Don't tell me to use my real name

2 min read

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pachunka's avatar
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...just tell me not to be an ass!

This new trend in social networks, and even communities, out there on the web, requiring you to use your real name: it's really bothering me. 

There are a bunch of undertones to it: it's proper, professional, probably prevents fraud or something, but whenever anybody talks about it, it's always about how anonymity encourages bad behavior. 

It doesn't. 

Being tied to your real name suppresses bad behavior. The bad behavior was already there. If I'm a brat on the Internet, it's not because I'm anonymous - it's because it's fun. But here's what's more fun:

I choose to be nice. It's nice to be nice. Forums and chatrooms and art communities are fun when you're not being an ass. 

One thing I love about deviantART is that you have to agree to the terms of service AND the etiquette policy when you join. 

The code of etiquette on deviantART is one of the core features we never talk about. I see its effects everywhere. 

On my first post ever, I got replies of encouragement from strangers - we remain friends to this day. Although I'm horrible about staying in touch. =p

On the Internet, we have our cool name and our cool icons - I'm pachunka - howdy. What effect would me using my real name have had, aside from making the whole experience somehow more dull? Nothing - no effect - no difference. 

People are nice, and want to help each other - but you have to foster a community that encourages that. 

Taking names at the door - maybe that's a viable alternative - but I've never liked it. I think it's missing the point. 

What do you think?
© 2012 - 2024 pachunka
Comments22
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CristalMomoStar's avatar
I definitely agree. There's no need to force real names on the internet.
People aren't more outgoing or rude on the internet because of a username. Here are the two factors I see playing into online bullying more than anything.

1) Lack of face to face contact. It doesn't matter if your username is "HarryPotter34" or the real name "Justine Brown", people feel more confident when they don't have to face 'real' consequences of what they say. If someone tells them they're wrong or bitches them out online, they can ignore it. Even if it turns to the worst possibility, say someone commits suicide because of what you say, you didn't know them in real life, so you don't care. The only way a username stops someone from being mean, is if they're mean to someone they know in person. 

But like you said, these people are rude in real life, so they won't care about insulting someone they know in real life, because that person still can't get to them in the heat of the moment when there's a computer between them.

2) Power of opinion. Most people take the comment section of websites for granted. Right now I'm leaving a comment. I'm giving my opinion, as though it really matters. Of course, I know I'm one person and my opinion could be a minority, but there are many people out there who insist because their opinion /can/ be shared, that it /should/ be shared. And they think everyone should listen and agree. And if they don't, then the flame wars start.

There are quite a few factors in the internet that bring out the worst in people, but changing from usernames and fake tags to real tags and usernames will not change this.

I was raised in the generation that was told not to use our real information. I'm a confident adult who is not afraid to give out certain information, but that doesn't change my interest in keeping a username. Its both safer, and more fun. What if my friends and I want to pretend we're a group of Harry Potter characters? We're not hurting anyone under the name Ron Weasley. Just having fun. And, well, if a fake Ron goes around and starts bullying people, then as you said, that was already in their nature.

And don't even get me started on people's profiles getting deleted just because they happen to have the same name (Their /real/ name) as a celebrity...