Blade Forums - User Names?

Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones

Joined
Oct 28, 2006
Messages
13,363
I'm a relative newbie here and to forums in general, and I realize that many don't use their real names for security precautions, but it seems odd that we come to know each other quite well in many cases without actually knowing names. I find myself appreciating some maker's work, without knowing who they are.

I know we have PMs and e-mail, however one has to wonder, if someone doesn't use their real name do they want to communicate on a one on one basics?

I guess there are many positives and negatives in using your real name. I like it when people do.:)

Perhaps there’s reasons for not using real names that I’m not aware of? :confused: :eek:

Anyway, this is in NO WAY a jab at anyone for using screen or user names, just an observation from someone who may be "internet naive" :confused: :eek: as I think about it sometimes. I welcome any views, comments or opinion as to the subject.
 
Usernames can be used to send a message, posters often use them to demonstrate their opinions/preferences on the topic matter of the board. They can be funny, express praise or disdain, be taken from a favorite piece of media, etc. People sometimes use them to stand out, not so much to hide. I got mine from Last of the Mohicans, and only chose it because I thought the consonance sounded cool.

I of course let people know who I am when I buy/sell/trade, and think it best for makers to ID themselves. Outside of that, I don't feel a need to know who anyone is, or why they should particularly care to know me. But I never think to introduce myself in person either. Not that interested in people, I guess.
 
hardheart said:
Usernames can be used to send a message, posters often use them to demonstrate their opinions/preferences on the topic matter of the board. They can be funny, express praise or disdain, be taken from a favorite piece of media, etc. People sometimes use them to stand out, not so much to hide. I got mine from Last of the Mohicans, and only chose it because I thought the consonance sounded cool.

I of course let people know who I am when I buy/sell/trade, and think it best for makers to ID themselves. Outside of that, I don't feel a need to know who anyone is, or why they should particularly care to know me. But I never think to introduce myself in person either. Not that interested in people, I guess.
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Well said and good points. I have seen movies/read "Last of the Mohicans" at least 50 times, and never picked that up. :confused: Shows how observant I am.
I agree, you have a cool username and even cooler avatar. :thumbup:

I generally don't think to introduce myself either. Usually I wait until I'm introduced unless it's someone I need to speak with or am interested in. I'm interested in people, however at a party or gathering would rather study and listen first, I guess.

People who go into a room and are immediately on a mission to talk to everyone there, even if they have nothing to say, ignore me.:(

One of my personal life rules is not to talk unless I have something to say. Sure it's kept me out of trouble more than once.;)
 
When I signed up very few if any used real names, so I just used my nickname. If I weren't so lazy and could figure out how to, I would change it to my real name.
 
sunfishman said:
When I signed up very few if any used real names, so I just used my nickname. If I weren't so lazy and could figure out how to, I would change it to my real name.
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It's funny Don, as when I came here the end of October, I didn't recognize you by your username. I of course had heard of you but, didn't follow your work at that time. I thought "this sunfishman guy makes one hell of a folder and fixed blade", who is he? :eek: :confused: Now just months latter I find myself looking for your work. This forum is good for makers....
 
Thanks Kevin, you're right, these forums are very good for makers and I have always sign my posts with my real name. Good bunch of guys here.

hardheart, thanks for the link, I'll look into it.
 
Kevin,
As yourself, I'm a relative newby to computer savy myself.(4 yrs max) I never saw the value to having a computer till my better half(????) showed me how to cruise the internet. Back then it came with a warning of " never tell anything personal about yourself", which made sense to me.

So I picked a name mainly easy for me to remember which reveals no vital stats. Everyone who needs to know me already does. I can see now the value of doing business on the computer but my knife sales are still partime and local. Sometime in the future I'll use my whole real name to make money hopefully.
 
Good points :)

I've been to many shows where someone comes up to me and says, "I'm Joe Schmo&So" To which I just have a blank look on my face. Then they say, "Oh, I go by MassDestructionKillerPimp on the forums."

"Huh.... okay."

I'm more likely to remember a name if it's somebody's real one.
 
NickWheeler said:
Good points :)

I've been to many shows where someone comes up to me and says, "I'm Joe Schmo&So" To which I just have a blank look on my face. Then they say, "Oh, I go by MassDestructionKillerPimp on the forums."

"Huh.... okay."

I'm more likely to remember a name if it's somebody's real one.
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MassDestructionKillerPimp - That would make for a nice tattoo across someone's back. :thumbup: :D
 
I don't think using your real name as your user name is in any way a threat to your security. Posting specific personal information in your profile is not a good idea. There are many good people that go by made up user names, but I have always had the feeling that the anonimity these user names provide give people the opportunity to be trolls, keyboard commandos and just plain jackasses without others knowing who it is that they are dealing with. I like to know who it is that is insulting or attacking me.

One thing I have noticed is that the vast majority of trolls, spammers and all around Aholes go by made up user names.

It is more about how a person acts than what they have as a user name, but I prefer to know who it is that I am conversing with.
 
NickWheeler said:
Good points :)

I've been to many shows where someone comes up to me and says, "I'm Joe Schmo&So" To which I just have a blank look on my face. Then they say, "Oh, I go by MassDestructionKillerPimp on the forums."

"Huh.... okay."

I'm more likely to remember a name if it's somebody's real one.
Click to expand...

I like that. :D :D :D
 
http://bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4520312
I don't think using your real name threatens your security much either and after being here a couple,2,years and having dealt with a half dozen or so forumites and makers,I recently changed my username to my real name.
I always sign my posts,a couple of times with my last name,it's Cartwright,I live on a ranch out west with my brothers Hoss and Adam,and Pa of course.:p :D
IIRC,Mr. Les Robertson suggested using your real name WAY BACK.
Good thread Kevin. :thumbup:
Some guys have some pretty cool usernames,do what you want to do.

Doug
 
I made a maker mad on another forum when I was saying his knives were ugly (obviously it wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done), he accused me of using a moniker to hide behind. Every once in a while someone asks me what my user name means.
 
I have a pretty common name. When we moved to our current house, the closest guy with the same name lived a couple hundred yards up the street. I used to post with my real name on another forum before they started requiring registration. One day three of us with the same name responded to a request for advice. We all used our real names, and we all disagreed with each other. I said the heck with it and picked something that I hoped would be unique.
 
For what its worth, when we attend shows, we are in contact with many, many people. Most we don't know. Do we use make up names there? What is the difference? None. The Knife shows, as is blade forums, is a place for knife nut's to congregate, and share our passion. Sharing a moment of passion with a fantasy name sounds like another kind of fantasy to me! EER!, I'm getting a little off topic. But what can you say about a guy who's Logo is The Double Nude. Hee!Hee! Don, is Sunfishman, the same as Brim? Haa!! It's a Southern thing. In all seriousness, Blade forums has really gotten better in the last year. It was getting to be known as a very controversial place. With a lot of trolls. It has been very pleasant this year, and enjoyable. I see no reason not to have the good folks know who they are talking to. I like people, and if I didn't I wouldn't post here. Much less spend my life making Knives for them. I am doing what I really Love. Mike
 
Thought I would dive into this topic again, as I wish everyone would use their real names. The recent blade show strengthen my opinion on this subject.

IMO, makers put themselves at a disadvantage by using screen names.

I know there may be legitimate reasons, however still? :grumpy: ;)
 
So what's the security issue in using your real name?
Security for me is remembering my name!

My great fear is waking up someday and not remembering any of my passwords.:eek:
 
I can't imagine why a businessman like a knifemaker would not use his own name, at least in a signature line. When I offer to buy a knife from someone on the Exchange forums, I immediately email them with my full name and address. Why would they do business with "anonymous"?

But usernames are an internet tradition, more useful in some places than others. On one forum, I had trolls posting all kinds of information about where I lived and how they were going to firebomb my house. Only I didn't live there -- it was my parents' house. Not nice.

A search engine (to use a Bladeforums metaphor) is a two-edged sword.
 
Kevin,

Seriously, way back when, my name was not available from my email service. I went with a combination of my initials PTG, and Colonel Cooper's motto, Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas.

Also Jones, I like keeping you confused!

Peter
 
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