Real Names and Real Places

[subaltari]

I've been noticing member's real names and locations (or at least time zones) popping up on their posts, so I decided to add mine to my own profile.

Then I did a quick search and found out these aren't new features; they've been on the site for over 10 years. Is it just me, or have a lot more people just started using this?

[dmw71]

I did a quick search and found out these aren't new features; they've been on the site for over 10 years.

Indeed they have.

Is it just me, or have a lot more people just started using this?

I'm not sure how we could quantify this, but it's really just each individual user's preference.

I suspect, the more people that do add these extra details to their user accounts, and the more common that level of sharing is seen/experienced by new users when they visit the site, the more willingness they may have to do the same.

But, again, that is just my suspicion.

[rredmond]

Yup yup, some people purposefully share, some purposefully don't, and others just don't know they are able to!
Glad you enjoy that part of the site JP!

[Rex]

I have always shared mine, but my user name is my real name so I am obviously not to secretive, LOL.

[rredmond]

Everybody knows mine, but I always get a chuckle when I realize I ain't sharing it!
(And similar to Rex, my user name is, essentially, my name )

[subaltari]

When I first came to the forums, I noticed the veterans calling out one another's first names in some of the public and OOC topics (but without displaying them on their profiles). It's nice that I can now take part in this with the "cool kids"

I have always shared mine, but my user name is my real name so I am obviously not to secretive, LOL.

Everybody knows mine, but I always get a chuckle when I realize I ain't sharing it! (And similar to Rex, my user name is, essentially, my name )

Shall I call you RRRR (R. Redmond, Rider of Rohan)?

Actually, I'm not on Dragonsfoot much these days, but if my memory serves you've been there a long time. Don't you use the Stormwatch avatar there too?

[rredmond]

While folks often call me RR, and some of my HS friends occasionally still call me Red, Ron is fine
Yup, been too long at DF and I use the Stormwatch avatar pretty much everywhere, if it isn't that it's my youngest as a Mind Flayer eating my brain. That one I use in social work meetings and settings. I use the Stormwatch avatar even on the one non-D&D forum I visit... The Jethro Tull forums

[rredmond]

For reference, if you see this avatar, it's also me (she's 14 now though, so, it's been around a while ) but Ian Anderson as a rimey sailor is mostly what I use:

kaylaanddad.png (448.43 KiB) Viewed 1696 times

[Stirling]

Stirling is my real name. Named after the castle in Scotland not the pound currency: £-sterling.

My surname was anglicised to Blackshield by ancestors who settled in the eastern Scottish lowlands, Prussians; Germans at least, who were allies to Britain post Napoleonic era. They changed to it from Schwarzchild (black shield not black child, though I think the name is rooted even further back, to the time of Teutonic crusaders who had 'the sign of the black cross' on their shield.

[Leitz]

I started playing in 1978, then moved a few times before finding a few more players. In the new setting my first character was Leitz, a 1 HP mage with a -1 Dex modifier. Somehow he survived and even got to very high level during the Monty Haul era. Not sure he has any worshipers yet, very sure he doesn't care. So I use that for game stuff. When I talk to people about non-game stuff, and I've chatted with a few of you, I include my real name. It's my way of saying that I'm communicating as a real person, not as a never-met-you gamer.

The avatar is what I use for the books I write.

[GreyWolfVT]

I originally joined the site under my full name then realized i didn't have to and could select a screen name & reached out to ToniXX to have it changed. Even though I made that mishap (I'll call it) I still put up my real first name or at least the name i prefer. I love that the word "veteran" was used I have been guilty of calling others by their first names on here. Rex, Ron, Greg, Gary, Rob, Doug, Dave, Scott, etc.

Basically this screen name and avatar I have used on many places over the last 22 years I am fairly certain this was one of my original gaming handles back in the diablo 2 days. Dunno always been fascinated by wolves and Gray Wolves are my favorites.

Any who. I don't care that folks know my first name is Ed (short version anyway) it can be interesting to see what folks think it is short for when they guess things that I haven't heard like Edvard.

I also don't mind folks knowing I am in Vermont. Not a lot of Vermonters on these forums so the few i do find are fun to converse with about stuff. Not that anyone else from other locations is not as equally fun to chat with.

[Leitz]

The down side of all of this is the half dozen or more bots always scraping the site. Anyone can grab the resulting data and put together a decent profile with more than enough to run a social phishing campaign. And yes, every one of you is "important enough" to be a target.

[Scott308]

I have been guilty of calling others by their first names on here. [...] Scott, etc.

And I tried so hard to keep my name secret, but you somehow still managed to suss it out.

Any who. I don't care that folks know my first name is Ed (short version anyway) it can be interesting to see what folks think it is short for when they guess things that I haven't heard like Edvard.

Your full name is Edmund Fitzgerald, like the ill-fated ship that went down during a Lake Superior storm, right?

[GreyWolfVT]

Your full name is Edmund Fitzgerald, like the ill-fated ship that went down during a Lake Superior storm, right?

Yup you definitely figured that one out.

[Rex]

I love that song about you Ed.

[GreyWolfVT]

I love that song about you Ed.

Actually I am really Edward Longshanks

[rredmond]

Actually I am really Edward Longshanks

Ah then your LinkedIn profile is quite impressive!

[GreyWolfVT]

Indeed it is: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-longshanks-5121432a/