On first coming here most of us did not give our real names.
Not unusual history is full of writers who wrote under different names, indeed sex too.
A few claimed it was a weakness not to name our selves was it?
Some prodded others with such claims , and names emerged,mine among them.
Not a user of Facebook or such but I have seen real problems, great Numbers of them bought about by too much information being out there.
Is it wise to release our true identity or not?
A history of some who did,even here in OLO is often proof, be aware of your personal protection.
Now as names are as often in use as non DE plumes maybe we can consider the issue.

I think that it is preferable to use ficticious names as there is a possible danger that some nutter may take a serious dislike to what one may say and even if the danger is minimal or even non-existant it is better to play safe.

There is also the point that some people may feel more free to express their real opinions under an assumed name and it does no harm whereas giving real names does have a potential.

I couldn't possibly use my real name.

Julia would kick me out of The Lodge.

Dear Belly,

As you well know from your experience (and I from a very unpleasant one) there are some unbalanced people who post on the web. People who will seek revenge when one refuses to be bullied and when they have been felled by problems of their own making. Therefore it is wiser to maintain one's anonimity. Definitely. In any case I've chosen my current pseudonym from one of my given names. So it's the best of all
worlds for me.

Pericles,

You're darn right, I would : )

Dear Poirot,

Hee, Hee, Hee! You made me spill my coffee. :-)

My children would never have a hope of getting a decent promotion if the femminazis, warming alarmist, pseudo scientist could link them with me. They have excelled at university but many leftist are nasty enough to penalise anyone associated with different views to their dogmas despite these things not affecting performance.

Other than a tag team who taunted me into revealing my name, later bought great pain to me and another who got involved others often say we are weak.
For not giving our names infull.
Rather be called weak than silly.
I never excepted offers to be a Friend on face book, but know of big numbers who found trouble there.
The world is full of weird dangerous people,believe me they may look, sound.seem OK, be careful.
Bell is my name and Belly my tag, too late if I wanted to to hide that.
Remember Forrest Gumph found me, just using ham radio known ID pages and a phone, he is a top bloke but it may have been some one else
May I ask new posters to consider this in future,one day our site owner, IF he gets the funds, will give us the chance to swap e mails, be aware , you must be, please.

I finally got the hang of facebook and enjoy stalking my children. My mother also has the hang of it now, damnit.

Online I’ve felt harassed, abused and had accounts hacked which annoys me no end, especially the accounts I paid for.

When that stuff comes to your house you deal with it the same as any other in-your-face problem. You say “bugger off mum!” or “Is your real name DeathBringer cause you’re shorter than I expected and yesterday KinkyFluffyPants was here looking for you”.

Mostly being online has been extremely positive, I’ve met (in person) some wonderful people through forums at which point my real name really didn’t matter because I am just me.

I’m as worried about strangers online as I am about the ones passing me in shopping malls.

Belly:>>On first coming here most of us did not give our real names<<

Speak for yourself Belly, my given name is Sonofgloin Arthur Smedley.

StG came from a blog I had years ago that's long closed now. I would open another one under 'Pete', which is my name, but I just can't be bothered.

I'd welcome someone rocking up to my house if the mood took. Just bring snags and beer. I don't care about privacy with my full name, but there's just no need for anyone to know. If there was a genuine need for you guys to know, I'd say.

Belly says:

"Remember Forrest Gumpp found me, just using
ham radio known ID pages and a phone, ... "

It must be remembered I had the head start in 'finding' Belly because of knowing his real name, and from his own disclosures on OLO as to the general region in Australia where he lived and worked. Outside of the major cities, Australia is a relatively 'small' place if one is trying to find someone that is not really trying to hide.

Other disclosures by Belly on OLO, such as his interest in ham radio, when combined with a few Google searches, made it possible to find the contact details of a number of people who were likely to have had some contact with Belly in real life.

At this point I should make it clear that I did not exactly 'find' Belly to the point of getting hold of his address and/or phone number. What I was able to do, without revealing my own real identity, was to contact by phone some people who knew Belly. I made it clear that I was NOT trying to get hold of his personal details, but that I was concerned by his absence from otherwise regular presence on OLO lest he had had an accident or succumbed to ill-health. One of such persons put it this way, without disclosing any details, as to knowing Belly:

"I am not aware of anything bad having
happened in relation to Belly, and I reckon
that if it had, I would have heard about it."

It was one or more of such persons who knew Belly that actually made contact with him, as it happened, only a day or so before his satellite connection to the internet, that had been out of action and keeping him off the Forum, was repaired.

I still don't know Belly's contact details, and I don't think I would have got to where I did if those contacted thought that getting those details was my objective. However, for someone with obsessive interest, it would not be hard to do.

Thanks FG I still feel warm that some cared enough to be concerned.
I by the way have not been well for a while and one day the silence will be the big one.
Now last night ABC the subject was Narcissism.
I knew the word called such people some thing else,but learned much.
It is quite possible some want to be known as contributors.
I feel we are a family here, now think before you disagree.
Cranky brothers wives mothers in law uncles.
But get to gether and feel we know and like most.
I feel strongly we will be confronted more every year by putting too much about our selves on the Net.
Some unknowingly, some unwisely, but harm for sure.
Just as sure as a car can be stolen after its owner and family go in to a sporting event,the dash Bord device turned to home, house robbed.
We must understand we tell too much to too many unknown some times.

fear and loathing

I'm quite new to this world of "Forums" and I protect my idntity because it makes sense to me to do so. I'm a casual commentor (is that the right word?) and have found that, generally, any responses to my comments have been warm, supportive and even appreciative, but (and there is always a but) you sometimes come across the one that takes exception to your comment or misunderstands the comment and I guess that's the thing; that the written word cannot really project the sentiment that accompanies the comment, so it's open to interpretation.
Most of the forums that I look at now stay civil, but there are the odd cases where the ranters come out to play. Go away ranters, you add no value IMO. On the other hand there are also some obvioulsy well-read and well-informed people out there who compose very comprehensive and fact-packed posts so let's not put them all in the same basket.
Back to the point, Belly, I think there is way too much personal information and dangerous "chatter" out there and perhaps we should all be mindful of the generalisation that, these days, almost everything we type can be seen by everyone - so think before you type!
I find it amazing how many of our "News Headlines" are triggered by a Facebook entry! Kinda sad that our "Headline News" is often little more than gossip that finds itself in the public domain.
All the best

Dear Belly,

Sorry to hear that you haven't been well for some time. Fingers-crossed that it's nothing serious. We'll all have to catch that "train" into the great unknown one day, but I keep hoping that it's still a long way off yet for all of us. You take care of yourself. And Thanks for your (and Radar's) wise advice. I know that I often say more than I should on this forum forgetting that there's a wide mixture of people reading what's posted.

Dallas a meaningless post.
Radar yes welcome and please stay.
Lexi under docs care doing my best no know reason yet but our fate is the same.
Now fear and loathing? unsure if that was because we humans some times highlight a thing we bought from the caves, a survival instinct.
And others do not.
See after a road traumas event some always said if only, if only I looked, slept before leaving , if only that car had been going faster.
I hope one of our posters will not mind me speaking of filth and much worse that found her from this site.
My problem in naming me saw a man with a mental health issue bring lies and a horrible conflict in to my work place.
Helped by those who drove him.
I very nearly gave up the job I loved and nearly over reacted, I can not help being a warrior , but as a counter puncher not instigator.
If Dallas thinks my thread is about FEAR AND LOATHING may he/she never be confronted by an idiot at 2 am in the morning.
Radar if in life we can help we should, you are right, the INTERNET will hurt gravely hurt many who forget this world has as many weeds as flowers in it.

Belly? Sorry to hear about your sickness, fear and loathing is real,
And search engine is useful.

Great light hearted thread Belly!

When I joined, the initial thought that came into my head was "what message do I wish to convey to fellow Australians"? We are, each and everyone of us, most special and highly unique".

For someone who generally thinks of consequences, I shirked the feelings off while revealing a great deal about myself and situations at times, with the one main objective, like many OLO givers, 'to assist other people" and myself too, in any way I am able.

I actually believe if someone intends nosing or tracking someone down, they do it eventually, if that is their intent! Most people can be found on Facebook or Msn nowadays.

Get well Belly.

I second Dallas's wishes Belly and buy some Neways products - Feroxin, Revenol and Casias Tea - it beat three people's cancer of varied ages!

Tried Spirulina lately.

Why not try a zen-chi exersizer I know one with a lambs wool cover for 250 delivered/and you can get you nervous system to do all the work.

Nice to see you back WAE, stay forever please.
Lets not turn my health in to a long story.
Miss my job, the Friends I called members.
But it was time, ill health too much commitment and little sleep.
What is burning in side me will be found and fate will have its say.
Here, in more than one case, trouble found posters too free with information.
I am not on those social pages,never will be.
But the very young often wish they never had been.
Every human,yes every one of us, needs to be aware life is what you make of it.

Dear Belly, please accept my best wishes that your health is as easily fixed (despite the hassles) as your Internet connection…

A few days down-time, some tinkering with your core processor by experts, assistance from friends and family, then back online as though nothing happened.

To OLO and naming ourselves: as with most forums some posters seem to have computer-enabled personality disorders that make me cautious about revealing unnecessary personal information, others make me want to be adopted by them (like Lexi) but I'm satisfied sharing their wisdom and intellect via cyberspace.

My only problem with nicknames – since university, mine has been Treasure (apparently the other tutorial students decided this before they told me) – is the effort of wording a comment to avoid personal pronouns.

Best wishes, Belly.

Thanks all, look I am crook but no death sentence yet.
Have no intention of not keeping up the fight.
At my age the things we once did catch up footy and heavy lifting long hours for a start.
Pacing myself and not going away.
Still finding real story's of very real pain as a result of naming our selves on the net.
And can not help remaining as I was at work, warning and trying to help those I think should know.
Goodonya all.

Belly laugh

Dallas I have made a promise to my self,respect OLO do not respond to foolishness.
So good by mate!

Maybe Bellymate

Belly,

A big Sunday avo hug your way!

Sorry to hear you've been under the weather.

Hope you're fighting fit again soon.

Dear Belly,

Best wishes for your good health. I wish I had not given clues to my real name. Have had both good and bad email contacts with olo contributers offlist. Ignored invitations to facebook until a beloved granddaughter invited me. Didn't feel I could ignore her, but I wish she hadn't asked me.

David you must have had a fb account to start with for someone to invite you. My only problem there is the younger ones and their trashy mouths at times. I’m not keen on some of the stuff said that my other more mature friends or relatives can read. But I enjoy being able to log in and check out what everyone is up to.

I’m unsure what people are finding a problem when they reveal too much about themselves online. Has something bad happened?

Is it really a bit of Internet catastrophizing? Ctastrophizing is my new word today so I had to find somewhere to put it.

Dear Jewely,

My granddaughter did not invite me to be her friend on facebook. She invited me to join her on facebook and then be her friend. She did that by ordinary email.

In general the Internet and some sites has seen even murders committed by too close contacts with the unknown.
How many of us leave the house unlocked or the front door open.
We know about some pedophiles who look for victims on line.
Even grubs who look at funeral pages then rob the house while people are there.
In time there will be no need for subjects like this , we will learn at school long before trouble finds us.
About an hour ago this thread not known to my visitors came to life.
One logged on to her page and left ranting she was going to scratch her Friends eyes out.
Be aware take care.

David:”My granddaughter did not invite me to be her friend on facebook. She invited me to join her on facebook and then be her friend. She did that by ordinary email.”

Ahh so not a fb invite, gotchya. But you don’t have to log on ever. You might enjoy it David although we usually learn far more than we wanted to about what the young ones are up to and how they talk to each other.

Remember when everyone used to be in the phonebook? The world didn’t get scarier we just got more scared.

Now mistakes can be damn embarrassing, something written in public when we thought it was private or forwarding an e-mail to All by accident. Talk about a red face.

Throw another log on the fire, gee it is cold earlier than usual and the co2 carbon tax is going up the chimney, ops, must get those nappies of the line.

Hi Belly,

Just dropped in to wish you and everyone on OLO a great Easter-Break.
Take care everyone and talk to you when I get back. I'm going on leave for a short break.

Big Hug,

A child I once cared for found me today on facebook, what a flood of emotions. Including the bitter sweet surprise of realising I am now old enough to be found by those who I thought would remain forever toddlers in my memory.

One thumb up for facebook and real names eh.

[Deleted for abuse.]

[Deleted for abuse.]

What is your real problem with people, that dont think like you:)

I haven’t given my real name so I must think like them. :P

[Deleted for abuse.]

Lexi hope it is a great break.
I am unsure if the thread is worth continuing, but story's about other on line media continue to concern me.
In America police are lecturing at schools about self protection on line.
May be wrong but I thought the story said it was the FBI.

Pop into Cradle Mountain

Well there ya go, I didn’t even know that was abuse.

http://www.thinkuknow.org.au/

There’s a little blurb about “Seeing things you wish you hadn’t” and I’ve talked to a couple of youngins that it’s happened to and they feel really creeped out.

No idea what this means but I just saw it on my wall so throwing it here for fb users.

"Do this.
FB has changed and failed to let us know about it! Take a look at your URL address (the top box on your screen.) If you see "http" instead of "https" you DO NOT have a secure session & can be HACKED. Go to Account - Account Settings - Account Security - click Change. Check box (secure browsing), click Save. FB has automatically set it on the non-secure setting! Do your friends a huge favour, copy & re-post."

What does it mean cause right now I see http://forum.onlineopinion...

I need to learn more about that.
We should have a thread that lets burnt out old fogy's like me ask silly questions about computers two wise people.
I still think the thread had good reason to question those who say we should unmask here.
It after all is not face book , truly time unfortunately will confirm to us all we need to look at this comparatively new media with care.