What are the advantages and disadvantages to using your real name online?
- by Jon Purdy
As a programmer, do you see any professional or other advantage in using your real name in online discourse, versus an invented handle? I've always gone by a single username and had my real name displayed whenever possible, for a few reasons:
My interests online are almost exclusively professional and aboveboard.
It constructs a search-friendly public log of all of my work, everywhere.
If someone wants to contact me, there are many ways to do it.
My portfolio of work is all tied to me personally.
Possible cons to full disclosure include:
If you feel like becoming involved in something untoward, it could be harder.
The psychopath who inherits your project can more easily find out where you live.
You might be spammed by people who are not worth the precious time that could be better spent writing more of the brilliant software you're famous for.
Your portfolio of work is all tied to you personally.
It seems, anyway, that a vast majority of StackOverflow users go by invented handles rather than real names. Notable exceptions include the best-known users, who are typically well established in the industry. But how could we ever become legendary rockstar programmers if we didn't get our names out there? Discuss.
