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As a temporary fix, (and I emphasize, this is not a solution) the answer might be to have a 'pen name' or 'pen personality' . mini-msft is the classical example

As a temporary fix, (and I emphasize, this is not a solution) the answer might be to have a 'pen name' or 'pen personality' . mini-msft is the classical example in our industry. If Jessica were to venture a 'twistable' opinion, sure there will be a huge uproar, because of her association with YC. If this is published under a fake persona,Jess McFake, someone who can be identified only by a body of writing, then it is hard to bring these prejudices, and even if it is "twisted" who cares? I do this to some extent by having multiple online personas, none of which have my real name associated with this, one for each 'community' I participate in,(not true for HN, fwiw) and I find this very useful and liberating, and I'm nobody. I'd be surprised if 'celebrities' don't do something like this already. Of course if you are as rich as (and so untouchable) as, say, Peter Thiel, you can just go ahead and express what you want wherever you want and don't give a damn if you are misinterpreted and/or out of synch with particular orthodoxies, but for the rest of us, this might work as a temporary fix.

lafay 10y ago
This seems like a reasonable idea, but I don't think it can last indefinitely. You will almost certainly reveal something that will allow someone to unmask you eventually, regardless of how careful you are. Startup L. Jackson is a great example: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-17/unmasking-startup-l-jackson-silicon-valley-s-favorite-twitter-persona https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-17/unmasking...
rdiddly 10y ago
I have the fake personas too, and it works, but if I were all fired-up to say something "as myself" on the internet (I'm not, particularly) then I wouldn't wait until I'm as rich as Thiel. You just need to be living off the interest on your capital investments, so that your income isn't dependent on people liking you. That happens a lot sooner if you're good at saving money.
6stringmerc 10y ago
Pen names have a long and glorious tradition in calling out authority figures in the US. From Silence Dogood to Mark Twain to Raoul Duke. The words on the page are to be the focus, not the person composing them, so to speak.
zenlikethat 10y ago
The problem is that the "oomph" of the message and ability to spread it is lost for largely the same reasons. Jessica worked for a long time to get the ears of so many people. A pen name is far more likely to get lost in the noise or have its credibility called into question.
AceJohnny2 10y ago
Like "Locke" & "Demothenes" in Ender's Game? [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ender's_Game https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ender's_Game Also: http://www.theatlantic.com/personal/archive/2010/06/demosthenes-and-locke/58800/ http://www.theatlantic.com/personal/archive/2010/06/demosthe... And of course XKCD: https://xkcd.com/635/ https://xkcd.com/635/

lafay 10y ago

This seems like a reasonable idea, but I don't think it can last indefinitely. You will almost certainly reveal something that will allow someone to unmask you eventually, regardless of how careful you are. Startup L. Jackson is a great example: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-17/unmasking-startup-l-jackson-silicon-valley-s-favorite-twitter-persona https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-17/unmasking...

rdiddly 10y ago

I have the fake personas too, and it works, but if I were all fired-up to say something "as myself" on the internet (I'm not, particularly) then I wouldn't wait until I'm as rich as Thiel. You just need to be living off the interest on your capital investments, so that your income isn't dependent on people liking you. That happens a lot sooner if you're good at saving money.

6stringmerc 10y ago

Pen names have a long and glorious tradition in calling out authority figures in the US. From Silence Dogood to Mark Twain to Raoul Duke. The words on the page are to be the focus, not the person composing them, so to speak.

zenlikethat 10y ago

The problem is that the "oomph" of the message and ability to spread it is lost for largely the same reasons. Jessica worked for a long time to get the ears of so many people. A pen name is far more likely to get lost in the noise or have its credibility called into question.

AceJohnny2 10y ago

Like "Locke" & "Demothenes" in Ender's Game? [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ender's_Game https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ender's_Game Also: http://www.theatlantic.com/personal/archive/2010/06/demosthenes-and-locke/58800/ http://www.theatlantic.com/personal/archive/2010/06/demosthe... And of course XKCD: https://xkcd.com/635/ https://xkcd.com/635/