Do you use a different name online?
@andrewbarclave (485)
Ireland
April 17, 2013 6:33am CST
As I said in a previous discussion "andrew" is not my real name and I mainly just do this for protection/privacy. I am curious about who else does this and for reasons.
I know plenty of people who use nicknames but me personally I do use a full name, I guess it might make people think i'm more personable but I don't know for sure. I just think it's nicer to have that cause then people think they are chatting to a real person and in my case they are, just not one called "andrew".
I also know that cause of the tv show "catfish" people are getting more and more worried about this kind of issue but that is a slight difference cause them people create a whole new personality and such. In plenty of cases they don't even look like the person they would show in pictures. I am different in that if I get to know someone well enough I will tell first name maybe or send pic of my face but it's not that common.
So yeah what are your thoughts on this?
6 responses
@Nursefrai06 (2498)
• Penrith, Australia
20 Apr 13
i have the same sentiments with andrew, i think im the only one in my region who has my name. i take it as an advantage because if i had a person who had the exact name as me, if he did something bad, i might get involved like if i were to get a visa and i had the same name as a criminal, it would hold me back even if i knew that i were really innocent.
@andrewbarclave (485)
• Ireland
19 Apr 13
It actually isn't, I think i'm the only person in the world who has this name. I can't guarantee but it's very possible.
@varier (5685)
• Indonesia
19 Apr 13
Yeah, I use different username online. I don't like the idea of picking one username only for every sites, since people will discover every of my online activities. 
It's less practical, since I have to remember every single of my username, but I prefer it that way.
It's less practical, since I have to remember every single of my username, but I prefer it that way. @andrewbarclave (485)
• Ireland
19 Apr 13
I can't be bothered with that, I rather just have my real name and then "andrew" for anything slighty different.
@Nursefrai06 (2498)
• Penrith, Australia
17 Apr 13
dont worry, its understandable if you dont use your real name here because thats why were given nicknames and usernames for. we all do the same for security purposes. btw andrewbarclave sounds good. you are creative with making names sound good then. :)
@Nursefrai06 (2498)
• Penrith, Australia
20 Apr 13
oh. :) thats cool then. online friends are the best. you can tell them anything and everything you want to. there is just something so exciting about making a friend who doesnt share the same environment and history as you. :D i wish i had more online friends but i dont even have decent internet connections to have them. ugh. maybe someday. :)
@andrewbarclave (485)
• Ireland
19 Apr 13
Thanks it's nice to know that this isn't such a strange thing to do and andrew was actually something an old online friend came with up. If I still talked to her i'd tell her what you said lol.
@andrewbarclave (485)
• Ireland
22 Apr 13
I like having plenty of both really, online friends are great but I find you can lose them very easily.
@inopiratum_a_medio12 (877)
•
17 Apr 13
same here i never use my real name for username for privacy im using 4 different names for differnt accounts privacyis highlyi recognize to avoid uncertain incidents and use mostly things as for pictures not my real image very rare i post my real image it so happened before i change all my username to something out from my real one as i knew somebody who got really a bad experienced hacked identity
@andrewbarclave (485)
• Ireland
17 Apr 13
Yeah I don't blame you at all, these days it's so easy for people to steal their identity if you use real information. Some people are very silly online and give far too much information though.
@gljcleeve (147)
•
17 Apr 13
I tend to use my real name where they ask for a name and a screen name if a nickname will suffice.
Security wise, I very rarely give my exact location and usually change dates of birth and family names.
@andrewbarclave (485)
• Ireland
17 Apr 13
Yeah I never give address under any circumstance. I only change date of birth and never use family name. I mean really if you are just chatting to someone, what difference does it make what their name is
@Galbatorix (10)
• Germany
21 Apr 13
I agree with you and the other comment. I don't want Websites to know where I life!
If they would be hacked, the Hacker will know where I live!!
@andrewbarclave (485)
• Ireland
22 Apr 13
They would only know that I think if you put that information online.
@invisibledeath (65)
• Lithuania
19 Apr 13
I never use my real name over the Internet. I don't trust people and I am worried that they might use it for evil things. Therefore, I use fake names everywhere I can, except some earning sites.
@andrewbarclave (485)
• Ireland
19 Apr 13
I totally understand that and I don't blame people being paranoid. I think the great thing about "andrew" is that I can really be me and not worry about what I say. Although having said that I am still careful a bit.
