Forum Topic

Posting anonymously under an assumed name.

I always appreciated this site because, unlike others on 'social media' I assumed people posted under their real names.This injected a feeling of civility; one would discuss an issue as if in a supermarket queue or the pub (bliss), conversing with a real person, albeit a stranger.Using one's real name also enabled one to a certain extent to attempt to gauge who the person might be and put their views in context.And of course you might actually meet them some day !Anonymous posting does away with all of this.Do people agree with me ?Do you think many posters are not who they claim to be ?Am I over sensitive ? If you support me do not respond to Imbuzi Yentaba.This is a pseudonym or perhaps even a bot.Whatever, he/she can't be personally offended !

John Hawkes ● 2233d30 Comments

With all the Mikes and Michaels (I haven't noticed any Micks?) on this forum I was wondering if I should use my nom de plume which occasionally arises from errors when attempting to type too fast: Ike Mixer?

Michael Ixer ● 2228d

I also agree. Thank you Bunny. 

Ivonne Holliday ● 2230d

Totally agree.

Jane Carter ● 2231d

Oh ffs, either this forum is transparent and people have to register with their own names (even if some are fake) or not be allowed on the site.There have been too many people with only one first (or last) name and it crossed the rules of the site.  Which by the way, are not very well observed by the mediators.Lets face it, trolling has become a national sport for the sad and inadequate, let's please try to keep it away from this site, which is mostly interesting and informative.

Bunny Payne ● 2231d

Can we get some clarity on this issue? Is it ok for a poster to use just first name and initial? Editor

Jane Carter ● 2231d

"But who is Sue Hammond ?"I think we should be told" !"What you don't know can't hurt you, they do say.

David Ainsworth ● 2232d

Mr MacLeodAnd I am not you !But who is Sue Hammond ?"I think we should be told" !

John Hawkes ● 2232d

Why?

Sue Hammond ● 2232d

"Are you Kirk Douglas by any chance?"That was a childhood aspiration of mine, but he was well ahead of me.

David Ainsworth ● 2232d

Are you Kirk Douglas by any chance?

Alexander MacLeod ● 2232d

It never occurred to me but the subject of seasonal workers is worth discussing.

Philippa Bond ● 2232d

"I am Alexander MacLeod. I am not someone else. I am a real person."Damn, I was sure that you were Spartacus!

David Ainsworth ● 2232d

Barbara: I am Alexander MacLeod. I am not someone else. I am a real person. I certainly am not John Hawkes who I hope will confirm! People who hide behind false identities should be tracked down and kicked off the Forum.

Alexander MacLeod ● 2232d

Morning Sean.  Did you look at Mr Yentaba's Instagram?

Sue Hammond ● 2232d

I googled his pen name and the second link was his open photo account including lots of info and photos of him and his life. He's hardly hiding

Sean Hodges ● 2232d

The only thing I can think is perhaps he want's to contribute to the Forum, he is intelligent with what's written, so he could be a local Actor who would rather not be recognized or a celebrity. With so many in Putney and the surrounding area he would like to have his say. So at least give us a clue so we can all guess who you are.

Barbara Stevens ● 2233d

Ms BalsomI may be going against my own argument for we know at least one person who has never tried to give cover to views that some might find offensive by hiding their identity !

John Hawkes ● 2233d

Ms HammondThis person says 'I have uber pale skin and bright blue eyes and 100% pure English blood'.I do not recognise such attributes as being those of a Zulu !Hence I assume he is posting anonymously using a Zulu name he has taken upon himself.I don't want anyone 'to support me' in Facebook fashion - in fact I have no idea how Facebook works.I just assumed we all wished to communicate in an open fashion, which someone has pointed out is a ground rule of the Forum.Just thought - are you really called Hammond !!

John Hawkes ● 2233d

"Why would anyone want to hide behind a false name unless they knew they were contributing views some would find offensive?"Using one's real name may mean self-censorship. That may be a loss to debate.--------------------------------Mao made a speech in Peking in February 1957:-"Letting a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend is the policy for promoting progress in the arts and the sciences and a flourishing socialist culture in our land." Sadly some of those flowers must have offended someone, as later they were lopped.

David Ainsworth ● 2233d

The link may have to be copied and pasted as the comma in it causes a problem ... but thgry this:http://https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Internet,_nobody_knows_you%27re_a_dog

Michael Ixer ● 2233d

Well, Zulu or not, he's certainly started an argument ... but I still love this cartoonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Internet,_nobody_knows_you%27re_a_dog

Michael Ixer ● 2233d

@CarolineI was referring to Jane's earlier post.

Sue Hammond ● 2233d

"Why do you persist in saying this poster is using a fictitious name when he has already said it's his Zulu name?"What the gentleman wrote was "you judged me by my Zulu nom de plume".I believe that it means "mountain goat".---------------Nom de plume - "an assumed name used by a writer instead of their real name; a pen-name."

David Ainsworth ● 2233d

I totally agree with John. Why would anyone want to hide behind a false name unless they knew they were contributing views some would find offensive?

Elizabeth Balsom ● 2233d

Sue: See Jane's earlier post.

Caroline Whitehead ● 2233d

@Hawkes"If you support me do not respond to Imbuzi Yentaba"Why do you persist in saying this poster is using a fictitious name when he has already said it's his Zulu name?  Why would anybody ignore a poster in order to support you?  Grow up, this isn't FB where idiots live by how many 'likes' they get. 🙄There is presently a poster on this forum named Gabrielle O but I don't see you or Jane getting your knickers in a twist over that.

Sue Hammond ● 2233d

For the first and probably the last time, I totally agree with you Mr Hawkes.  Although on occasion, I must admit, I tend to think you and Alexander MacLeod are one and the same person

Barbara Shillabeer ● 2233d

From comments others have made I got the impression it is all to easy to register on this site under a fictitious name.  I assume most people are however using their real names.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2233d

The main thing is it contravenes the rules of the forum. This person did admit it, so either they didn't read the rules or didn't care. Irrespective of their views or motives I hope they've been removed if only because (a) it would be unfair to those who do abide by the rules, (b) if the rules aren't applied we may as well all set up an alias and (c) the value of this forum is having the honest views of participants (no matter how much we disagree with them) rather than someone trolling us and distorting the debate. And, yes, I have met some participants - and survived!

Michael Ixer ● 2233d

I agree. Also re people who only use an initial for their surname?

Jane Carter ● 2233d