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I am a relatively recent arrival in that I've got nothing to do with the "seed" group: someone mentioned this site and Paul Graham at a DC OLPC meetup last year

I am a relatively recent arrival in that I've got nothing to do with the "seed" group: someone mentioned this site and Paul Graham at a DC OLPC meetup last year, and I checked it out. I would not object at all to linking what I say here to my real name. Indeed, my name is Thomas Doggette. My username is my first initial and last name. I don't use my real identity on sites where I argue with others about sex and religion and politics (in rather mixed company), nor where I play games, but something like HN provides a benefit to me (reputation among potential future colleagues and employers) in exchange for being upfront about who I am.

e1ven 18y ago
Great to meet you, Thomas! Welcome to Hacker News. Thank you for the wonderful post- That's exactly the point I was trying to make in my article. "I don't use my real identity on sites where I argue with others about sex and religion and politics " People avoid certain subjects and behavior when they're using their real name and identity. They focus on building an account which will help their reputation. It just so happens that the best way to do that is to civilly discuss news and information that's relevant to a Hacker News site ;) If the goal is to keep conversation civil and on-topic, encouraging people to post under their real names, using their reputation as collateral, just might work.
Tangurena 18y ago
I understand your point, and respect it. I, however, use a nickname I've been using for some time. Last year, I ran for election (I came in dead last). If I had to associate my handle with my real name, I'd log off and never frequent any forum or blog ever again. Not only would political opponents use nasty snippets from anything I might have every posted in the past few decades, I'd also get ridiculed on boards and fora with incessant ad hominem attacks of "oh you're only saying that because you're an evil $POLITCAL_PARTY politican!"

e1ven 18y ago

Great to meet you, Thomas! Welcome to Hacker News. Thank you for the wonderful post- That's exactly the point I was trying to make in my article. "I don't use my real identity on sites where I argue with others about sex and religion and politics " People avoid certain subjects and behavior when they're using their real name and identity. They focus on building an account which will help their reputation. It just so happens that the best way to do that is to civilly discuss news and information that's relevant to a Hacker News site ;) If the goal is to keep conversation civil and on-topic, encouraging people to post under their real names, using their reputation as collateral, just might work.

Tangurena 18y ago

I understand your point, and respect it. I, however, use a nickname I've been using for some time. Last year, I ran for election (I came in dead last). If I had to associate my handle with my real name, I'd log off and never frequent any forum or blog ever again. Not only would political opponents use nasty snippets from anything I might have every posted in the past few decades, I'd also get ridiculed on boards and fora with incessant ad hominem attacks of "oh you're only saying that because you're an evil $POLITCAL_PARTY politican!"