LooseSuits

Being a gamer, I needed something short and unique which I could use in online games, forums, blogs and such. It was only a couple of weeks ago that I finally decided to use my real name up front. As you can see it's not the most uncommon name, so having a pseudonym just makes sense to stop confusion. I've never really hidden my name - I've just never used it as my primary handle.

When I was in 8th grade, we had 5 Chris'. And it wasn't a big grade. Annoying, but that's what you get for having such a kickass name. Too many parents agreed.

For the longest time I refused to reveal my 'real' name in online contexts - for many reasons I wanted to keep Cas and Claire Louise separate. Over the past year or so however there's been a definite merging, with people calling me Cas offline and CLK online. I'm now at the stage that 'Cas' is just a handy tag for people to identify me by (plus it's quicker to type than my full name).

If I had a choice, I'd stick to being called Cas in most contexts that are/have come about because of online, if only because my 'Cas' persona is one I have created for myself and feel comfortable with. But if people want to call me Claire Louise that's ok too.

I use a pseudonym.

Same as Cas. I was nowickedwitch in high school the live journal deadjouranl type places - no name. I was "Alice" at my blog "Wonderland or Not" and by default sometimes "Alice Cooper". Sometimes real life friend would come by and by habit call me "cooper" in their comments as that is what people called me. No one knew it was really my name so "Alice" or "Alice Cooper" was me for a couple years.

Recently I just gave it all up except Instant Messaging where my name is still feigned.

I may one day have to start another blog under an assumed name, who knows.

I just noticed that at Pownce, and it kind of surprised me. I expected them to use the name I signed up with. I'm not used to being called by my first name on line, or anywhere for that matter.

I'm probably a couple weeks or months behind Cas and Cooper. I use a pseudonym right now (sorrow) almost everywhere -- but i've been running into problems with it: if i sign up for any services that are not at least relatively new, "sorrow" is surprisingly often taken. I've also started using another (MusingCynic) lately because of that problem, but i'm not nearly as fond of it and much less inclined to use it.

But, i just checked yesterday and my name as a domain name is not taken. So that, teamed with what seems to be a growing number of people using their full names in online communities is pushing me towards making the transition.

50-50.

I use my name for my blog and a few social networking sites but I use my nickname for Flickr, del.icio.us, Last.fm and other sites. Identity crisis?

I am thinking about changing my Flickr display name to my real name because I am thinking about turning photography in a freelance sidejob. I started out using my nickname because I was afraid of getting sued by major bands. But if I rethink all the contracts I signed I can use the pictures for portfolio purposes. Now I just put a disclaimer on Flickr and hope that is sufficient (and I restrain the size to 500 pixels which is useless for publishing).

I tend to use a pseudo name but generally use my real photo. My real name isn't a mystery, anyone with a lick of research ability can more than likely figure it out.

Its like flair, something I add to my online personality that says, hello world, I like coffee! Errr.. hmm.. I knew I should have gone with LuvsFakeBoobsAndNymphoWomen

My real first name is Sean. Yeah, I know. Boring.

It's funny when people from my online world meet me in person and we become friends.

They'll say "your name is really Sean? I thought it was a nickname."

Good times.

My last name is Carmody so I've been using the uber-boring carmodyarc as my on-line identity for forever. It stems back to the first BBS I was ever a part of (way back, pre-junior high even) where the SYSOP decreed that everyone would go by their last name and their three initials. I started using it there, and never really stopped.

I experimented with a pseudonym, but I'm far too set in my ways (the pseudonym was wepe which I thought was terribly clever, if you flip it horizontally and vertically it says adam).

Use my real name. reasons are manifold. one, thinking of a pseudonym is a pain in the A**, at least for me, and at the end of it, i come up with the lousiest ones, like "a dozen dominoes" or "The esophagus road block"! my real name sounds like a pseudonym anyway ! :)

I use my real name online. I have for years now. I just think it brings a personal touch to things.

I also address people online by their real name if I know it, even if they use an alias. I've only had one person ever mind me doing so.