Who are you when you are online?
The world of the Internet is one where people can be anyone they want. They can be a different age, different gender, even a different species. Some people enter this world for fun, others for malice.
When I first entered the on-line world I do not even know what nickname I used, it definitely was not my real name. I was paranoid about my privacy as we had be told to always be anonymous on the Internet. I now use my own name, but how do you really know I am telling the truth when I say that?
The on-line world offers escape. It offers safety. It offers opportunities our mundane lives do not afford us. For once in our lives we do not have to be ourselves or the ourself role we are forced into by society.
We can be anyone, our true selves or our alter ego. The on-line world gives people a chance to let out any suppressed emotions, issues, or desires.
Deciding on a Nickname
When a person enters the on-line world, either for a role playing game, to enter a forum, to write a blog, or to enter a social networking site, one of the first things they are asked is to come up with a name. Sometimes it happens where the site rejects some name choices because the name is already in use. As such the person is asked to come up with an alternate name. Other times sites really do not care if a name is used over and over by multiple people.
Picking your on-line name is very important. It is the first impression anyone will have of you. Generally experienced users know that people with “cute” or “sexy” in their nick names usually are neither. However these names will attract a lot of attention from those who are looking for lonely people on the Internet as these names usually indicate that a person is desperately seeking attention.
People who play on line games often give themselves powerful, intimidating sounding names, or names to fit the game they are playing. As such they pick names that fit with the period or theme of the game. This is where you will see a lot of names with words like “blood” or “Captain” in them.
Sometimes people use numbers in their name, either intentionally “69” or “420”, or some other number of their choosing, or because the site assigned them numbers because the name was already in use.
People who write for the Internet, bloggers and so forth, often use their own name, or a proper name (a pen name) at least. This makes them sound more legitimate and professional.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/katiyarhode/3139593226/
Who Are You?
Are you yourself on-line? An alter ego does not have to be an alternate personality, it does not have to be the opposite of who you are in life. In role playing games a non-violent person may have to fight to stay “alive” but they may interact with others who are not threats with compassion, where as a person with pent up anger may see everyone in a game as competition or things to be conquered.
People who are not rude in everyday life may feel the need, or excuse, to act rude on-line, insulting anyone who gets in their way. A person who would never cheat on their spouse in real life may cross some lines in the anonymous on-line world.
People can suddenly live their fantasies, good or bad. This is what makes the on-line world so addictive to so many people who do not have outlets in their regular lives.
Who Am I?
For the record my longest on-line alter ego was the name Canadian_Fan. This was the name I chose to use in the, now defunct, CBS chat room for their reality show The Amazing Race. It is an American show, and I quickly noticed how many people bashed Canadians, and being a Canadian, I decided to use it in my name, befriending many of the regulars there. I even met my husband in the chat room. Later I joined a “clan” in the on-line text based game Earth 2025, I shorted my name to CF, which was what most people called me. I stayed true to myself as the voice of reason and became the Internal Affairs agent for the clan. Now I write on-line as myself and no longer have time for the game. I use my real name when I write, or do I?
September 15th, 2009 at 9:36 am
I use my real name online.
September 15th, 2009 at 10:44 am
When I first came to triond, I did use my real name. My articles received very few veiws. One day I decided to change my writing name. I noticed my veiws increased dramatically! I chose mystery61 because I enjoy writing about mysterious subjects and the 61 is just my birthyear. Maybe someday, I will go back to using my real name but for now I think I’ll stay with mystery61.
September 15th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Excellent piece that explores the wonderful and frightening world of the internet. This was a very perceptive account.
September 15th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
excellent article and many times people don’t even use their own pictures.
September 15th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I use my real name while writing or onepoker for gaming a derivative of my name assigned to me by an IRC poker tournament I used to play in. Since my friends got to know me under that name I used it for everything especially online gaming. I think it is fine for people to play out their fantasies and use their alter ego’s in gaming and chat. The only thing I don’t like is when people unwittingly involve other people in sexual fantasy by pretending to be something they are not. Example- I am an author writing about a kidnapping I just need the opinion of a woman on something. That kind of crap really pisses me off because I have seen a lot of people fall for it. Or attention whores that constantly are developing fatal diseases or having horrible life tragedies simply to garner the sympathy from unsuspecting people.
September 15th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Some really interesting points in there – cool article
September 15th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Nice one to share..Great work
September 15th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
It’s good to be genuine. I always use my real name and the location. It’s necessary to keep the internet clean. Good article.
September 15th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
I use my ‘Lostash’ name for all my on-line activity (apart from Facebook) and I hope that I am the same person whether virtual or otherwise. OK, you may not be quite so frank with people you don’t really know, but most of these people you will never meet, so it costs nothing to be polite. Just like in the real world!
September 15th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Very interesting article. I don’t use my real name online. For Triond, I am using the initials from my first and middle names. I agree that the Internet is an escape, but you really do have to be careful while you are on the Internet.
September 15th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Very good article. I quite enjoyed reading it. I use PR Mace because it is my pen-name for my book. My husband wanted me to use Lady Pamela but I wanted at least part of my real name.
September 15th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Well, as you say, we will never know. One name I used online was Roma Shandy and I have forgotten others. I use my real name now. but do I?
September 16th, 2009 at 11:15 am
This is interesting. I post on several forums and waer different hats when I do. But, I feel like the hat doesn’t change the head that’s under it. For me, I’m the same person that I am in real life as far as the way I treat other people.
As much writing as I do, it would be hard to remember “who I am” if I wasn’t me.
September 17th, 2009 at 6:19 am
An interesting discussion. I don’t do chat rooms, but on line here and on my three blogs I’m just me. I’m on FB as well, but there again, I’m me. I must be pretty boring.
September 18th, 2009 at 7:52 am
Great piece B.
As I stated in the forums, I feel a real sounding name could make a subtle difference in the way my articles are viewed.
There is a big difference between a forum screen name and a writer’s pen name.
I tend not to change too much because I can’t always remember what name I’ve chosen for what site.
September 18th, 2009 at 8:31 am
very good piece…. i will say that though mine looks like it could be something else it is actually my name…. I do write for a site that strictly deals with dark poetry and write under Lady Darkness for that site, though.
September 21st, 2009 at 8:42 am
Good article. I’ve used a number of pen names on the internet over the years. This one is as close to my real name as I am willing to get.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:08 am
You are being yourself and more importantly among the most adored friend here at Triond. I just wonder what the letter B stands for my friend.
Best regards,
Will
September 28th, 2009 at 12:47 am
You bring up some interesting points in this article. I’ve struggled with the decision of whether to use my own name or not. My own name is not hidden, as I have a link to my Facebook page with my real name on my Triond profile. I chose not to use my real name when I initially signed up on Triond because I felt less self-conscious about putting my writing up for a large audience if it didn’t directly reflect on me. I wanted to be able to write content without agonizing over perfecting every word. I figured then I could choose the best articles, revise them, and use them as professional writing samples. I don’t know if this is the best decision, but it’s my rationale.