Anonymity

"Groagun" (groagun) 04/24/2015 at 15:46 • Filed to: None

4

16

I have much to say !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!


but for fear of repercussions, I hide behind the cover of anonymity that Kinja and OPPO/Jalopnik provide me.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

It’s not that I fear any legal ramifications, in fact I laugh at them, but it’s the personal and professional niche I have carved out for myself that I am attempting to protect.

I work in the auto business, have dealt with upper end executives right down to the men and women who sweep the floors: I have sat in meetings with parts and technology suppliers of the highest order and largest corporations. I have met with and negotiated with state and federal representatives.

I can name specifically the person and place, that I think has misrepresented, lied, or expressed views that at least socially, would bring scandal to the company, office, town , state or country they work in.

I am protecting them as much as I am protecting myself. Sometimes that makes me angry and even sometimes sad that I cannot let the world know just how bad it can and has been.

I am not plugged into everything and or everyone, quite the opposite. I have a small circle in which I operate and even that small arena has some terrible people and actors within it. The flip side is that there are some extraordinary people you meet as well.

For the most and really, overwhelming part, people are good. But in this business, when they decide to be bad, so many people get hurt.

I no longer have the luxury of calling myself a ‘journalist’, never really did, but as I sit now, I must protect that future I have worked for and just hope many of you understand why I do not use my real name.

yamahog > Groagun 04/24/2015 at 15:49

3

*offers you a beer*

*clinks*

*drinks*

Groagun > yamahog 04/24/2015 at 15:51

2

MMMMMmmmmm....BEER!

HammerheadFistpunch > Groagun 04/24/2015 at 15:54

10

I think my list is shorter:

I don’t want my employer to realize how much time I spend here.

Gamecat235 > Groagun 04/24/2015 at 15:54

5

There are a lot of people like you on Oppo and on the FP who can only say so much about a subject, lest they out themselves as who they actually are and put their livelihood at stake by just publicly sharing an opinion.

I doubt many people here would even blink because of that. And those who would are likely not in a position where maintaining anonymity has ever truly been a concern. My guess is that your rationale likely speaks for a lot of people here, even if only in part.

Well said.

Gamecat235 > HammerheadFistpunch 04/24/2015 at 15:55

1

That’s implied. =)

Lekker > Groagun 04/24/2015 at 15:56

2

So is this an intro? or an obscure insider’s view into something we might not see? I may just be flat out missing something, sorry if I am.

But yeah it is usually when you see what happens in large businesses behind closed doors that leaves many of us speechless. I’ve recently witnessed stuff I was told about that I immediately disregarded as ridiculous, but turned out to be true. The worst part is, that wasn’t even the start.

So, that aside, have a good weekend!

crowmolly > Gamecat235 04/24/2015 at 16:00

1

There’s little reason to put yourself out there to be doxxed and attacked by idiots. Better safe than sorry.

nermal > Groagun 04/24/2015 at 16:01

2

I think age comes into it quite a bit. The younginz aren’t afraid to post pictures of themselves and their cars and whatever else that could be used to identify them. At the same time, they haven’t spent years working their ass off to build a career (yet).

Me? I’ll gladly hide behind an obscure cartoon kitten. Plus I am ironically not gray on the main site and almost all of the sub-blogs. Can’t give that up!

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Groagun 04/24/2015 at 16:02

2

I wouldn’t really expect people to use their actual name here on Oppo, I think I’m one of the few who actually do. I can, but that’s a luxury most people can’t afford.

promoted by the color red > Groagun 04/24/2015 at 16:05

0

Somebody did actually figure out who I was (and there are enough bit that it’s not super difficult to piece it together, anyways), but I’ve never directly said anything as I’m leery of posting any personal details/photos onto social media. I do use facebook, but only so I can tell people cheesy jokes and coordinate events with multiple people.

In any case, I’m tight-lipped about what I actually do for a living, as it’s pretty boring anyways. I get paid to do stuff on a computer AND I listen to Taylor Swift all day.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 04/24/2015 at 16:10

3

I mostly use my real name as a reminder to never say some mean, hateful crap in response to other mean/hateful crap that can be found around the web. Like a reminder about what character is, “Who you are when no one is looking.”

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 04/24/2015 at 16:13

2

Kinda the same thing here. I am who I am, and I shall stand by what I say. But I fully understand that many of us can’t do that because of work and other reasons.

Groagun > Lekker 04/24/2015 at 19:44

0

No to both questions but good assumptions. This is simply something I have been thinking about recently as I think I would like to be legitimate, as I ponder a career in re-entering auto journalism.

I have been asked by a few why I don’t just come out and use my own name. Firstly it’s because my job right now has a huge personal upside if it goes the way I hope it can. Second, I would or could be betraying confidences of the people around me and the contacts I have made: I have never and will never disclose a private meeting or moment with someone who I know would not want that information out in the public or is not there to defend themselves.

As I said, I have a lot to say and I have an opinion on everything. I may go ‘legit’ yet but right now, it’s fun talking about this industry and the people in it from behind a cloak. Safe for them and safe for me: and hopefully entertaining and insightful for you.

Groagun > HammerheadFistpunch 04/24/2015 at 19:46

0

HAHA!!!

Lekker > Groagun 04/24/2015 at 19:52

1

Which is an understandable decision based on your current situation. I wasn’t attacking your statement or decision, simply wondering why the seemingly so defensive statement was made public. I’d think the cloak of anonimity is rather implied when members of this forum can join via burner accounts, which means they could have tons of them. My point being, regardless of the reason or situation you’re always welcome here. No one is going to force you to divulge information you’d rather not, or simply don’t care to share. If anyone acts less than respectful it’s safe to say they can be disregarded, as they don’t have to have a face to shame others here.

Oh, and I’m fairly certain only those who want to be authors in the FP use their real name, not many others. Or who want recognition, or something. Most of us just like to read the shennanigans. :)

wafflesnfalafel > Groagun 04/29/2015 at 23:20

1

Pen names have been used for a thousand years. They do not diminish the value of the work, in some cases they allow it to happen.