General Chat

do some folk choose to post messages under nom de plume,s ?

Yes I do, for personal reasons.....

Hi Ed, I think, for most people that post using a nom-de-plume, it,s a security measure. I am who I say I am and I live in Rochester.

Ed I used to post in my real name, on here and on several other sites. Someone advised me to search for myself in Google - I was horrified at the amount of stuff which came up about me and I realised that I had inadvertently revealed a lot about myself, without thinking of the possible consequences. Since then I have used a board name. OC

Soon after I joined my Aunt demanded to know why I did not have my Grandfather listed on here but had his siblings, she also demanded that I opened my tree to here. (My grandfather was listed by listed birth name but his siblings were - Living 'first initial' surname - but my aunt applied that logic when she reconised thw age gaps to my deceiced grandfather) Since then I have used a pen name made up of a nickname and old family name so I now an unidentifyable as me unless you know the connection.

mine are similar reasons as oc,its well worth it.x

Protection.

interesting. is the security concern a result of having one,s tree on-line ?.

Ed, No, not just thru' having the family tree on here ... there's lots of scope for ID theft as we all, intentionally or unintentionally, reveal things about ourselves. Like OC, I too started off using my real name and then got spooked when there seemed to be some strange things going on. I also regularly google my real name, amazing what it can reveal! At least the pen name allows me to reveal my true identity when I chose to - I've benefited from many contacts and friends from GR. Regs Annie

For me, that,s the primary reason....having an on-line tree but also, I can,t see any reason to give out my 'unusual' surname to strangers. What purpose would it serve?

Ed When I had my surnmane showing I was pm'd about possible rellies, just BECAUSE of it. People weren't waiting even for hot matches; dates and places to narrow it down. So ....a disguise Caz=

thanks all.

Ed When I googled my name, I found some old postings I had made on Ancestry Boards. Reading those posts with a fresh eye, I had revealed many personal details about myself. I was not so much concerned about identity theft, more about the possibility of attracting a nutter or two, or possibly even burglars, lol (my employment). Also, I had fondly imagined I had a very common name - not so, there are only two of us, and the other one died in the 1930s! I would be a sitting duck for any nutter/burglar. OC