How many people here are on a REAL first name basis?

[TorontoTrekker]

I've met a handful of members, and I interact with some of them elsewhere online, but I tend to use screen names here even when referring to them. I even use her screen name when I'm referring to my boss. Though when it comes to convention work, I'm her boss, and yes, things get a little confused sometimes - we chat about convention stuff all the time at work, and last Sunday after our convention committee meeting we were talking about work while waiting for the bus. Our bowling league may be the only neutral ground we have any more - though I'm a better bowler than she is.

There are a number of departed posters with whom I remain RL friends, as well, both people whom I see regularly and people with whom I correspond mostly online. I see Rosemary and Emissary at conventions, and a couple of months ago I had a chat on Skype with kipron - he was just getting into work, and I was just getting ready for bed, and our schedules overlapped by about 30 minutes.

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

I know at least 30 people here by their real name. Many know my real name. It isn't something I've ever hidden. There are probably between 5 and 10 I sometimes call by their real names from time to time. Met most of the Australian based posters and a few who have visited here.

 

[auntiehill]

I only know two people here well enough to call them by their REAL names.

Me too. I would imagine they're not the same ones though.

Probably not.

My name, by the way, is there for all to see.

 

[Jim Gamma]

A few people I know by first name, but is it scarier that some of these people have since changed their nickname here and I now don't know it, because I don't post that much these days?

 

[Pingfah]

I will never change my username.

I know a fair few people from the board to address on a first name basis, and have met 3 or 4 of them.

 

[Niorah]

I know the names of a few people from here, and have met with some of them in real life.
On the board I always use their username though, since I like to grant them their privacy as I like mine to be granted by them.

 

[Mary Ann]

A few members are Facebook friends so I know their real names, though none live in the same country so I've not met any of them. On another board I belonged to some years ago I got to know several people very well. We're still friends 10 years later, and I've met several of them from all over the world. I've moved around quite a lot and don't see much difference between online friendships and so-called RL friendships, especially as my husband and I met as penfriends. So far the online friends I've met face-to-face have not resulted in any nasty surprises, though that may change one day.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

You know my name.

And mine! It's a good name.


I'm friends with a few BBSers over on facebook as well. I love it! I try really hard not to use "real names" over here because you don't always know if the other person wants their real name used here. As for my own preference, i'm fine with it. Obviously!

 

[Jim Gamma]

Another reason not to use real names is, not everyone knows who you're referring to!

I used to visit a spinoff board of this one where a few people were constantly referring to each other by first names, I learned a few of them, but never used them - at least one person got offended that I refused to address them by their first name in an online public forum.

 

[Mr Silver]

I know a couple of people's first names, but I don't use them unless I am PM'ing them (purely out of respect for their privacy)

I'll don't mind people knowing my first name, but I am prone to going by variations of it, because it can be very 'formal' sounding on occasions.

 

[Santaman]

I know quite a few TrekBBS people IRL and I am on a first name basis with many more.

 

[Sector 7]

There are exactly two people on TrekBBS who know my first name. One I call a close friend. We pray for each other and understand when real life keeps us from communicating as often as we would like. The other I still call friend, although I do not hear from her any more.

I prefer my privacy, but enjoy making new friends when the opportunity arises. Paranoia from a past stalking situation has kept me from using my real name publicly online.

 

[nevermore]

Sure, I know the names of maybe 25-30 board members, most of whom I've met in person. It would never occur to me to use someone's actual name on the board, though.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

Some users are friends on facebook and it is great to see a more personal side of them, and I also know some from exchanging Christmas cards ~ I get a childish glee from receiving post from abroad

But I do like my anonymity here ~ there are things that I can say here that I wouldn't want work or family to see

 

[RJDiogenes]

Well, RJ is one of my real-life nicknames, so in that sense everyone is on a first-name basis with me. I don't think anybody on TrekBBS calls me Rick, but a few people on other Boards do. I have no secret identity, so it's all the same to me.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

Well, RJ is one of my real-life nicknames, so in that sense everyone is on a first-name basis with me. I don't think anybody on TrekBBS calls me Rick, but a few people on other Boards do. I have no secret identity, so it's all the same to me.

So I'm not suppose to unveil you as "The Grape of Wrath"?

Ooops sorry

 

[RJDiogenes]

Now all my loved ones are in deadly peril.

 

[mimic]

I'm on a first name basis with everyone here but Lindley.

 

[thestrangequark]

Some users are friends on facebook and it is great to see a more personal side of them, and I also know some from exchanging Christmas cards ~ I get a childish glee from receiving post from abroad

Oooh, that sounds fun. I'll try to remember for next year if you want one from NYC! I'd love to get some from abroad.

 

[AstroSmurf]

^ We exchanged the year before but I wasn't able to send cards last year. But I fully intend on sending them out this year. K'Ehleyr is definitely on the list.