Have we met before

“A mask tells us more than a face.” – Oscar Wilde.

I want to talk about pseudonyms. I know many people dislike the use of them, and believe they stand for dishonesty, but I disagree.

It’s said that each of us has at least three faces: our real one, the one that we show to all the people around us and the one we think we possess. I for one, totally agree with that. I have often written poetry and prose based on this theory alone.

Pseudonyms are used for a variety of reasons, by a medley of people. Book writers, bloggers, musicians, actors; they all use them. In today’s world there is more need than ever of protecting ones’ true identity. Identity theft is on the rise, and with more and more people turning to the tech age, I do not see it decreasing anytime soon. There are those who believe if you are using a fake name that you have something to hide. I say what of it? Maybe you are protecting your family and friends by remaining anonymous through the use of a pseudonym.. maybe you like having a personal blog where you can let off steam and vent after a hard days work and don’t want your boss firing you for using inappropriate language or ideals. I’ve even heard horror stories of women who used their real names being targeted and harassed, sexually or otherwise by people whose ‘cheese had slid off their crackers’. The blogosphere is replete with hateful commentary and opinions. If you are going to use your real name, you better have some thick ass skin.

I use pseudonyms; in fact I have several; role-playing ones, old blogging ones, social site ones. You may even see me post poems, and prose here, from a site that I had previously posted it on. Only once did I attempt using my real name and I regretted it for months after. It is not something I care to repeat. I believe there is a time and a place for using ones real identity, and that the choice should be purely left up the individual. I do not believe that any social site should have the right to enforce REAL NAMES, the way that Facebook and Google+ have started doing. That of course, is strictly my opinion.

How about all of you? Do you blog under your real name or under a pseudonym?

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7 thoughts on “Have we met before

  1. I have and always will stick to the same old “Tismond” pseudonym (well technically it’s simply Tismon without the d, but apparently someone else is going around with that particular title). I don’t personally see the harm of using my real name, mainly because I refrain from simply “venting after a bad day”. I choose to never write about something that I wouldn’t be content to share with people who have met and know me in real life. But I do use the pseudonym because that is who I am online, Tismond is me, so I don’t really feel like I’m hiding anything. I let people build their opinions on who I am through my words, instead of my ethnicity or gender or the like, and that’s the way I plan on going!

    • I always write about whatever I feel like, regardless, but I can definitely relate to others who need to protect themselves and it should be their own decision to make. As for you, Tismon.. I think you and your writing are great. 🙂

  2. Nothing wrong with a pseudonym. In the information age – where people are traceable with the simple click of a button – for anyone with a slightly unusual name, pseudonyms are a life saver!

  3. I do use my real name when I write normally because my writing style is different and probably not as offensive that I would be scared to reveal my opinions as ‘mine’. Also, I have never had issues with pseudonyms. In fact, I started an online diary blog using a pseudonym because it was too personal and yet I wrote it just for the sake of writing. I don’t even think anybody must have read it ever, but I know it exists and I can always go back and vent out my emotions in that space!

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