On: Is it bad practice to use your real name online?

[stfu]

Absolutely! OP comment sounds a lot like the "I use my real name, because I have nothing to hide" argument.

As long as your viewpoints are completely aligned with the mainstream opinions held in your extended peer group, you have nothing to loose using your real name.

But in all other cases you never know when some HR minion thinks he became a data mining genius because he dug up some comment you made 10 years ago on a random message board,

[aaronbrethorst → stfu]

> "I use my real name, because I have nothing to hide"

Of course I do, everyone does. I'm just very thoughtful about never posting it online ;)

Also, pet peeve: it's "lose", not "loose".

[prodigal_erik → aaronbrethorst]

Really, a smiley face? Dissent is how civilization fixes bad ideas, and suppression of it is not to be taken lightly.

[aaronbrethorst → prodigal_erik]

Yes, really, a smiley face. Relax. It isn't my dissent that's suppressed.

[VLM → stfu]

Minor correction, aligned to mainstream opinions for all time. Imagine how weird it must be for some old people to have to go from public hatred of minority group X to public idolization of the same group. And vice versa of course.