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. :-)