5 ms·

The trouble is when you've been using your alternate persona, chatting with a stranger, and encounter someone who knows your real name that wants to say, "Hello

by xapata 4y ago

The trouble is when you've been using your alternate persona, chatting with a stranger, and encounter someone who knows your real name that wants to say, "Hello." "Oh, uh, ... that's my middle name."

kibwen 4y ago
"Hush, that's my truename, and there may be witches about."
hot_gril 4y ago
hot_gril is my real name, honest.
O__________O 4y ago
Yeah, have a friend that opted to stop using their real name online. We were on a group call with random strangers and girl randomly yelled out his real name when she heard his voice.
Animats 4y ago
Encountering someone who knows you is one of the big risks for people working undercover. Read "You're Stepping on my Cloak and Dagger", by Roger Hall.
- O__________O 4y ago
  Interesting, never heard of the book, thanks! While it’s been awhile, whenever I ran into that situation earlier on I first attempted to avoid them being aware I was nearby and would immediately leave the area. Once thought had no option, but to politely ask if we might talk for second and let them know not to say anything, which they were happy to do. Soon after for unrelated reasons ended up moving and have not run into issue again. All and all, while whole informant, undercover agent, spy, witness protection, etc - type things are tiny bit similar, having know real people in all those situations and read about others, it’s not comparable to what I am doing. Since those situations might not only end in you being killed, but anyone close to you. For example, once met a fellow who went under cover in well known gang as a journalists, they found out and he was lucky to end up in hospital for months instead of dead. For me, worst case is I lose being anonymous as a hobby.
  - nullc 4y ago
    One option is to immediately walk up and introduce yourself. "Hi, (shakes hands), I'm ascii-frogface. (forceful stare)" They'll either get the point or be oblivious enough to be gaslit into thinking you're someone else. :P
    - O__________O 4y ago
      Natural response would be to just say, “oh, I thought your name was [insert prior name]?” - this based on experience, not worth the risk. Beyond that, best to avoid situations if it’s predictably going to happen again, since only matter of time before they slip, decide to mention you prior name behind your back, etc.

by xapata 4y ago

The trouble is when you've been using your alternate persona, chatting with a stranger, and encounter someone who knows your real name that wants to say, "Hello." "Oh, uh, ... that's my middle name."

kibwen 4y ago

"Hush, that's my truename, and there may be witches about."

hot_gril 4y ago

hot_gril is my real name, honest.

O__________O 4y ago

Yeah, have a friend that opted to stop using their real name online. We were on a group call with random strangers and girl randomly yelled out his real name when she heard his voice.

Animats 4y ago

Encountering someone who knows you is one of the big risks for people working undercover. Read "You're Stepping on my Cloak and Dagger", by Roger Hall.

O__________O 4y ago
Interesting, never heard of the book, thanks! While it’s been awhile, whenever I ran into that situation earlier on I first attempted to avoid them being aware I was nearby and would immediately leave the area. Once thought had no option, but to politely ask if we might talk for second and let them know not to say anything, which they were happy to do. Soon after for unrelated reasons ended up moving and have not run into issue again. All and all, while whole informant, undercover agent, spy, witness protection, etc - type things are tiny bit similar, having know real people in all those situations and read about others, it’s not comparable to what I am doing. Since those situations might not only end in you being killed, but anyone close to you. For example, once met a fellow who went under cover in well known gang as a journalists, they found out and he was lucky to end up in hospital for months instead of dead. For me, worst case is I lose being anonymous as a hobby.
- nullc 4y ago
  One option is to immediately walk up and introduce yourself. "Hi, (shakes hands), I'm ascii-frogface. (forceful stare)" They'll either get the point or be oblivious enough to be gaslit into thinking you're someone else. :P
  - O__________O 4y ago
    Natural response would be to just say, “oh, I thought your name was [insert prior name]?” - this based on experience, not worth the risk. Beyond that, best to avoid situations if it’s predictably going to happen again, since only matter of time before they slip, decide to mention you prior name behind your back, etc.