Just curious why so few people use their real names.

[merrily]

227. I use a screen name because

1. Almost everyone does, the software requests it and it did not even occur me not to but.

2. If it had occurred to me, I would still use a screen name because some people who read and/or post on message board are batshit crazy and I would rather not have a one on one "meet up" with nutters in my bedroom one evening

I have posted many times that I live in Boston and some these nutters will study and catalogue every post you've written until they know way too much about you.

Or they will befriend you, ask a lot of questions about you, where you live, your kids' names, etc. and seem perfectly friendly and totally sane----until they don't.

I had both those unfortunate experiences before I joined this board. Now, I don't even give my real name when I open a hotmail account and I don't even use the same screen name on more than one message board. I am not ashamed of anything I post, just burned twice and thrice shy.

I am very willing to die or suffer physically for good reason. I don't consider putting TMI on a message boar a good reason, though. So, merrily it is.