Why Do People Use Monikers?

donaldzlotnik · Post by **donaldzlotnik** » 05 Dec 2015, 07:47

Why Do People Use Monikers?
Up front I will start with I do not like the use of monikers. To me they are used to hide one’s true identity and agenda—sneaky.
I believe a person should stand behind what they write and if what they write requires secrecy then I question their motives and agenda.
I’ve come to my opinion based on some painful experiences over the years dealing with people on Internet websites who hide behind their moniker and attack others, individually, but more often as a group and with most website administrators—numbers almost always win over truth and right.
I’ve been banned over the years from probably over a dozen websites and the reasons are varied. On one website I wrote, “Men and women should be treated equally in domestic violence cases…” That comment extremely offended a group of women hiding behind monikers who claimed having been the victims of domestic violence and they demanded I was banned from the site—and won. (The operative word in my statement was “equally” that was found offensive!) Another case was even more interesting. On a military website, I posted my desire for firsthand information concerning a puzzling combat engagement that did not make sense to me. I decided to do a research paper on the incident. As information flowed in from individuals and articles posted on the Internet—including the enemy’s official report—the American official version fell apart and exposed extreme incompetence on the part of the American commander. I posted my findings on a number of military websites and the negative (CYA) response was over-whelming. I had touched a lot of very sensitive nerves—especially when my research proved a Medal of Honor recipient involved was a; traitor, pathological liar and a coward. (You can see where that could upset people.)
They attacked me personally in droves all hiding behind monikers—I used my real name as I have done on this website. Like I said—if you believe in what you write, then you should be proud of it and stand behind it.
Controversy—creates intelligent discussion…but if you remove the word “intelligent”—then it becomes Ghetto trash-talk.
What I find interesting was during that whole fiasco, not a single fact I had uncovered was disproven and they attacked me personally in order to remove the focus on what I had published. Ironically, one of the group hiding behind the monikers became ashamed of what his group was doing and exposed all of them by posting their real names. More than half of them were phonies—who never served in the units they claimed to have served in—another large portion had grossly exaggerated their military records and decorations.
My point is: when one uses a moniker they can become whomever they wish to be and the TRUTH is brushed aside.
So, I ask those of you using monikers—why? As writers, reviewers and readers we should all be proud of who we are and our real accomplishments—thus use our real names, especially on a website like this one where intelligent debate is desired and the sharing of information is encouraged?
If the website administrators refuse to publish this post —you might as well ban me from this website also.

LivreAmour217 · Post by **LivreAmour217** » 11 Dec 2015, 13:47

Safety and security reasons are primary motivators! I have nothing to hide, but I am a member of a population that is commonly targeted by online scammers and even terrorists! Others do it simply for privacy, too.

I also want to say that this is a very civilized online community, and that no one is in danger of being anonymously attacked. There are rules against it.

rssllue · Post by **rssllue** » 11 Dec 2015, 13:52

LivreAmour217 · Post by **LivreAmour217** » 11 Dec 2015, 18:28

rssllue wrote:

Thank you!!!

rssllue · Post by **rssllue** » 11 Dec 2015, 21:14

You are most welcome.

Gravy · Post by **Gravy** » 12 Dec 2015, 06:53

LivreAmour217 wrote:Safety and security reasons are primary motivators! I have nothing to hide, but I am a member of a population that is commonly targeted by online scammers and even terrorists! Others do it simply for privacy, too.

I also want to say that this is a very civilized online community, and that no one is in danger of being anonymously attacked. There are rules against it.

I agree with all of your points!
Besides, it's personal preference. Someone wants their name out there, good for them, but it's just as good for those who don't.

LivreAmour217 · Post by **LivreAmour217** » 12 Dec 2015, 14:38

Graverobber wrote: I agree with all of your points!
Besides, it's personal preference. Someone wants their name out there, good for them, but it's just as good for those who don't.

Thank you, and I agree with your point as well. If some people don't want their names out there, then that is their business.

Post by **bookowlie** » 12 Dec 2015, 16:11

LivreAmour217 wrote:Safety and security reasons are primary motivators! I have nothing to hide, but I am a member of a population that is commonly targeted by online scammers and even terrorists! Others do it simply for privacy, too.

I also want to say that this is a very civilized online community, and that no one is in danger of being anonymously attacked. There are rules against it.

I totally agree. There are also other reasons. I belong to another forum(not reading) where some people use their first names with a number or other ending as user names. There are often people with the same first name and even the same place of residence - for example, Bonnie from Canada, Mark from Virginia. When I first joined that board, my not-overly-common name happened to be the same as a few other members and, in fact, one of them lived in the same state. It became confusing as we both signed our posts with our name and state. Once I saw her posts, I dropped the use of my state in the signature. It just seems easier to become known by a unique user name, at least on some forums.