The site is called Hacker News, and its culture descends somewhat from the hacker culture of yore, in which aliases always featured prominently. Even outside t

The site is called Hacker News, and its culture descends somewhat from the hacker culture of yore, in which aliases always featured prominently. Even outside that culture, creative nicknames were the norm on the multitude of message boards like this one which were common before social media. I suppose the custom persists because it is useful, and comfortable, and people like it.