You are right, Jen, it is not funny to be stalked or get threatening calls - I know because both things have happened to me because of the nature of the work I did, even before the internet. I have had people who disagree with me follow me here to FR from other websites - those are the only people I have ever hit the abuse button on. Having been there, done that, and proudly wear the T-shirt, fear doesn’t cut it with me. As for a unique name combination - that doesn’t fly with me either, I’ve lived with that all my life.
I worked in the political arena, thus my politics were always known, so I have nothing to hide and never did. If anyone is so afraid for their jobs they can’t post openly and honestly about their belies - they really should not be participating in political forums.
Wintertime posts all kinds of personal information about herself and her family, yet can not and will not back up any of it. Please give me one good reason why anyone with any amount of intelligence would take anything she says with more than a grain of salt.
Don’t take it at face value at all. I automatically assume anything anyone tells me on the internet is exaggerated at best unless they offer proof. Wintertime can say anything she wants. So can I. So can you. If her stories seem preposterous, assume they’re lies and move on.
I recently went back to employed status instead of contractor but I work from home, remotely. I have phone contact with my coworkers and see them perhaps once a year. That means I’m really sensitive to what could be found out about me by Googling. I’m not there to defend myself. I kept a blog for a few years related to an online game and had to make sure I kept my identity under wraps. Political blogs, same thing. Most of the folks I work with are probably fairly conservative. It only takes one going to my boss and claiming I’m goofing off during work time to get me canned.
I also have lots of friends I met online first. Over a dozen I met on this forum who I have now met in real life. My husband, who I met on this forum. I did tell him my real name eventually... but I’m still not going to post my real name. Maybe if it was “Smith”. But it’s not.