Forums and pseudonyms

[Geoff Dowdle]

Sean,
this Forum is such a small group we should at least know the real names of
the people we are corresponding with ,
not some fictitious identity,
Geoff Dowdle

[Ashley James]

I agree!
Ashley

[Kevin H]

Geoff and Ashley, there was a time when I agreed with you, in fact I started a discussion on the topic about 10 years ago on the old BOC Email Forum focusing on Bellerophon.

But I have since realised that in global internet based forums you could be dealing with anyone.

If Bellerophon registered as John Smith you wouldn't have said anything, but you would be none the wiser. However I think the real John Smith uses something else as his registered username, so that could get very confusing (not picking on you John!).

I've also had this discussion more recently with seanmcs. But then many members won't know who seanmcs is.

Do you see my point?

This dawned on me many years ago when the BOC published in the printed BOC Bulletin, posts I myself had written in the BOC Email Forum under what I thought was a rather obvious pseudonym.

Edit: It is advisable NOT to display your email address on public forums. 'Bots' scour the internet looking for email addresses to add to spammers mail lists.

[seanmcs]

Not a new idea; tried that with the webmaster and that's how he
wants it. What do others think?

Sean

[Geoff Dowdle]

Kevin ,
its up to the individual whether they uses their real name or not .

But my personal perspective is that Bristol Cars and the Bristol Owners Club
of Australia have been a large part of my life for the past 36 years
and have met many good friends around the world through them . Over those
years I have accumulated a large amount of information and experiences about
Bristols & Bristol engined cars.
I'm always very happy to freely pass this information on to owners as
needed , have a look at Ashley's website www.jel450.com.au for a few
examples.
Maybe I'm of the old school but why should I help someone on this forum by
taking time replying to a thread (my typing is a very very slow one fingered
affair)
when he or she is not even willing to divulge their real name.
Alan this is not a dig at you but the use of a pseudonym , but if you had
started the thread on the oil leak and was having problems I probably would
not have bothered replying.
From memory Dorien (who uses "Hydrogen") but signs "Dorien" started the
thread , he and I have corresponded in the past, through Ashley's website
,about a few technical issues with his 400 which I hope he has solved .


Enough for now
Geoff Dowdle

[TLF799R]

Maybe it's a generation thing?
I'm so used to having to use a username all over the web that I never even
think about it.

Philippa

[Hydroglen]

Well maybe it is.....then again I get annoyed with another club I belong
to who publish a Roster on a yearly basis. The Roster has the persons
name and address plus a list of his cars. Yet many of the members chat on
a club forum hiding behind a pesudonym.
I don't know who it is that is posting and like Geoff I tend to ignore those
posts who use aliases.
On one like this were we have to log on and use a password ( known only to
you and your dog and cat ) I suppose the secrecy carries on to the
signature.
But then I suspect I am in a similair generation as Geoff is. Oh to be young
as you Philippa!!
Dorien