One of my first creative outlets, pre-World-Wide Web, was as a home studio based solo musician. I did this under my own name; I never thought to do otherwise. I was proud of what I did, and wanted people to know who had done it. Inventing a pseudo-group as a shield seemed particularly pointless given that there would only be me in the group, and I wasn't expecting to need shielding. Hordes of rabid fans were never a possibility, given the niche appeal of my material. :)

When the Internet finally arrived at our house, I used it to publicise my musical output, again under my own name. I rather naively assumed that once I was online to the world, a path would be beaten to my door. Mrs. Bob was rather apprehensive about this, fearing that the people beating a path to our door would be the world's villains, seeking to relieve me of all the valuable instruments and recording gear I would be assumed to have.

She has a point: If I look up my name on Google, all the results on the first page are connected with me; and on the second page, the only one that isn't is a misspelling of someone else's name. My name is reasonably uncommon, and the namesakes I know I have seemingly aren't interested in being on the Internet; so I am easily traced. So far this has been for the good; I have occasionally been contacted by people who had heard my music long ago (I was played on BBC Radio 1, once, back in the seventies) and hadn't been able to get hold of a copy at the time.

I eased off on music after I was seduced by the attractions of CGI (it all started with a CD cover design, appropriately enough). However I'm now back in a band again, and enjoying it. The band's MySpace page has my real name on it. I'd like to put all my creative eggs in one basket, so to speak. To do that, my well-hidden music downloads need to be in my name; and that means that the CGI needs to be in my name too. Well, maybe not the stuff at the Sites That We Mustn't Link To...

There isn't a real question behind this formless rambling, but if anybody wants to chip in with their thoughts or opinions, or even some formless rambling of your own, please ramble away... :)

I put my real name in the phone book (well, I used to, when I used to have a land line) and my real name is in a vast number of online databases (I do almost all of my shopping on the 'Net) so I don't see much harm in broadcasting my name. Although I'm not particularly careful with them, I do tend to not broadcast my e-mail addresses or phone number; the idea there is to cut down on unwanted junk mail and such.

"Jack" is the name on my birth certificate, and I think I've gotten too old to want to be called anything else.

Interestingly, if you Google my name, the first three links are to a professional wrestler, a politician, and a used car dealer. Now that's scary stuff.

:biggrin:

Most people know my real name (I've not really kept it a big secret ;o)). So far, I haven't had any adverse things happen because of it....knock wood. If I do an internet search on my name, I can usually find something that relates to me personally: however, most aren't going to dig as far as it takes to do that...lol.

Laurie

**Bob,
I've been going through this issue lately myself.  Not me diredtly, I have generally used my real name and occationaly an old feline-friend's name, but mostly my own .... but my partner whom I've nicknamed Jo, is wrestling with that at the moment for a different reason.  She is a writer and has an interest in writing for a specific audience.  She has a daughter and grandkids that she doesn't want to stumble onto this particualar genre of works.  YET- she wants to be aknowledged as the originator of the work.  See the dilemma?  Also we aren't sure if it would bring up copyright issues as well.  So this is an interesting topic for me and I look forward to more info on this thread.
Boni (yest that is my reall name)

PS excuse the large bold font, I have a visual impairment and my windows magnifier doesn't follow the type in these boxes.
**

I use my own name, straight up. If folks want to find me, there's plenty of ways to do so. :)

Only complication I've had to endure in all this is that my name is the same as:

(1) the author of a series of histories about the medieval period

(2) the dummer of a heavy metal rock band called Hatebreed

and (3) an up and coming college basketball player

Because of this, my mail box sometimes gets some really interesting letters...

I've actually often wished that my google searches for my name had something to do with me.  Although, this thread prompted me to search for me again...and the most popular "Jennifer Burns" out there, alas, isn't me.  She's an actress.  Her most notable/recent work?  "Power Rangers: Lightspeed"!!  :) 

There are a few others (most notably a history professor), but, I'm not listed until the bottom, and that's my facebook and redbubble pages, respectively le sigh

Well, I've always used a 'handle'; my name is strange enough as it is..;)

The job situation nowadays leads people my age to have to lead a double life; if you can be traced (try pipl.com, and see what's out there besides your Google 'footprint') you can be ignored for job postings. So, they've actually had 'unemployment' classes to teach you to (un)successfully mask your apparent age.

I use Pakled as my 'fun' handle; I write as well (nothing that can be posted here; 'nuff said), and that would almost certainly torpedo any chance to get hired...;)  The real name goes on business-related stuff (2 email accounts, a linked in, yada yada...;) so that's how it works for me.

I'l make a 'major' concession; my last name actually is Brown...;)

Quote - She is a writer and has an interest in writing for a specific audience.  She has a daughter and grandkids that she doesn't want to stumble onto this particualar genre of works.  YET- she wants to be aknowledged as the originator of the work.  See the dilemma?  Also we aren't sure if it would bring up copyright issues as well.

Boni, your partner shouldn't have any trouble using a pen-name for her work. She'll want to use her real name if she has a publisher so they know who to write the checks to, but the name doesn't have to go on the book. If it's self-published or published in any way where royalties aren't involved, just use the pen-name and don't worry about it. She can set up an e-mail account for the pen-name in advance, and then keep any correspondence for the works separate from whomever she wants to keep it separate from.

If she's worried about someone stealing the work or other infringement, she should register the copyright (not required, but registering is a good idea if she's worried about it). Some authors create a corporation (which isn't too difficult or expensive to do any more, especially an LLC or a PC) and copyright their works under the name of the corporation. That way, the real name doesn't appear anywhere on the work at all, but as an officer of the corporation it's still easy to establish her ownership of the work.

Quote - PS excuse the large bold font, I have a visual impairment and my windows magnifier doesn't follow the type in these boxes.

I don't have this trouble here at R'osity, but there is another forum where I can't see what I'm writing when I post a message. FWIW, what I usually do is quote the text I'm going to respond to (if any), copy and paste it into a text editor that I use which has a much friendler font, then I copy and paste the response back into their itty-bitty window. It's extra trouble, but it makes it more pleasant to participate.

On the other hand, if big and bold is your thing, then go for it. A little boldness can be a good thing, from time to time.

I am in the witness protection program so using my real name is out of the question.

I sometimes use my real name, but a search of my name on Google turns up nothing about me. There is a college professor with my name tho.
Everyone in the Yahoo chatroom where I hang out knows my real first and last name. (Jeff is my real first name)

As far as I can tell, I'm the only Hoadley (הודלי in Hebrew spelling) in Israel (according to the Phone Book), or at least the Tel-Aviv area, so I'm fairly easy to find, should anybody REALLY want to.  As for life threatening situations, terrorist don't need to know my name in order to do me in, -all that's necessary is to stand next to me at a bus stop.
So, I've never been too worried about using my real name.
DPH

I'm so old I can't remember what my real name is anymore!

One odd twist is, anytime there is a major earthquake people can spell my last name correctly for about two weeks, then they get old like me and forget my name too.

have used the first letter of my first name and my full last name on other forum signon's relating to web design for a long time. Felt if I used something else here, I would get more confused then I already am. IE: the KISS principle. My picture should be next to the last S of KISS in the dictionary by the way!

I have a very common last name, but my first name is Victor; a name that most people have heard but isn't all that common.   If you search on it, for sure I am not the first one to come up.  I don't use it here in large part because I have a phycho ex wife out there who has been known to use the internet to try and see whatever I am up to.  Her girlfriend is very 'net savvy, and I just don't care for the idea of her looking at my renders.  I picked up this hobby after I got away from her, so she'd have no way to know about it and I made up a new username that she won't have heard of.

I always go by a handle.  The only place I have ever put my real name is on my personal website in the fine copyright print at the bottom to protect my writing.  I also specifically use my maiden name because it is extremely common (whereas my married name is uncommon enough that we're the only ones in the phonebook).

While most people out there are decent, mature human beings, it never hurts to be careful.

I'm one of only two Rod Schaffters in the US, if not the world.  There are quite a few Rod Schafers, apparently.   Googling me brings up a bunch of computer and model railroading links, with a few science and homebrew ones sprinkled therein.

Quote - I've actually often wished that my google searches for my name had something to do with me.  Although, this thread prompted me to search for me again...and the most popular "Jennifer Burns" out there, alas, isn't me.  She's an actress.  Her most notable/recent work?  "Power Rangers: Lightspeed"!!  :) 

There are a few others (most notably a history professor), but, I'm not listed until the bottom, and that's my facebook and redbubble pages, respectively le sigh

That is you! WOW!

LOL

Most people know me in most of the circles I am involved in by both my real name and my moniker, ratscloset....

As unique as my name is, oddly, when searched, you usually get a distant relative that apparently has had more commercial success than I have... Interestingly, we are in related fields (He is in Architecture.. that is where I started...) Never met the man, but I feel a kinship to him.

Quote - I am in the witness protection program so using my real name is out of the question.

LOL!!

Heh... I have the luxury of having a very common name. There's like 50 of me in the Metro phone book, and two of us at the company I work for. Google me all you like, but you'll drown in the results... few of which will actually be, well... me. Even then, accuracy problems arise; most of my info is either way out-of-date (e.g. I don't live in Utah anymore), 404's (for the same reason), or wildly inaccurate (I once had a OS fanboy keep claiming that I work for a children's book company for some odd reason). >:) 

I use my real name when I sign my images -- a Google search of Victoria Silvester brings up some interesting results, none of which have anything to do with lil ol' me. Anyone that was trying to find me and hurt me would probably end up on the wrong continent.

This is one of the first internet sites I joined and I didn't really think about it too much. Since then, I always use an alias. As someone said above, employers now routinely do searches and maybe I'm paranoid but I worry thay anything you say about sex, religion, politics ect. could end up being a liability in that regard. Then of course, there's always the extremely remote possibility that some crazy may decide to hunt you down. Personally, I can't understand these folks who put their entire lives up on Facebook, Twitter every time they go to the bathroom and now use cellphone GPS to let people know where they are at every moment. 

Maybe we who do not go internet insane would be better off if our real names were attached
to all our web activities.  My first forum experiences were financial boards, Yahoo, etc,
and it's hard to believe what comes out of their mouths when you say something that
might come between them and a thin dime.  What an education. 

But I've actually made some long-lasting acquaintances since then and these Poser
forums where people are friendly and helpful have been nearly downright therapeutic.

JMO.

Sincerely,

John Smith.  LOL.  ;)

Because we sell products and offer services, we HAVE to use our real name, phone number and location...so I don't bother to try and hide any of it at all.  We WANT people to be able to find us...although...if they get any funny ideas.....Les is 6ft 3in tall and is 300 lbs of muscle....so you have better think twice.   ;p

I can think of several reasons why most people would NOT want to use their IRL names though, mostly involving trying to hide from crazy exes. Hiding what they are doing from family, friends and/or work; I've seen some of those images y'all've made.....naughty naughty. 

--Rebekah Garner--

We should all just use Spartacus! 

I tried using my real first name and first letter of my last name, it was already taken.  I thought of numbers and letters, but I would forget them.  So I settled on a combination of names and found one that nobody uses. Plutom is a really dumb handle (its the combination of Pluto and Mercury), but it worked nobody has it.   However, all the folks that I see here are really great.  However----- that's why I don't put too much info anywhere.  Jan 

I never use my full real name on the internet.  Too many weirdos out there and I'm a weirdo magnet!!  Linda is my real first name, but when I have to use a last name on the internet, I use an alias.   There are a few people that I've met online that do know my real last name, but those are special situations where I consider them friends and have exchanged either cards/gifts through snail mail at holiday times.

I use a middle name and middle initial here. I would use my real name but as you can see from my avatar I'm too chicken.

ChrisF.

 Meh.. if I type my full name into Google, my Facebook page pops up as the first one :S And the next couple of links are also me. I guess I would be easy to track down if someone wanted... (oh yeah the WhoIs also reveals me...)

Then again, I've never been afraid to use it. There are things I do online I wouldn't SHOW specific people, but if they're nosy enough to seek out the information themselves, then I guess they asked for it ROFL

My first name is Lisbeth and while I like my name just fine, I HATE when people I don't know (or only know online)  call me thet. It's like they're overstepping some boundary. Invading my personal space.. Can't really explain it, but a SURE way of NEVER selling anything to me is to use my name repeatedly during the conversations. Makes me wanna bitchslap that person.

So don't. Not even for shit and giggles. I won't like it ;)

OTOH I do answer to Trekkie, also in the Real World :)

I use my real name (lesbentley = Les Bentley). I haven noticed any bad consequences... yet.

Quote - partial,

I can think of several reasons why most people would NOT want to use their IRL names though, mostly involving trying to hide from crazy exes. Hiding what they are doing from family, friends and/or work; I've seen some of those images y'all've made.....naughty naughty. 

--Rebekah Garner--

LOL, Oh yes another reason for not using your real name!  Jan

This has turned out to be quite an interesting ramble. Thanks folks, and keep the comment coming.

Quote - She has a daughter and grandkids that she doesn't want to stumble onto this particular genre of works.
-Boni

Quote - I've seen some of those images y'all've made.....naughty naughty.
-Rebekah

It was the desire to make my own particular brand of naughty pictures that got me into using Poser in the first place. It was the fuel that drove me to learn as much as I did about the program, and I know there are plenty of others running off the same power source... As it turned out, what was in my head turned out to be merely rather offbeat when compared to the bottomless cesspit of the Internet at large; but I still wouldn't want to explain my work in that genre to most people who know me in real life, and certainly not to a prospective employer. Even the fact that I make 3D models of women's clothing is a puzzle for a non-Poser user.

I suppose one should act as though there's an obsessed stalker making a back-up copy of everything you've ever published and feeding it into a cross-referenced database - it may be paranoid, but what if they really ARE out to get you?

On the other hand, maybe I'm not important enough to have an obsessed stalker after all. :-) 

I use my real name in fields I want to become famous in, and handles everywhere else, especially if I want to keep worlds separate

I am def the most famous person with my name, but that's not a big accomplishment.

I have done some things on the internet under my real name that would probably keep me out of elected office. Hopefully not employment though.

Haha typing my real name into google brings back the front page of my old R'osity account (Sadly I cant log into it for some reason)

my handle is a handle.
Its the work thing too. Too many spies anymore trying to do you in to save the company money...actually, they don't like it when you do stuff that tarnishes their image..
can't really blame them, but it makes it necessary to be incognito as much as possible.

My 'poser' name has become my brand - I do sometimes sign posts using my real name - but know most people know me and my stuff by the posername. So I've kept using it - kept pretty much the same avatar as well as I know a few people 'read' forums by looking at the pictures.

I do know a lady who's name is the same as a hollywood actress and she's found that online using it on sites like facebook often just attracts abuse. One ISP even refused to let use it as her email address.

I think what Bob said about non-Poser users finding this hobby/pastime/obsession
puzzling is a fascinating topic in itself. 

OT, I know, but, for me, I always wished I could draw, but I can't draw to save my life.  And
I also love to write.  So now I can finally at long last view the beautiful face that  has always
been with me as well as bring my words to life through Talk Designer.

It's like magic.

Bob, you missed your calling.  You should host a talk show.

Unless you already do.  LOL.

:)

hm, interesting point :)

I'd rather go by nom de plume' "Silverblade the Enchanter" it's more who I want and kind of used to be (mad cap nutter :p), than what I am now (due to illness).

Quote - She is a writer and has an interest in writing for a specific audience.  She has a daughter and grandkids that she doesn't want to stumble onto this particualar genre of works.  YET- she wants to be aknowledged as the originator of the work.

Anne Rice published three books under the nom de plume A. N. Roquelaure. It doesn't seem to have hurt her career. Steven King wrote The Running Man under a pen name of Richard Bachman which was later made into a move starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Same comment :)

My last name is not very common in the US... Only 3 and they are related. One in California, my aunt. The other 2 are me and mother dearest, here in NY.... Type in the last name and there's a bunch of gibberish (to me anyway). There is a whole bunch of them living in Brazil. Now that I didn't know. :lol:  Some how my name has made it to the World Wide Web before me because the work I used to do in medical research and that was a LLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGG time ago. :b_funny: