So our real names

[WNYresident]

I recieved an email today that stated why don't posters use thier real names especially the people who started the MB. I replied when anyone ask me I tell them plus they can easily look up who owns the site etc...

So why don't we use are real names or at least first and last initials? Are we that paranoid? When I chose my screen name I wasn't doing it to hide myself, I just thought it sounded clever as a screen name.

[kernwatch]

Thank you!

At a time when so few trust the news, as our First Amendment rights are under steady attack, it is more important than ever that "freedom of speech" should be 'responsible speech' . . open & accountable.

For starters, I challenge the author of "Nice1257" to come forward with his true identity! Or, if he does not, those who know who it is should reveal it . . under their own names.

Any future Mayor of Buffalo, especially one challenging the status quo, should demand no less?!

Dick Kern (in Mpls)

[yaksplat]

There are too many strange people online. I've had someone look me up before and show up at my place. Yeah, that was awkward.

[ERIEMAN]

No way in hell. I work very hard to keep my name from appearing on the internet for numerous reasons. Google is a very powerful tool that can be used against you. My name isn't even listed in the phone book.

Put your name on here, people have your address, phone number, place of employment, kids names, wife's (or partner!) name, your wife's place of employment, your interests, your proclivities, your email addresses, your boss' phone number, your fetish websites, etc...

no way.

[300miles]

It's not paranoia necessarily, but caution. Like yaksplat said, there are a whole lot of freaks out there. Our posts can be read by anyone on the planet and posts can be easily be saved forever if somebody wanted to. Plus Identity Theft is skyrocketing. Why open yourself up to any risk? Anyone who thinks the risks aren't real is being naive.

Internet culture has always been based on screen-names. If anyone wants to disclose their name that's their decision. But they shouldn't demand other people do the same.

[BTTB]

i only want people to know im bad to the bone.

[steven]

real name? whats that? my real name is myxixpickles.

actualy as boring as it sounds my real name .... really is steven. I was thinking of changing that to something more apropo like Buffalo Barbarian or even WNY Rebel but I have no imagination.

[Riven37]

need to do is run my Anaconda program and I can find anyone on the net. I can find your phone # listed or unlisted, address, state, work, where you hang out all through a powerfull program called Anaconda...

Now you really want to use your real name Hummmmm, do you???

[kernwatch]

I find it troubling that folks are willing to take so few risks at home to promote responsible democracy & citizen participation.

At the same time we casually ask our youth (& parents of young children, in the case of the National Guard) to put their lives on the line . . . with highly dubuious "protection" . . . on the other side of the world for dubious causes.

As a longtime cityhall "watchdog", I have been endangered only by public officials who have gotten "protection" from the likes of DA Frank Clark, who dragged me into court about 25 times for exposing the likes of BMHA Commissioner & then-Independence Party Chair Charlie Flynn. Most recently he tried to run me down with his car as I crossed the street to attend a BMHA Board meeting. It was the first meeting he had attended after a year-long ban on my attending was lifted (I was not permitted within 100 feet of Flynn by DA Calrk's "felony prosecutor" Michael McHale, in a 50 foot long meeting room, speaking of the First Amendment & "public meetings")

Flynn now posts anonymously here as "Nice1257.

Is that OK?
Do you folks also attend public meetings "anonymously"? Is that what America now stands for?

[300miles]

Why does anonymous posting bother you? How does this negatively impact Democracy? I think you're mixing different things.

Besides, even if everyone DID post their names, there's no way to verify it. I could sign every post with "Julianna Hatfield". Doesn't mean it's true.

[BTTB]

want my pass words too.

[LHardy]

Mine is no secret and I have been pressured and pursude. I figure it is the price I will pay to forward change in EC and NYS.
If you want to be taken with even a small amount of credability come forward for your ideas. I'm sure George Washington went by Biggy "G".

How about all our leaders go by fictious names? They stand a better chance of being threatend then we do.

[ERIEMAN]

Originally posted by kernwatch
I find it troubling that folks are willing to take so few risks at home to promote responsible democracy & citizen participation.

At the same time we casually ask our youth (& parents of young children, in the case of the National Guard) to put their lives on the line . . . with highly dubuious "protection" . . . on the other side of the world for dubious causes.

As a longtime cityhall "watchdog", I have been endangered only by public officials who have gotten "protection" from the likes of DA Frank Clark, who dragged me into court about 25 times for exposing the likes of BMHA Commissioner & then-Independence Party Chair Charlie Flynn. Most recently he tried to run me down with his car as I crossed the street to attend a BMHA Board meeting. It was the first meeting he had attended after a year-long ban on my attending was lifted (I was not permitted within 100 feet of Flynn by DA Calrk's "felony prosecutor" Michael McHale, in a 50 foot long meeting room, speaking of the First Amendment & "public meetings")

Flynn now posts anonymously here as "Nice1257.

Is that OK?
Do you folks also attend public meetings "anonymously"? Is that what America now stands for?

Do you have anything to back any of this up?

[Curmudgeon]

...promote responsible democracy

I'm not sure what "responsible democracy" implies. Does that mean anonymous posts qualify as "irresponsible democracy"? That seems to conflict with the long history of pamphleteering in the USA.

Mr Kern, you of all people should appreciate the protections offered by anonyminity. If you were able to disclose the information you spent many years uncovering anonymously and publicize it under a moniker, perhaps you would not be the de-facto political exile you are right now!

It's hard for the D.A. to prosecute "Curmudgeon" but all too easy to harass Mr. Kern...

With all due respect, Mr. Kern, fleeing the area (and perhaps rightfully so) and then complaining about the activity of people who don’t want to be identified seems a bit wrong.

I’m thinking you’ll be back soon….

[citymouse]

No thank you. I am on the do not call list and I still get called. I have a pop up blocker and I still get pop ups. Junk mail too. I like to voice my opinion, love to debate my point of view with others. I also enjoy my anominity and don't need any internet wackos in my life.
But if you must know who I am I will tell you. But keep it quiet. I don't want my whearabouts known.

My name is Jimmy Hoffa.