Has anybody else been labelled a coward, implicitly or explicitly, for “hiding behind a pseudonym”? I have a couple of times and it seems to me a topic worth discussing.
I have to admit that when I’m picking on sacred cows, like ANZAC and Australia Days, or sporting my radical opinions generally, anonymity is a luxury. Certainly politicians and those in the public sphere never dream of saying that jingoism effectively censors valid criticism of the ADF, or Australia’s military adventures; or that the silly flag-waving is nauseating on Australia day; and certainly Labor Party members never espouse the socialist opinions they’re meant to represent. All is suppressed beneath the seemly stuff and nonsense of political correctness.
This is surely a good defence of Anonymity? People can say what they really think—though sadly, many people think politically correctly.
We should self-regulate, of course, and criticise and debate the issues rather than the wo/man, and mind our manners, but just as the secret ballot is designed to guarantee freedom of conscience, anonymity allows us to forgo social deference’s and even our own inhibitions.
It also occurs to me to wonder why, or what it is, we should courageously disclose? Is there a real threat that disgruntled writers/friends/colleagues might make reprisals in the real world?
Anyway, isn’t all of life performative? What does anonymity mean? And what is my “real” identity? It’s as much an act as my pseudonym, the only difference being you can put a face to a name—that is, a mask.
Maybe it’s also about extroverts and introverts? The former (article writers) want the kudos and the latter are modest and private about their opinions. I know people who never breathe a word about religion or politics. I’ve never known what political party either of my wives favoured or voted for; they’ve never volunteered the information and I’ve never asked.
There’s something to be said for the propriety of privacy.
So are those who put their names to their articles egotists? And/or are who hide behind pseudonyms, cowards?

I like the pseudonyms. Some are pretty clever, and they add a certain colour and vibrancy to the discussions. Some may hide behind them, not necessarily through cowardice though. Some through necessity. People are generally proud of what they have to say.

It's about the topics in debate and discussion, not the people

Dear Squeers,

I prefer a pseudonym.
Most of us on this forum express our opinions
quite freely and we end up getting to know
each other quite well. However, I like the
anonymity and it does give me more of a sense
of freedom.
Although, I still do hold back anyway.
We all do - to a certain extent. -
civility requires it. Though as I've said
in the past - the art of reasoned, intelligent
argument is a skill not easily acquired and nine
times out of ten as Poirot pointed out on
another thread - we often end up in a he said/she said
tack - where we end up arguing on an emotional
level - not a mature intelligent one.

But that's all par for the course and to be expected
on a public forum such as this one where you get a
wide variety of posters with some very diverse opinions
as well as the same predictable ones.

I think a pseudonym is a matter of personal choice.
If you want to post under your own name - I'm sure
the forum administrator would allow it. I just
prefer not to. I like my privacy.

I much prefer a pseudonym when commenting here. Mainly because the threads I'm commenting on are likely to be anything and my contributions to different threads are not usually based on a passion or planned. They are merely haphazard opportunities for me to put forward an opinion. If, on the other hand, I was to author an article, I would be staking a lot more on it. I would also probably be passionate about the subject which means it would be more than a passing interest or merely a convenient opportunity to polish my ego. An article would be my creation and, therefore, my name would accompany it with pride.

I am no coward but no fool, hang on maybe the last is not quite true
Think we should link more to safety and all that than cowardice
Allan, call me Belly, Bell
See I am a fool, just do not do it, on line is no place to be silly with your safety.

Squeers,

I think also that by choosing anonymity we're protecting our physical selves because in real life we have many more checks and balances operating when we interact with people. Coming onto a forum to vent our opinions is a bit like walking blindfold through society. In the physical realm we make interactive judgements based on visual and sensory data. These help us to vet the people we are engaging with. We don't have that luxury online. Really we are just transmitting our thoughts. I do think of safety and privacy issues when choosing anonymity.

Mostly with the people we meet in our physical daily lives, our demeanor and tastes are exposed as much by what we do as what we say and think. We're more of an open book.
I think your experience of not knowing which party your wives voted for would be unusual as most of us inadvertently expose our political preferences by implicitly leaning in one or direction or another as we discuss the state of things around us.