Question

In contrast to sites like facebook and google+ nobody here at openstudy is using real names. What do your pseydonyms mean to you? Do they reflect your creativity? Do you use them in other online communities?

Answer 1

I would say they're just a way to establish a certain level of anonymity - people are more likely to ask honest questions if they don't feel as though people can identify them. It reduces the embarrassment factor associated, erroneously, with asking questions. Also, if you're asking for answers on homework or test questions, you don't want it to be able to be linked back to you.

Answer 2

weird question...
my Mom is terrified that I'm going to meet a creeper on the web who lures me into a strange park and strangles me during the night... in fact, this is the closest thing to a chat room I'm allowed on. She'd absolutely flip if someone knew my real name or address or something.
I also think the anomity is cool. no one knows if I'm an eight year old boy or a high school girl or a 60yr old old man or a soccer mom with three kids... it's kind of fun.
I modeled my username after my all time favorite books. I also think it's funny to picture Gandalf hunched over a computer doing math.

Answer 3

On the sites like facebook and Google+ most of the people use their real names, as some people who create fake profiles or who want to hide their identity put pseudonyms and also those who are passionate about some place, thing or object may use pseudonyms in the form of portmenteau or in the form of some compound word, which do reflect their creativity and passion.

Answer 4

On this website, ones name is of little relevance. Its the question that they are asking that is important. On websites like facebook, ones identity is essential for your friends and family to be in communication with. On openstudy, you ask a question to no one directly, in hopes of achieving a better knowledge of their topic. It doesn't really matter who answers it or who you may be helping by answering it. Knowledge is for everyone. As for someones chosen profile name on this website, it tells you just as much as you need to know about them. It may be the name of an account on a different website, something they love, something they associate themselves with, something they want to be.......As for me, my name is a line in one of my favorite songs. In Panic at the Disco's Mad as Rabbits, the song dramatically changes when "let's reinvent love" is sung. It's a great message, too. I use it on other accounts. What does your name mean to you?