Is there a reason to be anonymous on the Forum?

[Jerry B.]

On one of the other threads I commented that there's a national network of phono collectors that can help facilitate transportation of bigger machines. One post mentioned that the network is not available to many of us. That forum member is correct, the network is not available to many forum members. Why? I looked at the member list and most of us are quite anonymous. I am one of the few members that signs a post with at least part of my name. A large number of us don't even provide a clue as to our location. Do we want to know each other? That's how you build a network. I really enjoy this hobby and I enjoy other collectors. I wish we knew each other a little better. I'd really appreciate your comments.
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Jerry Blais
3121 Fir Oaks Place SW
Albany, Oregon 97321
541-990-0781 (cell)
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When you come to Oregon be sure to visit the Oregon coast, drive through the Columbia George, enjoy all the trees and give me a call if you'd like to see a bunch of talking machines. I mean it!

[syncopeter]

I've no reason at all to be anonymous. I use the nick name Syncopeter, because I that's how I've been known for over 6 years. I like syncopated piano music and my first name is Peter. I live in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Anybody wanting my address and 'phone number, please pm me. I'm a little shy to disclose my full address and email, because of phishing, which is big business over here.

Peter.

[Valecnik]

To Jerry's point, SyncoPeter, I did not know you lived in the Netherlands. If you get to Czech for a holiday, please let me know. i think it would be great if we at least knew the country, or the State within the US, where everyone lived.

Another thing that could be very interesting is if people filled out thier profile a bit more so we could see what particular interests the members have and how close they are to your own.

Extracted from my profile:

Occupation: Viscount

Collecting Interests:

Edison Cylinder Phonographs, especially high-end external horn and early Amberola models, Pre-1915 Edison Disc Phonographs, Pre-1915 Victor Talking Machines, especially high-end external horn models, Berliners, Columbia Cylinder Graphophones, Pathephones and miscelaneous gramophones, all types of pre-1930 cylinders and discs, related accessories and advertising.

[phonophan79]

More and more crime is originating online. First there is identity theft. Then there is cyber casing... in the old days criminals would "case" your house in person.. watch your habits, when you're going to be home... now they can learn exactly what you have all online.

I'm not saying I'm 100% worried about this happening, especially from being a member of this forum... but it could happen.

...and besides, that's the way most of the internet works... with handles and screen names and anonymity.

[alang]

Being an IT professional I know and am concerned about cyber crime etc. Nevertheless I don't have a problem having my country/state on my profile. I also like signing a post with at least my first name, because I like to be addressed that way in responses. There's nothing in my profile that cannot be found easily in many other public sources, so I don't see a problem there.
I also offer anyone on the forum to contact me if they come to Delaware and want to meet/visit. I don't know any other collectors in my area, so it would be interesting to meet someone.
Andreas

[gramophoneshane]

I think security is a big concern to some people, while others simply use a nickname or a name related to their interests.
When I got my first computer & joined my first forum (phonoland), I joined as Shane, but after seeing some of the handles used there, I joined my second forum as gramophoneshane & I've been using it pretty much everywhere since.
I have used the handle Triplespring on a couple boards, but it has nothing to do with being anonomous. The first time was on Moo's board, simply because a troll had opened an account as gramophoneshane to cause trouble (complete with gramophoneshane email address), but as the account came from your side of the world, Moo was kind enough to delete the account.
I also go by Triplespring on the UK board, but for no reason other than I felt like a change. I have my name in the signature space and my location in the side bar.
I have no problem with people posting under any name they choose, but I do think it's nice to see a persons general location- even if only a country. I've often had to laugh when I've seen things like "Credenza for sale" without a hint of location. They could be 2 steets away or 2 states away, so it all seems a bit pointless.
And lets face it, nobody is 100% safe on the internet anyway. A good hacker can get IP addresses & server information, and even tell what keys you press, as easily as buttering bread. As far as I'm concerned they're welcome to the information because I've got nothing worth stealing on or off the net.
I did once receive an email from a US bank about an overdue credit card payment or something, so I guess someone did use my identity, but I wrote back with my details and advised them to investigate the matter, to which I received a thankyou email & I never heard any more about it.
I've got little chance of hiding anything really anyway. When I google gramophoneshane, I get over 220,000 hits, and many are sites I'never even visited largely due to my youtube videos. One site was in Bermuda & dedicated to smoking pot, but because they've posted one of my videos on their site, I come up as a link lol.
The only place on the net that I do like to remain anonomous is on porn sites

[AZ*]

Since this forum is open for viewing to anyone in the world with an internet connection (both good people and bad), and since there really isn't any serious vetting of new members, I believe that anonymity is a safety issue.

That's just my opinion, and others here are welcome to agree or disagree as they see fit.

[Phonofreak]

I have no problem posting my name. I do see security issues mention by the other posters. When I give out personal information to buy or make a sale. I use a PM.
Harvey Kravitz

[syncopeter]

I've updated my profile. It's no secret that I'm from the Netherlands and am a so-called 50something

Peter

[Retrograde]

I'm in the group who likes to be mostly anonymous when posting on the internet. I just don't want it ALL hanging out there in the open so to speak. The point has probably been made that everything on a board such as this one is out there for all the world to see not just the people we think are reading it. I participate on another board (unrelated topic) that has more than 5300 members and gets 50-100 posts per day with 100-500 people online at a time. I sure as heck don't use my real identity there, and I never give any personal info or give hints as to exactly where I live. Mostly for safety and security since some people get testy when you make comments and replies on the internet.

I'm just a (mostly) private person.