If You Had to Disclose Your True Identity in SL...

Okay, lets just cut to the chase.
If you had to disclose your true identity in sl (or make it clearly available via Facebook or something else) would you do so? Why?

I am an immersionist and value my real privacy so I state here and now I will not identify my real self to anyone.

Of course this is all just hypothetical, but it could gauge our sl world reaction and impact decisions that may be made in future.

I don't have a Facebook account. I'm dead in the water.

Guess I'd have to migrate to Blue Mars.

unless they were to come to my house and get DNA they'd not be getting my identity even if they thought they had... and even then they might be outta luck. that is, assuming I cared enough to hide it.

no.

even my own rl mother doesn't know where i live, in fact she couldn't even swear to what country i am in.

i'm not sure i know how to really answer why. but as far as i am concerned the entire of all realities real or virtual are on a need to know basis with me.

The real reason the internet related companies are trying to force people to give up privacy is likely related to the fact the internet is compromised and nothing is safe anymore. So since the geeks messed up they are going to try to cover their tracks instead of owning up to the issue.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com:8000/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_662566.html

Consider all of your online accounts compromised and public.

Of course the terms Immersionist and Augmentationist are not well-defined, yet. The concepts behind the terms are too new.

But I'd like to suggest that the emerging stereotype "if the person is Immersionist, then they are strongly opposed to revealing their RL identity" isn't necessarily accurate.






If an Augmentationist is someone who comes into SL for a few minutes here and a few minutes there--using it like Twitter or Facebook, as a means of expressing their personality to friends who know them in RL, and using their real name--

--then to me the dividing line isn't the 'real name' part, but instead the 'few minutes here, few minutes there, inworld for the purpose of social networking' part.

I would consider myself an Immersionist because...well, because I become immersed in building. I don't do role-play, I don't come to SL for sex, I don't use a non-human avatar: in short, I don't really do any of the things stereotypically Immersionist.

But I would say I AM an Immersionist, nonetheless. I'm not in SL as a Facebooky Twittery way of connecting up with RL friends.

And as an Immersionist, I have to say that though I don't exactly yearn to have my RL name posted over my avatar, if that were the only way to be able to build, I'd do it.

I don't have any particular objection. I wouldn't choose it, but I wouldn't refuse to do it, either.

So, given that counter-example, I think it would be a mistake to assume* that All Immersionists Oppose Real Names in SL and All Augmentationists Crave Real Names in SL.


*I know that this wasn't your claim or assumption, Jig---I'm just saying, let's examine our definitions.

Linden Lab, no problem, they should have my identification. And yours. And everybody else's who's using Second Life. I wouldn't object to this.

The general public? Not on your life. Who I am is none of your business unless I personally choose to make it your business.

One or two residents already know my RL identity but I would not readily volunteer it just for the asking - never mind publishing the details on my profile for all and sundry to peruse them. That's a mug's game.

And b@ll@cks to Facebook: networking sites like MyTwitBook are the work of Satan.

Interesting read Ann. Looks like smartphones aren't so smart after all.

Seriously, many people think "What's the harm? I'm not hiding from anyone. Why should I fear someone knowing the real me. I'm not scared in real life when i go to the grocery store and get to know my checker.......hell, she and I even have coffee every other Thursday at Starbucks". There's a difference. A big, important difference. On the internet you don't know for absolute certain exactly where you are at any given instant. A familar website you've been visiting for ages such as Facebook or MySpace (is that still around?) or even this forum might suddenly be redirected to some slimball's musty basement..........there you are with all your friends somewhere none of you have any idea you are really at.

And, you certainly do not know who it is you are chatting with.

Then we have the push to use the internet for everything..........even your personal medical records. Scarey to say the least.

uh, ok.

Why *should* they have my or anyone else's ID? Privacy is an essential component of sanity, whether or not one has anything to hide.

Personally, I'm with Jig on this one.

heh, neither does mine... but that's because she's an evil, soul crushing, controlling megalomaniac... whom I only call a few times a year from blocked phone via a calling card company... paranoid? yeah... but then you don't my family...

That man is definitely not (female) me! He's white.

Hmmmmmmm.
Maybe that woman uses her Facebook to masquerade as a man?

I've used my real name everywhere else. Had it been an option I would have done that here. Not saying that's the best idea; just what I woulda done.

It isn't so much that I value my privacy... it's that I value my physical and financial safety.

I do not trust the general public as a whole. LL has my RL info on file only because they are governed by US laws related to such matters. Access to the general public is denied. If that is to change, so will my association with LL.

There is a risk vs. benefits associated with everything we do on the internet these days. A matter not to be taken lightly!

Son? Dad sends his love and says could you drop by the market and get some soda bread on your way over. xx

Because of the nature of my work I could potentialy put a lot of people at risk if I disclose my rl data where it is not needed, so nope, I rather keep my job then give anyone info they have no need in knowing.

And before anyone sugest or suspects, no my work is not iligal.

If one day people do have to use their RL names in SL then I shall permit my typist to change his name to mine. In his country he can call himself anything he likes, so long as in doing so he does not represent himself as another real person, which is obviously not the case here.

I shall be happy for him to immerse himself in the real world as me. Although he may not be so happy should he ever realise that what appears to be his immersion as me, is in truth, me augmenting myself in his world. Or something

I wind up on several levels ....

One account is an augmentationist and a lot of her SL stuff crosses into my RL and vice versa. It would be pretty trivial for my friends to track me down but a bit harder for other people. Since my RL blog is linked from that account it is not like I am hiding my digital tracks.

My other main account is an immersionist and has a complete disconnect between her RL and her SL. Only a few good SL friends even know the account is by the same person that runs the first account, so they are the only ones that could even make the RL link if they wanted to.

My various alts are pure mysteries. Unless someone noticed that they log in on my main accounts' land they would not have a clue.

As a working musician in Second Life I tie my in-world identity to my real-world identity. For me it's no big deal. Where I draw the line is with the identity-police types who insist that one's in-world avatar be a mini-me of one's real-world avatar. No deal, folks. Don't like furry/scalie avatars? Go book someone else for your little pretend club.

I also take issue with what I would describe as 'interrogationists' [aka identity thieves] who make it their business to interrogate everone they meet for their full real-world details all the way down to bank account numbers and inside leg measurements. These people are little more than a front for identity thieves and residents should be on their guard against anyone, anywhere on the grid that starts demanding real-world information. We have already given Linden Lab as much real-world information about ourselves as we wish to divulge and that is where it should stay. Say what you like about Linden Lab, but I would rather trust them with my real-world details that some random Joe or Jane Avatar on the grid.

Given all the current hysteria as regards immersionists vs augmentalists, identity verification, age verification, etc., etc., Second Life runs the risk of becoming an identity thief's paradise. Remember folks, when someone asks you for any information about your real-world self, just say no. Even if they pretend to confide titbits about their own real-world self, how do you know they might not be lieing in order to gain your confidence?

My real-world player is working towards looking more like my in-world self but gene therapy is not only cripplingly expensive but still only in the developmental stages. Yes, and playing pianos and guitar with six-inch talons is a whole new ball-game

Many in SL know my RL ID those who dont know it dont need to.

I must say I don't know. (._.)

On one end I value my privacy greatly in regards to all the strangers I meet. On the other hand, my closest SL freinds know my street address and have my picture. (^_^)

on one end I value SL tone a place where I can explore myself without societal limits. On the other hand, my family and coworkers all know quite clearly who and what Immy is. (^_^)

It's a gray area for me. (._.)

Life is full of shades of grey... or a wide spectrum of colour depending on how you see things. Nothing is ever cut-and-dried.

If this becomes an optional thing, people can plaster their real identities all over the place for all I care. I'm not interested in who you really are, we aren't going to conduct business or have a romantic liaison. Don't bother me and I won't bother you.

SL is my personal little theme park/playground, and I intend to keep it between me, myself and I. There really is little of RL me to even connect to SL, a Google search turns up almost nothing, and I don't participate in any online social activities anyway. So, the only real worry would be any sort of public linkage to my real name. I don't think that is in the plans..yet....but if it were to happen, Game Over.

Options are a good thing. I express myself much more freely with this anonymity.

Those really close to me, four or five of them, in excess of a decade on the Internet, have different amounts of my RL info.