Would you ever use your real name as your username?

February 8, 2009 4:33pm CST
When you signed up to mylot did you use your real name as your username? I just signed up to another social networking site (Gather.com) and when signing up i gave them a made-up name thinking it was going to be my username but when i got into my account I found that my fake name became part of my URl for the site and my real name became my username....Oh My God, I was horrified. I have never used my real name as my username and I have joined many sites in the past...its just a security thing with me. I'm not knocking anyone who uses their real name, some people feel comfortable to do that and more power to them. But personally I don't feel comfortable doing that and would prefer to keep my anonymity, for now. I will not be going back to that site and will be deleting my account. What would you do?
12 people like this
59 responses
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
8 Feb 09
I'm ok using my first name but I would feel uncomfortabe using my whole name as my username. It would get picked up in search engines and I wouldn't feel quite right about being so open about personal things if I knew everyone could realise it was me. Those close to me know my username as I've used it for many years in internet but I think using my entire real name could lead to privacy problems. I would have done as you did if I had made that mistake.
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
8 Feb 09
Absolutely! You did the wise thing by deleting your account. You can always open a new one later.
1 person likes this
8 Feb 09
I agree with you, If they had only used my first name I would have had no problem with that...but my first name AND my last name were up on the site for the whole world to see...definitely a privacy issue here.
2 people like this
8 Feb 09
unless you can tell me a proper reason why i should not then i allways will as i have.
8 Feb 09
Hi abdul, what about identity theft, or someone finding out things about you that you wanted to remain private, or someone stalking you...I am sure the list of things that could go wrong when you make your name public could be even longer.
• India
9 Feb 09
I use my real name on mylot…Sudipta, I am more comfortable with it. Since I am not using my pix or of my family or not giving any other details, I feel safe enough. But I like it when people here respond to me as Sudipta or Sudip or Sudi…even Suds
1 person likes this
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
9 Feb 09
No, I won't use my real name as the username. It is not because it's not safe. It is because my real name is simple and you can find many people with the same name. So I must add a number or extra words so that I can sign up an account. This is why I have to use a special nickname as my username so that I don't have to worry about this account has been registered. I love China
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Feb 09
I never use my real name, rather I made up a name I use for everything.
1 person likes this
• Egypt
9 Feb 09
nice going jesse ! thats what i do in every site i visit i use only 1 name that makes it easy for you to remember plus 90% of the internet surfers use nicknames can't you see mylot ? noone is using their real names ! ( noone i see )
• Philippines
9 Feb 09
Yes. This is my real name.
1 person likes this
9 Feb 09
You have a beautiful name.
1 person likes this
@VKXY62 (1605)
• Australia
9 Feb 09
It is mixed, if I am writing online to my peers, I am me. If I am using some site where money is involved, it is a made up username. Many people have had their identities stolen, because they left a trail that was too easy to follow. Same username and same passwords on multiple websites, the site gets hacked, the criminal now has their username and password for every site they registered at, in other words the user made it so easy for someone to steal their accounts, someone did.
9 Feb 09
You really do have a good point on the 'same username and same password on multiple sites' issue. We never think it's going to happen to us until it does.
• Philippines
9 Feb 09
I always prefer to use my username when registering with social networking sites. it is better that way than giving your real name to avoid getting your name used by other people who have other motives.
15 Feb 09
Hello Doris, I found out just now from my aunt that you have the name of a good and famous singer. Names are very important for many people because that is the tag that they are always associated with. When I applied for a passport, I found out that I had a derogatory record in the FBI for large-scale estafa, swindling and theft, and attempted kidnapping which all turned out to have been committed during the period when I was only two years of age until I was six. We all have name-sakes even if I ahve a name as unique as Engelbert Humperdink. Nobody is perfect. LOL.
@thaMARKER (2503)
• Philippines
1 Jul 09
I have never used my real name as my username ever I believe. I think it wouldn’t be that risky to use your first name at least but I never like the idea of using it. hehehe.. well it’s actually my chance to use another name aside from being addressed by my same name.
@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
8 Feb 09
I made that mistake once of signing up with my real name for a free website account, I did not realise that on sign up that my name would be the website address. I think in this day and age the less personal info you give out the better, a lot of information you supply online is searchable by anyone for example facebook. I think you are right, most people feel more comfortable being anonymous, for that reason I shall reamin "The mysterious Zone lol.
@ank_47 (1959)
• India
5 Apr 09
i don;t use my real name in any website. i don;t like to reveal to anyone my name . so i give other name or shortcut name as username in any website. i don;t feel comfortable in revealing my name in any website.
• United States
9 Feb 09
I don't understand the concern for privacy. You're listed in the phone book by your real name aren't you? You own property under your real name, don't you? You rent an apartment using your real name, right? Why should you be any different online?The fact is, you don't have privacy online. I don't need your real name to find out about you. You leave an imprint every time you log on. Yes, I use my real name. I run a business online so using any name other than my real name wouldn't make any sense. It wouldn't build trust. No one is going to do business with poetwarrior or largemouthbass. People want to do business with real people so running an online business in your real name is absolutely essential. There is another reason to use your real name. Concerned about privacy? How about your reputation? What if someone you get angry decides to publish reputation damaging information about you online and they use your real name? If a member of your church or your child's enemy's parents decide to write information about you that is incorrect and damaging they will likely do it anonymously, but your real name is used. But if you are proactive about using your real name in your activities online and a future employer or a potential creditor performs a search for your name then they will find the information that you put there - the good stuff. I think everyone should have real name information associated with certain websites online for reputation management reasons. Pick the sites where you are just there to hang out and let your hair down and use a fake name or an alias at those sites, but pick a few where your real name is used and make good use of them as reputation building tools.
9 Feb 09
I agree with you that if you are a business person and you want to build a businesslike reputation on the net then a professional image is a must. I have been faced with this dilema myself...should I give my name or should I not give my name especially when I want to build a professional reputation? My answer to myself was...only use your real name if it is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. I also think as a woman I am probably naturally more cautious about such issues than a man might be.
• United States
9 Feb 09
There is enough fakes in our world now, and usually they are the problem people. What have you got to hide and if you do hide then what are you hiding? If someone plays with you we have laws that take care of that kind, just ask anyone who sends a virus and gets caught if they like the horrible torment of a jail cell? Well, go ahead and commit an illegal act if you know it then you will suffer for it. If you are ignorant of some crime then you most likely will be exonerated but chastised for sure. I hate identity theft and if it were up to me then they would most surely suffer a jail sentence. I say be honest and keep it honest and open for conjecture and all is well in the watchtower. Do not be ashamed of whom you are unless you are some kind of shameful person already and just hide yourself from others with excuses. Floyd
9 Feb 09
You don't have to be ashamed of yourself to want to have privacy or to want to protect your identity. There are many other good reasons for wanting to use an alias (as other mylotters have shown in this discussion) Please see my comment to 'maezee' on page two about the Facebook story...this is a prime example of the dangers you expose yourself to when you freely put your name all over the net on social websites.
@TLChimes (4822)
• United States
8 Feb 09
My user name is always made up though if you know me on one site, you'll know me on another. It is a security issue. Too many people take what isn't theirs and giving them information like that is like asking them to take what's yours. I'm glad you are deleting that account. Keep as much of your personal information private as you can.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
28 Feb 09
It's a real nickname but I like the anonymity of this place, really. I don't know. If a user were to guess who I was by my postings, I have nothing to be ashamed of. I mean, obviously, he/she already knew me that well in order to guess.
@jazz_123 (211)
18 Feb 09
Personally I don't like giving my full name to websites, if only necessary, but sometimes it's good to so the person who is adding you or wants to add you, knows a bit about you. Yeah it's a security thing with me as well (: I would do the same, and I know how it can be upsetting.
• China
15 Mar 09
This is my real name and phone number..^^
• China
15 Mar 09
This is my real neme and phone number..haha^^
• United States
15 Mar 09
I don't see a problem with using your real name as your username for certain sites. Social networking sites, such as MySpace or Facebook, are the kinds of sites where it's fine to post your real name. Isn't that their purpose - to find friends and network with other people? It's also fine to use your real name in your email address - just know who you're giving that email to. Even on other sites, like forums/community sites, I think it's fine to use your real name too. I think the threat of being hacked and being a victim of identity theft is too exaggerated. If you keep your personal information (location, age, SSN, phone number, address, etc.) off the internet, private, or only where they're supposed to be, then your really don't have much to worry about. If you take different security measures - like using different passwords on different sites, using HTTPS to access important sites, etc. - then you can use your real name as your username worry-free.
• United States
15 Mar 09
I don't see a problem with using your real name as your username for certain sites. Social networking sites, such as MySpace or Facebook, are the kinds of sites where it's fine to post your real name. Isn't that their purpose - to find friends and network with other people? Even on other sites, like forums/community sites, I think it's fine to use your real name too. I think the threat of being hacked and being a victim of identity theft is too exaggerated. If you keep your personal information (location, age, SSN, phone number, address, etc.)off the internet, private, or only where they're supposed to be, then you really don't have much to worry about. If you take different security measures - like using different passwords on different sites, using HTTPS, etc. - then you can use your real name as your username worry-free.