Forum member masking names

[gt350shelb]

I  still cannot  understand how  some people do not  think this is a bad idea. 
These days  you might as well post your home address and ssn   if you are going to surf forums with your  full name .

If  the bad dudes   were watching you  online   waiting for you to go to the next convention .   seems like an easy  home / shop  mark to hit .

Yea  no real names here   but   that s just  my take.

[98SVT - was 06GT]

Think you can hide? This guy got tracked down from just having a decal on his car.
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1416481
The name on the decal and a check of his Facebook page led to a friends Facebook page who worked at Costco. That persons info was listed on this thread but he contacted to powers to be and they removed it.

[69mach351w]

Think you can hide? This guy got tracked down from just having a decal on his car.
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1416481

What guy??  Can't see anything and I don't particularly want to become a member of calguns just to see the results

[Bob Gaines]

I  still cannot  understand how  some people do not  think this is a bad idea. 
These days  you might as well post your home address and ssn   if you are going to surf forums with your  full name .

If  the bad dudes   were watching you  online   waiting for you to go to the next convention .   seems like an easy  home / shop  mark to hit .

Yea  no real names here   but   that s just  my take.

I know a very small minority can hide behind a generic screen name and act up because they think no other forum members know who they are. Many times it is someone trying to troll. I started to say a "newbie " but that is what we all are now    The anonymity of trollers or those of dishonorable intent is my main beef. I know some don't post their full name like I do but a shorten version which is just as good IMO it helps knowing who's who from a social stand point. Tlea comes to mind for Tim Lea. Oops I let the cat out of the bag  .  What about the people who post on facebook about every little thing they do . Going to the grocery store ,to a movie let alone going to a convention.  How about those that decorate their car trailer with Cobras ,Boss motifs etc. indicating what might be inside like a giant menu for a bad guy? Now that is asking for it.   

[Don Johnston]

Paranoia will destroy ya.  Your neighbors, friends, mechanics, relatives insurance company employees, etc. know your cars and where you live. Order parts?  No secrets there about what you got.    Get good insurance, join the NRA with license and training, alarm and camera everything and hope for the best.  Meanwhile, enjoy the forum discussion and knowledge. 

It would good to know the names and talk with these people at the conventions and not have to try to guess who they are. 

This is a great to site to have and read.

[Brad Griffith]

I sure am happy to see a few old members drop the mask of a alias name on the forum and use something closer to their given name . I hope more do that. I know they seem fun but I think it has more integrity showing that you own what you say plus easier to remember who is who. But that is just me.

Ditto that!

[1109RWHP]

Who the H is Bob Gaines?

[2112]

Paranoia will destroy ya.  Your neighbors, friends, mechanics, relatives insurance company employees, etc. know your cars and where you live. Order parts?  No secrets there about what you got.    Get good insurance, join the NRA with license and training, alarm and camera everything and hope for the best.  Meanwhile, enjoy the forum discussion and knowledge. 

It would good to know the names and talk with these people at the conventions and not have to try to guess who they are. 

This is a great to site to have and read.

None of those issues are my concern.

I don't want certain people (employees being one group) knowing what my private interests are. If I have 3500 posts here under my name, and they search my name (fairly unique name) they are almost assuredly going to learn information about me I prefer to keep private.

Once I retire (years away) I will feel differently.

[557]

I just use my cars serial# as it is all about the car anyway...

[TedS]

OK already!! I certainly don't want to be considered paranoid, a troll, or lack integrity. That's a lot of assumptions based on something so simple. We weren't masking our name, we were following suit with MOST everyone else here. Some of you already have a large internet presence because of your professional affiliation with the hobby. Having your true name here probably helps your business, and that's OK with me.

The internet is a powerful tool, in good ways and bad. When I search on my name it returns a lot of details and some totally false information. If someone chooses not to use some form of their true name here that should not make them a second-class citizen or immediately considered to have ill-intent.

Just a question, if you're not just a little paranoid how come so few put their gender, age and location in their profile?

Ted

[shelbydoug]

I want to know how Illiana from Russia got my email and why she thinks I need Viagara? I mean I've got a 347 with dual quads. Maybe she's confused? Sounds like Capt Dave is involved somehow if you ask me?

[gt350shelb]

I  still cannot  understand how  some people do not  think this is a bad idea. 
These days  you might as well post your home address and ssn   if you are going to surf forums with your  full name .

If  the bad dudes   were watching you  online   waiting for you to go to the next convention .   seems like an easy  home / shop  mark to hit .

Yea  no real names here   but   that s just  my take.

I know a very small minority can hide behind a generic screen name and act up because they think no other forum members know who they are.  How about those that decorate their car trailer with Cobras ,Boss motifs etc. indicating what might be inside like a giant menu for a bad guy? Now that is asking for it.

Well that is my point  I will show up with a  plain white trailer .. and not be advertising  whats inside .

If  you know me when i pull in....... its not because my real name is on the side of the trailer .

Phil

[Bob Gaines]

OK already!! I certainly don't want to be considered paranoid, a troll, or lack integrity. That's a lot of assumptions based on something so simple. We weren't masking our name, we were following suit with MOST everyone else here. Some of you already have a large internet presence because of your professional affiliation with the hobby. Having your true name here probably helps your business, and that's OK with me.

The internet is a powerful tool, in good ways and bad. When I search on my name it returns a lot of details and some totally false information. If someone chooses not to use some form of their true name here that should not make them a second-class citizen or immediately considered to have ill-intent.

Just a question, if you're not just a little paranoid how come so few put their gender, age and location in their profile?

Ted

It it is a reality that a few bad actors use the anonymous screen name as a shield. FYI this not just a supposition but common knowledge with long time members based on past incidences. Some worse then others. Unfortunately others with honorable intent use a anonymous screen name also. It is therefore hard sometimes to tell the difference because of the anonymity . Time on the clock helps some to understand a persons intentions and what they are about. That is why I would like to see more using a closer approximation of their real name. Even like TedS. That is just me and understand others my think differently. When I joined the first forum shortly after it was put online years ago I also had a anonymous CB handle screen name . It was just because everyone else was doing it that way. One of the forum moderators at the time did not like something I was saying and chose to call me out over my opinion thinking I wouldn't stand behind my convictions and hide behind a anonymous screen name. I changed my anonymous screen name right then and there . He still hid behind his. That was and still is my reason to own what I say for good or for bad. I know that my point of view does not fit everyone. Others have their own reasons . Each has to make a choice what makes the best sense for THEM.  That still doesn't keep me from wanting my druthers  .

[Don Johnston]

Anyone who knows me from the conventions already knows that I am nuts! What did CS say about naming the GT350?  Same here. 

[TLea]

Tlea comes to mind for Tim Lea. Oops I let the cat out of the bag  .

Not a problem. I've got nothing to hide and a good security system and big nasty dog will take care of the rest. Viagra sales people I can hang up on. Plus they aren't as annoying as tire kickers