Question: How much do you hide your identity?

"ImmoralMinority" (araimondo) 07/31/2016 at 14:48 • Filed to: None

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I make very little effort to hide who I am on line. I have that luxury in part because I have my own business so no one can fire me for an Internet post. Also, I represent small businesses who generally dont have time to worry about bullshit. They know I stick my neck out for them, so they don’t care if I’m a little loony on line.

I get lots of calls from clients upset about what employees post on social media. I usually ask them if the person is doing a good job. If so, shut the fuck up and be happy you have a good employee.

Do you feel pressure to hide your on line presence?

yitznewton > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 14:51

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I’m in software, working for a post-startup company. I think I’m pretty uncontroversial in my online presence, but in any case I don’t feel much, if any, risk involved.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 14:51

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As a school teacher I don’t so much as hide it but moderate it, consequently I don’t post a whole lot unless its car or baby related.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 14:57

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My username has my name in it. I’ve got pictures of my cars with the house in the background. If you really wanted to find out who I am, it wouldn’t be difficult.

jvirgs drives a Subaru > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 15:01

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Not necessarily. I have removed any link from me to my employer on social media just in case someone wants to try to do the oh look at what so-and-so posted on social media.... I’m so offended... fire him. (Not that I post anything of the sort) I’m just not going to take any chances in today’s society.

Tohru > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 15:03

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Tohru is who I am online.

Offline I am someone else.

XJDano > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 15:05

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I have to be somewhat careful what I post. My boss doesn’t want any work related social media photos or whatever. For good reason. But I quit FB a couple years ago because I was tired of these BS shares & likes that cluttered everything up.

I bitch about my work here sometimes because it sucks sometimes.

My identity I moderate it, I mean I have my first name hidden in my user name, and have used my username in quite a few forums. If someone wanted to learn about me and my family it wouldn’t be that hard. But I’m not going to write the whole story out for you.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 15:09

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I’ll make no secret of the fact that I drive a 4Runner and live in Birmingham. I wear a Jalopnik t shirt to most car shows I go to so that’s identifiable. But aside from that, it would probably be hard to track me to my house.

duurtlang > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 15:10

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I do hide it somewhat. I don’t want a future employer googling my name years from now find some old rambling. So I make it a rule to not post name, email and phone number in way google can catch. I’ve got a little image with my email address, and I’ll just spell out parts of the phone number.

Having said that, I don’t blur licence plates nor do I hide location/age/sex/whatnot.

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 15:11

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I’m fairly cautious on the internet. I’m not on Facebook for example. And although I’m posting on Oppo about my personal experiences I’m trying to keep it superficial and/or at least a bit delayed.

For example I’d never post something like: “I’ll leave for a big vacation in four days and will be gone for two weeks.” Who knows? Maybe someone could be able to locate my flat...?
I was following a Youtuber once. It just took a few videos to find his actual house on Google Earth. I bet he wasn’t thinking about this possibility. I also knew what I’d find in his house and when he wouldn’t be around. That’s scary...

Hence I’m not paranoid on the internet, but hopefully not naive either.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 15:13

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I don’t announce who I am online but I don’t try to hide my identity and I don’t really care if people find out. There are multiple oppos who have determined who I am.

McMike > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 15:16

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The only thing that’s online with my name on it is my LinkedIn profile.

My online presence is already hidden.

interstate366, now In The Industry > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 15:17

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I don’t mention my employer or use my last name, but otherwise I’m fairly transparent. I don’t blur my plates, and I’m not on Facebook.

Urambo Tauro > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 15:20

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Internet privacy’s kind of important to me. Ever since I got my first e-mail address, I have used the internet on a screenname-only basis. But I do use my real name if necessary for placing orders, making payments, doing taxes, stuff like that. I do not use Facebook, LinkedIn, or other social accounts that use my real name, or could connect it to my screenname.

I’ve met a few of you in person, and have of course used my real name in face-to-face encounters, but I appreciate that you guys are continuing to use my screenname for online interactions. I suppose that if my real name slips like Tavarish’s did, it probably won’t be a big deal, but for the time being, I’d like to keep it on the down-low until it becomes unavoidable.

Urambo Tauro > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer 07/31/2016 at 15:33

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I know what you mean. One of the Jalopnik authors lives on a main highway and I’ve passed by his place countless times. I didn’t even need to do any such sleuthing.

I won’t tell anyone where it is, and I haven’t made use of the information myself, either. I may not be able to simply forget where he lives, but at least I can be respectful about it.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 15:35

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I’m that awkward and regularly google my name lol even though I avoid mentioning it anywhere if possible. With that said, I have no problem with telling how old I am and where I’m from and so on.

Wobbles the Mind > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 15:35

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I’m fairly cautious. I only give out my PIN and SSN for sweepstakes entries, lotteries, and to Nigerian Princes.

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > Urambo Tauro 07/31/2016 at 15:41

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“I won’t tell anyone where it is, and I haven’t made use of the information myself, either.”

Yet!
Use this knowlegde wisely...

Urambo Tauro > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer 07/31/2016 at 16:05

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Haha, yeah I guess so. If I had some spare parts that would fit one of his vehicles, I probably would be tempted to drop them off at his place.

But there’s no need to be creepy about it. I’ve met him more than once, and we have each other’s e-mail, so communication’s not a problem.

fintail > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 16:10

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I am completely transparent. My real name is “Fintail”.

But really, I am not into fb, I have a linkedin page I don’t check much, and that’s about it. I don’t go around looking for controversy, so I am not much of a presence. However, I often say my general location, and my fintail is probably the only one just like it (model, colors, trim detail) on the road in the country, so if one finds the car, they find me.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 16:18

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I don’t hide anything honestly. I don’t blur plates, I have pictures of the front of my house with the house number in them, I say I’m from St. Louis all the time, my name is in my username, I've given my age, and I think I’ve even posted pictures of myself.

EL_ULY > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 16:26

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Don’t have any social media besides LaLD, OPPO, and Jalopnik so.... hi everyone! My name is Ulysses

yamahog > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 16:45

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yes, because I won’t be threatened or stalked by people who have a psychopathic temper tantrum breakdown when a woman says something they don’t like. I’ve already had someone make threats of violence and personal attacks against me based on the appearance of another woman they must’ve confused me with, so yea. no thanks. as much as I would love to tell you as much cool shit about where I work and what I do, pictures of us out and about doing cool stuff with other Oppo friends... that’ll never happen.

And this:

I get lots of calls from clients upset about what employees post on social media.

makes me raise an eyebrow. What constitutes “a lot” and what the hell are these employees doing online that has multiple people, but not you, concerned enough to do something?

bhtooefr > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 17:03

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Frankly, I’m completely fucked if someone decides to dox me.

It’s trivial to get my real name, and from there, my address and phone number. (The address because I’m an amateur radio operator, and IIRC both the address and phone number (along with my employer’s name) are included in at least one FEC disclosure, thanks to a large contribution to a political campaign.) For that matter, it’s trivial to get the address and phone number even without my real name.

BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 17:34

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My SSN is 420-69-1337. Do with that what you will.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 17:58

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I don’t put my actual name in anything I write, so if you google my real name my Oppo stuff doesn’t come up. However, I’ve posted links to my portfolio before, pictures of myself, projects I work on, and I get tagged in the photos I take for LaLD on Instagram . It’s no secret, but I don’t broadcast my identity either.

Mercedes Streeter > ImmoralMinority 07/31/2016 at 19:54

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Outside of my email, I don’t dox myself. That said, I’m incredibly public. Like, I subject myself to the worst the Internet has to offer...all in the name of love and education.

Mercedes Streeter > yamahog 07/31/2016 at 19:58

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+1 And I noticed you often do what I do and try to provide knowledge in the middle of a dumpster fire, just to end up on the receiving end.

yamahog > Mercedes Streeter 07/31/2016 at 20:29

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which, may I add, gives me a lot of respect for your faith in humanity openly using your name and face online despite the flaming bags of poop that get flung around teh kinja :)

Mercedes Streeter > yamahog 07/31/2016 at 21:41

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I have more faith than I probably should. lol :) Naturally, I’m an optimist, which can and does make me depressed when I learn about the injustice in the world.

I’ve had it easy compared to many others like me, so I try my best to give back where I can, even at the expense that I potentially do not have a private life, or are at greater risk of IRL violence. Even if I help just 1 person, it would all be worth it. <3

Xyl0c41n3 > Mercedes Streeter 07/31/2016 at 23:13

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You're resilient, Mercedes. You keep doing you. Fuck the haters.

Mercedes Streeter > Xyl0c41n3 07/31/2016 at 23:48

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I love the women of Oppo! And remember, you’re one of the first who helped me get to where I am today. :D You and Cajun Ginger especially!

“You’re resilient” is exactly what Miss Tesla told me a week ago too!!! :)

I’m far from perfect. I beat myself up over anything bad that happens. My parents basically raised me to hate myself and thus, my core values are all negative...”Life sucks”, “I deserve to have bad things to happen to me”, “I don’t deserve to be loved” etc etc. It’s the biggest thing my therapist and I have been unraveling since November.

It’s going to be a long journey to true happiness, but gosh dammit I will fucking get there any way I can. And even today, I look back and see everything as worth it. From ditching toxic relationships to making my transition public, I can look back and smile at what I’ve done. :)

RallyWrench > EL_ULY 08/01/2016 at 01:13

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Hi Ulysses! I’m Tom Selleck, I prefer double stuff Oreos.

RallyWrench > ImmoralMinority 08/01/2016 at 01:15

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I am Tom Selleck, but I try not to advertise it.

EL_ULY > RallyWrench 08/01/2016 at 09:46

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LOL!!! mmmmmmmmmm!!!!

Dude my wife made these things the other day where she crushed the balls out of a bunch of frosting-less Oreo cookies and mixed the powder with Philadelphia cream cheese or something like that. They were called Oreo something truffles. I tell you what , they was criminally delicious!

RallyWrench > EL_ULY 08/01/2016 at 10:45

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Dangit Bobby, now I’m hungry!