NYMWARS

google it, its a word - NYMWARS

its an issue on the internet superhighway these days, with growing intensity… and it all surrounds your name.

basically, more and more internet based services are requiring users to use their real names, and some believe this is wrong and causes undue safety risk. not just personal safety, but reputation safety.

WAIT - which one of you morons is stupid enough to publish your personal information and location publicly online without understanding the risks? and why haven't you learned ways to secure it? i use many online social networking and web services, and you don't see me publishing my SSN or passwords or details on when i'll be leaving my home empty and unlocked to anyone. other information which on some level could be used to put together some kind of crime against me that i do put online is secured! i share that information only with specific people, otherwise its hidden from prying eyes. why isn't everyone doing this?

you wouldn't walk into a bar and announce your personal security info out loud, why would you publish it online? you may tell friends you trust, but you wouldn't just tell random people, right?

the other concern was other people seeing your posts or those of a spouse, and it costing you a job or a relationship with someone you secretly insulted online. ya know, i don't have any sympathy for anyone who's not proud of their views and enables others by speaking the truth about them but not to them.

so, my vote in the NYMWARS - don't be stupid, and this won't be a problem… stand by what you have to say, and use your real name!