Should people be legally obliged to use their real name on the internet?

[Mr Gray]

Surely that's the point, nobody really cares who someone else is, unless they want to be buddy buddy in real life, so what's the point of putting real names up.
How would you know it was a real name anyway? Request too much information and people just aren't going to bother to register.

As Stephen said it doesn't really matter as long as the information is not used to abuse....which it has been

I doubt there will be a demand for a cite


It's interesting that I have had quite a lot of abuse from anonymous posters on the net....not here....
And that's why I identify with the abuse directed at the McCanns....it's water off a ducks back to me


But not nice when my children ask why are people being mean to us online....... fortunately the offending you tube clip had been taken down

[Eleanor]

It has long been known that I am Maureen Eleanor Lang.  Or Maureen Eleanor Mitchell.  Married and Maiden names.  I was outed many years ago, and often by a member of this Forum, along with Tony Bennett.  Both of these names are included in my email address, which is available on this Forum.  And I have always admitted this to be true.
I have never liked the name Maureen, and prefer to use Eleanor, although I have always been know as Mitch.  I always sign as Mitch when indulging in PMs.  Mitchells are always called Mitch.

Apart from the odd snide remark I have never suffered any real abuse.

I have also posted as Sabot on other Forums. As also you all know.  This has nothing to do with my living in France.  It is an attribute to my mother whose name was Stella Abbott who died when I was very young.

Personally, I don't really care.  I only have to live by my principles.  And I have never been ashamed of anything that I have ever said.  If it was likely then I would not have said it.  People like me don't need the right to Free Speech.

[Mr Gray]

That is self evident.  However, I would always encourage members to use their real name and even their photo as their avatar as I do.

One difference John is that you can remove any post you feel is insulting to you and ban any poster who insults you...
We are not all in that position

[Eleanor]

However, do I think that other persons should be forced to use their own names?  Probably, but only because some people want you all to do the same, while keeping their own names secret in some obtuse way, which will forever remain possible.  Such hypocrisy is bewildering.

Would I have chosen to be outed?  Probably not, but it has caused me no harm, and now seems rather silly.  I personally have not suffered in any way.

[Eleanor]

One difference John is that you can remove any post you feel is insulting to you and ban any poster who insults you...
We are not all in that position

This is a bit unfair, Davel.  I of all people know that John does not behave like this. The very worst that John does is to remove a pile of Off Topic and Irrelevant Rubbish that I don't have the bottle to remove.  But then I ever was a bit of a coward when it comes to opinions.  Sadly I am blessed with the ability to see the point of view of everyone.  Perhaps I should try harder.  But I might wipe the whole Board in the process.

[barrier]

I'm more than happy too.....as long as others do to...so will you

I do and if people haven't realised then they are not as clever has they like to believe.

[Mr Gray]

This is a bit unfair, Davel.  I of all people know that John does not behave like this. The very worst that John does is to remove a pile of Off Topic and Irrelevant Rubbish that I don't have the bottle to remove.  But then I ever was a bit of a coward when it comes to opinions.  Sadly I am blessed with the ability to see the point of view of everyone.  Perhaps I should try harder.  But I might wipe the whole Board in the process.

It isn't unfair at all.....John has the ability to remove posts....Im not being critical just stating facts.

I don't have the ability to remove posts that are insulting to me...or my family

[Mr Gray]

I do and if people haven't realised then they are not as clever has they like to believe.

The post was in response to Stephen..who I'm absolutely sure would not be prepared to reveal his true identity

[Eleanor]

It isn't unfair at all.....John has the ability to remove posts....Im not being critical just stating facts.

I also have the ability to remove Posts, which I rarely do.  And to Restore Posts, which I very occasionally do.

What so many of you fail to realise is that Forums can never be a Democracy.  You are all at the whim of The Forum Owner.
And I wouldn't be a Senior Moderator on this Forum if I ever thought that I needed to worry about the integrity of John.

[Mr Gray]

I also have the ability to remove Posts, which I rarely do.  And to Restore Posts, which I very occasionally do.

What so many of you fail to realise is that Forums can never be a Democracy.  You are all at the whim of The Forum Owner.
And I wouldn't be a Senior Moderator on this Forum if I ever thought that I needed to worry about the integrity of John.

I'm not criticising John....I'm stating a simple fact....I have no power to remove a post that I consider insults me...you and others do...that is a fact

We are not just at the whim of the forum owners but some unfair moderation...but of course I'm not allowed to say that and may well be censured for it

[Eleanor]

I'm not criticising John....I'm stating a simple fact....I have no power to remove a post that I consider insults me...you and others do...that is a fact

We are not just at the whim of the forum owners but some unfair moderation...but of course I'm not allowed to say that and may well be censured for it

Have you any idea of how often I was censored before I became a Moderator?  I gave no quarter and expected none.  That is the reality.  I never bleated about it.

Nowadays I have to be a bit more careful.

[Mr Gray]

Have you any idea of how often I was censored before I became a Moderator?  I gave no quarter and expected none.  That is the reality.  I never bleated about it.

Nowadays I have to be a bit more careful.

im not bleating about me being censured or insulted...but when a moderator makes an insulting reference to my wife its diferrent... I doubt you saw it but its still there

[Eleanor]

im not bleating about me being censured or insulted...but when a moderator makes an insulting reference to my wife its diferrent... I doubt you saw it but its still there

Report it and I will deal with it.

[mrswah]

i wouldn't be fussed if we used our real names-------but I very much doubt whether everyone would comply!

[Eleanor]

i wouldn't be fussed if we used our real names-------but I very much doubt whether everyone would comply!

I don't think it is all that important.  Really nasty people can always be exposed if necessary, which it mostly isn't.

Refusing to admit to the given name will always be seen as some sort of shame.