Autopsy on an awful hoax

[Suoiruf Selyts]

Oh, this is rich. They've discovered something truly amazing over on the FAL forum: http://www.l1a1.com/forums/showthread.php?s=9d1b94b77c40d8c82d3967d980ce91f3&postid=999951#post999951

[gunsmith]

my handle has nothing to do with my real name or even my skills, I'm an ok shot but I have a hard time
even cleaning a gun properly, let alone fixing one. I used to post on craigslist and it affected my mental health
and blood pressure, their political forum makes DU seem like a bastion of conservative common sense.
I used the handle gunsmith on CL because I didn't want an "offensive" handle and didn't want the loonies to know who I was. Then Jim March introduced me to thr,  thus lowering my blood pressure.  I kept the handle and password because it was easier, and used it here for the same reason.
but I wish I had let the name go, some of the CL trolls and hackers really have it in for me.

[K Frame]

If I google my real name virtually EVERY hit returns a Michael Irwin in California who is some major author/professor/expert on computer languages.

[Guest]

I dont really understand concerns about identity theft. How many people know your real name in real life, if someone asks you in person dont you just tell them? Heck most of us have our name, address, and phone number placed into a think yellow volume that gets sent out all over our areas. Dont say anything online that you wouldnt say to a bunch of shady characters in person and you will be fine.

Interestingly enough a google search of my real name reveals that I share a name with a whole lot of people, most notably a man who has a prodigious career as a gay porn star.

[Guest]

If you google my name, you mostly find me. Which would be a gun nut/genealogy nerd. What can I say?

I agree with you, though. I'm not that shy about using my name. I was a little nervous recently when applying for a job if some of the political stuff might have an effect. But if it did, it wouldn't have been the right job for me anyway. And I think we're a lot more likely to have our identities stolen by people we meet face to face than we are by having someone online know our real names.

[444]

I had never thought about Googling my name. Didn't find much. Some guy with the same first and last name that looks like a loser in kalifornia. A city in Colorado sporting my last name....................
Anybody wants my real name, just ask.
Ask around town at a gun show, shooting range, or any gathering of firefighters or paramedics here and they will know me. For that matter, you could probably find someone pretty easily that knows my dog (now dead, RIP) Boulderdash.

[jefnvk]

Google me, you find a professional football player, and a photographer.  And me.

Things like this is why I don't trust anyone I don't personally know.  No offense to any of you, I'm sure most of you are good people, but I can't trust people I don't know.

[Guest]

Many of the same people who refuse to use their name on the 'net will write checks that have their name, address, phone number and driver's license number on them.