarded and cautious, but not completely anonymous. I don't openly broadcast my full, real name to the world, but I don't make it impossible to find it, either.

I respond to "Jonathan," "ZigZag," "Sex King," and "Oi You."

Cherilyn,

You might be interested in this thread:

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...tml#post494017


Regards,
Jeff.

Boy oh Boy! This battle has raged on many a forum...but when it's all said and done, I agree with those who say it's simply "personal preference". If we need our "Real Name" to keep us honest, we have bigger issues than can be dealt with here

You don't need to use your real name to have a recognizable name. Using your radio example, there was a DJ in Toronto called Mad Dog. Lots of people in my age range would easily recognize his voice and style instantly but most of us (myself included) have no idea what his name is.

Bottom line, having a recognizable name is useful, but there's no point in using your real one unless you want to play superstar. I don't, I'd much rather have my privacy.

Hello:

I use my real name for branding purposes. I'm looking long-term, down the road, and I want to make sure I start off right by identifying myself and using that to my advantage as my Internet business grows and my reputation develops.

GT

Mine is my business name, but I also know there is another Jill Carpenter who is also on the internet for film (she is make up artist) and she and I are both listed on a specific film site.

And I found another Jill Carpenter who is a published author.

I have thought about getting married and changing my name, but it would only drop the "pen" in my current situation.

Will cross that bridge when it comes.

Back when I first joined the warrior forum I made up a name as my user name. A short time later I decided to make a new account under my real name. I feel like I don't have anything to hide and would like people to get to know who I am.

I personally think it's hard to connect with someone when I don't even know their name.

I am here to build a business, and it is going to be centered around my name. I plan on having a lot of websites in the future and I want people to know who is behind them so if they've had a good experience with me they'll know they can trust me. And if they've had a bad experience, then it's up to me to make it up to them and fix the problem, instead of just making up a new name and moving on.

My personal take on using Real Names on the internet is that there's a time and place for using guarded information. I own a legally licensed business in the real world and use my real name when dealing with customers.

The internet, IMHO, isn't a place to give out real information unless you are using it for branding or are a high profile personality. Identity theft is real and it's big business. if you've ever known anyone that has been a victim to this crime, you also know the devastation it causes. Call me paranoid, but just because your paranoid doesn't mean that someone's not out to get you.

I have a vicious ex-wife that would love to know what I'm doing to make money and how much I make. My children are grown and they are very active on the internet. I have business competitors that would really like to know what I'm up to.

Although I don't have anything to hide or to be ashamed of, I choose to maintain control of who knows what personal information about me. I think it's a personal decision as to how transparent you really want to be in the wilds of the internet. And really, It's not difficult to get all the personal information about someone you want. There are plenty of background investigation pay sites, that for a few bucks, will serve up everything you want to know about someone.

Credibility, trust and relationship building are things that are built over time. The name that's attached to that relationship is the name that is associated with the relationship no matter what that name is. If you deal honestly and respectfully within your sphere of influence, whatever you call yourself or your business is what will carry the burden of character according to how you conduct yourself. I agree with ZigZag.

Just my humble opine.

Rich Mann

I've used both usernames or my real name. It depends on the situation. Here I decided to use my real name because I want to build relationships with people and trust. This is an important forum and I value it.

I don't use my real name anywhere online, not because my level of honesty, but because of yours.

I don't have a "discount" card or "membership" card at the local supermarket because I don't really care for them to have a detailed printout on exactly how many rolls of toilet paper I bought last year and whether or not it was perfumed.

If I respond to an email for a "free offer" you don't get my real email address.

I'm an intensely private person, and who I am and where I live and all the other personal information that becomes available to a determined searcher given those two bits of info, is exactly that, private and personal, and if I don't protect it, it won't be protected.

I'm not a member of facebook, or myspace, or any of the other social networking sites, and I really don't understand them. People talk out one side of their mouth proclaiming identity theft as evil, while at the same time throwing the most intimate details of their lives and business out in emails, chatrooms and forums, all of which are basically public venues. (No, I can't read your emails. But your boss can if you use his network, along with any government agency that has the desire. Thats close enough to public for me)

Will this hurt me in my business dealings? Not markedly, so far. Isn't this paranoid? Yes, certainly, whats wrong with that? ....And why do you want to know? I walk MY walk and talk My talk, not yours. It's all good. (Could you tell this a hot button for me?)

Too Funny!

I use my real name. That's my brand. That's how people know they'll get a good product. People don't buy the product - they buy the person behind the product.

I see nothing wrong however with using a pen name (not a username like Google Terminator or xfgh66) as long as you are consistent. If I used a pen name, like Edward van Hackensack, then everything I create, any username in forums and social sites, etc would be Edward van Hackensack.

[quote=Norma Holt;596786]Its funny that this thread has surfaced. I was thinking of adding one on this very subject.

While your wife might call you by a pet name it might not sound too credible to others.

Im surprised that this thread has re surfaced my self but its obviously a topic that generates a lot of discussion

Norma I see your point of veiw and can agree in the main but I am know as grumpyb in many places and by many people
I have an Ebay Id and a website in the name grumpyb wet sell Huge volumes of products.
We also run TV advertisng here in Australia and it invites people to call grumpyb and they do If i answer the phone and say Peter here they ask for grumpyb.

So the thread was not really started about my use of the name grumpyb but as to what the pros and cons are here on the forum and why some people choose to hide behind their user name and remain almost anonymous.
We certainly have got afew different opinions
Regards grumpyb (alias Peter)